Along with Brussels sprouts and bread sauce, Christmas pudding is part of a line-up of festive fare that we staunchly stick to, despite only eating a spoonful or two on December 25.
In Christmas pudding's case, the dessert, which stretches back to the Middle Ages when it was made with offal (another reason we're so grateful to be living in the 21st century), is now in danger of extinction.
According to a survey by Sainsbury's last year, over a third of us don't plan to roll out the classic at the end of Christmas lunch. And while the recipe has gone through many evolutions over the ages, some 80 per cent of those asked said they wanted Christmas pud to be given a modern twist.
But traditionalists will argue that the spiced fruit festive staple is just fine as it is, with one addition. A delicious tipple to wash it down with.
An authentic pud will be soaked in booze like Cognac, rum or brandy before being matured for months to allow the flavours to really sink in. While alcohol is already in the mix, a lot of it gets burned up when the pudding is set aflame, as is the tradition. It means you can pair a splash of something really special to enhance the flavours without zonking out in front of a Christmas special on the telly afterwards.
Whether you’re planning to serve Christmas pudding or its close cousin Christmas cake, a similarly dense dessert made with fruit, spices and booze, we’ve rounded up the best bottles to go with it.
From dessert wine to festive limited editions of your favourite spirits, find the jolliest selection below.
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Hennessy X.O Cognac
Display this iconic bottle pride of place on your bar. Dashing good looks aside, eaux-de-vie have been aged in young barrels to create an extra-old and robust Cognac that’s deep and round, complete with flavours of candied fruit and dark chocolate with a spicy edge.
Buy now £192.00, Selfridges
Vecchia Romagna Riserva Tre Botti 1820
A great-value mid-ranger, Vecchia Romagna Riserva Tre Botti 1820 has been aged in three different barrels to deliver richness and intensity on the palate, featuring refined notes of oak and toasted walnuts, plus hints of tropical fruits. Structured and characterful.
For an entry-level introduction, try the Vecchia Romagna Etichetta Nera (£26.50).
Buy now £44.00, Ocado
Martell XO Cognac
Presented in a beautiful decanter that displays its golden, coppery hues, this XO Cognac from Martell demonstrates a mastery of blending from the heritage producer. Rich but elegant, it’s bursting with fragrant aromas of gingerbread, brioche and apples, while cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper and oak dance on the palate. Full of spicy, fiery character.
Buy now £185.00, The Whisky Exchange
Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge Cognac & Orange Liqueur
The purists out there may sniff, but let them, because Grand Marnier’s winning combination of Cognac and exotic, bitter oranges has created a classic for the bar that can be enjoyed by itself or in a raft of cocktails. Full, ample flavours, orange aromas and notes of hazelnut and toffee courtesy of the Cognac.
Buy now £20.25, Sainsbury’s
Balblair Whisky 25 year old
Balblair has been making single malt whisky in its Highlands distillery since 1790. This year, the brand has launched an amber-hued 25-year-old, a dram that’s spent a quarter of a century maturing in old bourbon casks before being finished in Spanish oak butts.
Pour a measure to experience a serve that slips down the throat after washing tastebuds in spiced, chocolatey notes. A superb (and splashy) Christmas treat, this is a dram that’s worth the wait.
Buy now £590.00, The Whisky Exchange
Selfridges Selection Panettone Liqueur 500ml
The grown-up way to imbibe panettone throughout the festive period, Selfridge’s genius drink is a new launch this year - and we think it’s destined to become a festive fixture. The serve is heaving with ripe fruit and citrus flavours with a hint of warming caramel nestled within the oat-based cream. Buon Natale!
Buy now £19.99, Selfridges
Disaronno Velvet
Leaving a certain Irish cream liqueur quaking in its boots, Italian amaretto cream liqueur Disaronno has something new to shake up your cocktails this Christmas. It's released a Velvet version, packed with addictive notes of toasted almonds, apricot, vanilla and toffee that make it a winner in cocktails like a White Espresso. It gives a whole new meaning to a white Christmas.
Buy now £17.50, Sainsbury's
Sixpence Pud Christmas Pudding Gin Liqueur 500ml
Part festive decoration, part Christmassy spirit, the adorable design of this bottle guarantees you’ll be rolling it out at any opportunity for all to see. Give it a shake before you pour to enjoy it at its sparkly, gently spiced best.
Buy now £25.00, Harvey Nichols
Harvey Nichols 10 Year Old Tawny Port
A perfect blend of oak-matured ports, the 10 Year Old Tawny Port from Harvey Nicks doesn’t just look the part in its posh bottle, but it tastes sensational, too. Think rich, nutty and velvety on the palate, bursting with flavours of hazelnut, caramel and spiced orange, complete with sweet dried fruit and exotic spice notes. They suggest you serve it lightly chilled, either on its own or with dessert or cheese, and we couldn’t agree more. Simply sublime.
Buy now £29.00, Harvey Nichols
Tesco Finest Vintage Port
Tesco is serving up a corker in this vintage port – part of its prestigious Finest range – with rich cassis flavours and notes of black fruit and dark chocolate. If you can resist drinking it this year, paired with ripe blue cheeses or dried fruits and nuts, they say it can be left to mature in the bottle for at least two decades. But really, who has that sort of willpower?
Buy now £22.00, Tesco
Asda Extra Special Late Bottled Vintage Port
Smooth and rich with bags of intense berry flavours, this pocket-friendly port from Asda’s Extra Special label offers those on a budget (all of us?) plenty of bang for their buck, while the hefty bottle itself looks far posher than its reasonable price tag. An absolute steal – tell only who you must.
Buy now £11.50, Asda
ALDI Mince Pie & Jamaican Rum Mulled Wine
It says mince pie on the label, but who’s going to arrest you if you pair this flavoured mulled wine with another pud, the Christmas police? Delicious for all festive occasions, Aldi’s bottle is spiked with Jamaican rum offering a shot of sunshine in the mix, just when you need it the most. With 5 per cent ABV, it’s a lovely partner that won’t nudge you into a Christmas Day nap (it’ll likely be the turkey dinner that does that).
Buy now £2.89, ALDI
Black Lines Oatnog
With many brands now cottoning onto the fact that vegan Christmas food and drink is very much here to stay, we're thrilled to welcome Oatnog into the fold. The serve may be free-from, but you'd never guess with a creamy, buttery, gently spiced drink filling each waiting glass.
This year there's even more incentive to buy a bottle - Black Lines will provide five free meals to Londoners through The Felix Project, a charity close to The Standard's own heart.
Also available at Master of Malt.
Buy now £18.00, Black Lines Drinks
Black Cow Christmas Spirit 50cl
Whether in a cocktail or splashed over brandy butter, Black Cow's festive version of its vodka is sure to find fans around your Christmas table. The flavoured gin has been made with warming spices and fruits: think brown sugar, currants, figs, raisins, orange zest, lemon zest, cinnamon and vanilla. They all serve to heighten the experience of tucking into Christmas pud.
Buy now £23.94, Amazon
