Picture the scene...
Your Christmas dinner’s been a triumph, the plates have been cleared and the wine decanter is empty. It’s time to relax and revel in your glory. And the best way to do that is by treating yourself and your guests to some classic after dinner drinks.
But what makes the perfect tipple after such a magnificent festive feast? We have some great recommendations for rounding off your Christmas meal in fine fashion.
What is a digestif?
As the word suggests, it’s a drink whose original purpose was to aid digestion after a meal. Whether or not an alcoholic beverage has a genuine post-prandial medicinal quality is open to debate.
However, an after-dinner drink – more often than not, at the stronger end of the scale – has become a much-cherished tradition, especially at Christmas. Let’s explore the vast array of choices available to you.
Getting into the Christmas spirit(s)
For most of us, the default after dinner option is to sip a warming spirit. In the UK that usually means getting out the finest whisky. We think that a dark smoky dram works very well after a grand Christmas meal. How about Ardbeg 10-year-old Single Malt from Islay? It’s officially the world’s peatiest single malt, whose complex, smoky flavours and richness are perfect for when the conversation is flowing late into the evening.
The sweeter vanilla notes of an American Bourbon whiskey make a great choice straight after a dessert or traditional Christmas pudding. Open a bottle of Elijah Craig Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and let its charred oak aromas and subtle, spicy flavours work their magic. This fabulous spirit also makes a perfect base for that most famous of cocktails, an Old Fashioned (a combination of sugar syrup for tamping down the spirit’s power and bitters to temper that sweetness). A huge festive favourite for US whiskey fans.
Brandy Claus is coming to town
In France, a Joyeux Noël and good brandy go hand in hand. The French regard their most famous spirit to be the king of digestifs. And who can argue when you’re enjoying the warmth, subtle texture and silky-smooth finish of a great brandy like Hennessy X.O? Or, for something just as easy on the palate and a lot more friendly to the wallet, try the mellow richness of Marquis de Montesquiou VS Armagac.
Head south to Marseille and you’ll find the locals like to sip a great pastis after a special meal, especially at Christmas. This aniseed-based spirit is infused with herbs which, proud locals will tell you, aid digestion. True or not, it makes for a great after dinner drink, diluted with a little water and plenty of ice.
rum-ember to spread christmas cheer
If you’ve holidayed in the Caribbean, you might have fallen in love with good-quality rum. So why not bring some island sunshine into your festive celebrations and pour your guests Mount Gay Eclipse Golden Rum. It’s fiery, richly fruity and perfect for rum punches like a Painkiller (a pineapple, coconut and orange infused cocktail topped off with that classic Christmas spice, nutmeg) or a cinnamon-topped Rum Eggnog.
Gin-gle bells, Gin-gle bells
Gin has enjoyed a spectacular renaissance in recent years. And it has a freshness and purity that is most welcome after a hefty Christmas meal. So, you can guarantee keeping guests happy if your post-dinner pour is a classic like Sipsmith London Dry Gin, with its palate-cleansing citrus notes, or rose petal-scented Hendrick’s Gin (served, of course, with a slice of cucumber).
Or, if you’d like to create a cracking festive cocktail, go for a Cranberry Gin Fizz. A syrup of crushed cranberry and sugar, club soda and gin, garnished with fresh cranberry.
Pass the Port
In days gone by, Port was the exclusive preserve of men folk as they discussed the important matters of the day, and the only person who drank sherry at Christmas was your granny. Thankfully times and tastes have moved on. So, which Ports should you be opening this Christmas? Well, there’s nothing wrong with a good Ruby, the simplest, sweetest and fruitiest style of all. And you may well already have opened a bottle to accompany the cheeseboard. If you go for a figgy, very-easy-to-drink star like Andresen Fine Ruby, chances are it will disappear quickly.
But if you really want to wheel out the good stuff, how about a classic Vintage, the greatest Port style of all. This heavenly style has been patiently aged in bottle for many years prior to release, so you really want to take your time to enjoy it. Fonseca Guimaraens Port 2012 is velvety, deeply complex and guaranteed to impress, yet comes in at a great value price for such a revered Christmas classic.
Have yourself a sherry little christmas
We’re deadly serious about Sherry. This classic fortified style from Spain has shed its fuddy-duddy image and is enjoyed by wine lovers of all ages. If dry and tangy is your thing, go for a Pale Fino from Barbadillo, a style much enjoyed in tapas bars across Spain. The same house produces an almond-scented Amontillado that excels with roasted chestnuts while raisiny Delicado Pedro Ximenez will delight anyone wishing to finish the evening on a sweet note.
What are the best after-dinner liqueurs?
Liqueurs are spirit-based drinks flavoured with herbs, spices and fruits and usually sweetened. Typically, they have a strength somewhere between 15% and 30% alcohol. Why do liqueurs make such good after dinner drinks? Well, they’re historical descendants of ancient herbal medicines so it makes sense that they’re considered good choices for settling the stomach after a good meal.
This Christmas, why not serve your guests one of Italy’s most classic liqueurs, Disaronno Originale. It’s an amaretto-style liqueur with a bitter-sweet notes and mellow, almondy richness. Serve it over ice or as a base for creative cocktails like the Godfather, Disaronno spritz (with sparkling water) or Disaronno Sour.
Or for a little French flair, go for Cointreau Triple Sec Orange Liqueur. Blended from spirit steeped in both sweet and bitter orange peel, it has a lovely balance of freshness and sweetness. It’s become a great favourite in the UK, neat over ice or as a great base for a festive cocktail. Time to get the shaker out.
The perfect sparkling wines
There are so many amazing best sparkling wines we recommend for our after your Christmas lunches (or dinners, no judgement). Our shortlist is this:
Windsor Great Park Vineyard Release is our top choice here – a rich and toasty with more than enough acidity and freshness to cleanse the palate – and the perfect glass to raise while watching The Royal Christmas broadcast.
Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée is a world-renowned Champagne – a classic choice for your Christmas celebrations.
Harrow and Hope Brut Reserve is another top choice – complex, creamy and elegant, it offers the perfect balance of creamy richness and zesty freshness.
