Friday, January 29, 2016

Valentine's Day 2016: 10 best alcoholic gifts

Whether they love liqueur or cherish champagne, here are the boozy presents that will go down a treat  
 

The Valentine's Day present purchase can be a fraught affair. An ill-considered gift to your beloved could quite easily result in a night of hot tears rather than passion. 
However, you won’t go far wrong by sticking to the time-honoured love triangle of chocolates, flowers and – in particular – booze. Here are ten romantic alcoholic presents, guaranteed to have your beloved weak at the knees.
1. Prestat Yuzu Sake Truffles: £12.50, Prestat
Almost too nice to give away, these princely truffles are made with luxuriant white chocolate, whipped into a light ganache then enclosed in a dark, sugar-dusted shell. Exotic Japanese yuzu fruit adds a lusty lick of citrus, while sake provides the slap and tickle.
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2. Fortnum & Mason Champagne & Chocolates Box: £65, Fortnum & Mason
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Win Valentine's Day by dropping this lavish love bomb on your intended. A bottle of Louis Roederer’s finest champagne reclines seductively on a silken bed, and underneath lie two secret drawers that slide open to reveal trays of Marc de Champagne truffles.
Buy now
3. Grants Morella Cherry Brandy Liqueur: £28.95 for 50cl, The Whisky Exchange 
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The historic drink that made Queen Victoria's petticoat tremble with joy, this beautifully balanced, burgundy red booze is infused with fruity cherries and caressed with a delicate hint of almonds. Cradle lovingly in a glass of ice.
Buy now
4. Audemis Spirits Pink Pepper Gin: £39 for 50cl, Waitrose Cellar
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This is a dashingly handsome, aromatic gin, handcrafted at a micro-distillery in the Cognac region of France. Spicy pink peppercorns, juniper and cardamom give way to creamy vanilla notes. Its warm, honey finish will embrace you with a loving hug. 
Buy now
5. Hotel Chocolat Salted Caramel Chocolate Vodka: £15 for 25cl, Hotel Chocolat
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One for chocoholics. It’s a small batch English vodka, infused with the lip-smacking tryst of caramel and St Lucian cocoa that caress and cuddle before departing with a salty kiss. Book a room.
Buy now
6. Dumangin Fils Rosé Champagne: £34 for 75cl, Yapp Brothers
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Have a fruity evening in with this plush, blush-pink champagne. Elegantly floral, with the delicate hint of summer berries, it's a saucy, sparkling love letter in a glass that'll send your paramour starry-eyed.
Buy now
7. Siren Caribbean Chocolate Cake Stout: £4 for 33cl, Siren Craft Brew 
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A boozy love affair between two breweries from Berkshire and Florida has produced this exceptionally good, chocolatey beer. Stout, dark and handsome, it’s luxuriously silky and laden with cocoa flavours. A beautiful work of black magic.
Buy now
8. La Maison Fontaine Chocolat Absinthe: £26.92 for 70cl
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Here’s some deliciously decadent booze, inspired by a 1920’s recipe found secreted away at the brand’s Pontarlier distillery. A decadent surprise for Valentine's morn – absinthe really does make the heart grow fonder.
Buy now
9. M&S Mount Bluff Rosé NVL: £78 for a case of 6, Marks & Spencer
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Pop the cork on this blush-pink fizz and add some extra special sparkle this Valentine's. Fermented with passion in New Zealand, its bold berry flavours and fresh, creamy bubbles will set your head in a spin.
Buy now
10. Lanique Rose Petal Liqueur Spirit: £24.95 for 70cl, Master of Malt
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Give the gift of a thousand flowers. This delicate liqueur is created by steam distilling mounds of hand-plucked rose petals. Drink with lime juice for a bittersweet love tonic, or drop half a shot into a glass of champagne for an opulent treat.
 

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