Christmas 2016: Food and drink gifts and subscriptions

Christmas is the time of giving, so give the gift of food, whether it's a potent festive spirit or a monthly subscription that just keeps on giving

The gin and tonic kit includes a dry gin, tonic waters and snacks – from £39

What do you get someone who has everything? Something they can use – and, perhaps more importantly, eat. From monthly subscriptions to DIY hampers, and beginner sets to help you master your favourite cusine, we’ve listed the best artisanal products to satisfy even the biggest foodie. As well as gorgeous gifts you can wrap up or take to parties, we’ve got a selection of goods to take the worry out of gifting. There is no need this year to give another dodgy book destined to gather dust.

The monthly cheese club subscription, from £117

Craved – cravedlondon.com

Paving the way for Christmas food gifting is Craved, curators of craft food hampers and subscriptions. Everything it offers is made in Britain. It works with and supports independent producers with the aim of making food personal again. Packages are designed for lovers of everything from beer to gin and meat to chocolate. For boozy gifts, go for the London Spirit bundle, made for creating cocktails, which features some of London’s finest small, batch spirits. There’s also cheese and charcuterie gift subscriptions for three, six and 12 months, for making your own mini cheeseboard. These come with two British cheeses and two types of meat, crackers and chutney specifically matched to it too.

The Bone Daddies set comes with the cookbook and the essential items you need for its recipes

Sous chef – sous-chef.co.uk

Designed for people who love to cook, Sous Chef designs and creates gifts of ingredients, equipment and tableware from all over the world, where everything has been tried and tested too. Ingredients are sourced from producers who care about food. Nicola Lando started the company in 2012 with her husband with the hope of making top ingredients more widely available. Sous chef hopes people will discover new cuisines with gift sets complete with top cook books from Land of Fish and Rice to Sirocco and Made in India and all the basics you need for the recipes . Each set forms an introduction into China, the Middle East and India, putting initial fears of sesame oil, harissa and chana dal firmly to bed.

The Glentauchers 2008, £64.95

Milroys whiskey – milroys.co.uk

From London’s oldest whiskey specialist comes its first rebrand in 50 years, bringing out four new whiskeys – perfect for whiskey lovers, especially considering three of them are limited editons with one only having 208 bottles produced. The Glentauchers 2008 has been aged in ex-Vendamina Sherry casks and is rich with Christmassy notes such as dried fruit and chocolate with soft cloves, and only 769 bottles have been made. There’s even a tasting bar at the Soho shop, known as the Vault, which acts a try before you buy.

Taste of Italy monthly subscription box

Vallebona – vallebona.co.uk

If you’re obsessed with fine cured meats, delectable oils , rich tomato pasta sauces, all things Italian, then the Taste of Italy monthly food box was made for you. The boxes filled with Italian treats change in accordance with the seasons. Every month has its own package, along with a recipe card to help you create something. You can expect traditional Italian cheeses from gorgonzola to wild boar salami meats and some of Table Vallebona’s own pantry goods in the mix too.

If you love the taste, but not the stodge, try Sacred's liquid version of the pudding, £33.85

Sacred Christmas pudding gin – sacredspiritscompany.com

What more could you want, liquid Christmas pudding at Christmas time. The gin flavoured bottle has been made according to Ian’s Great Aunt Nelli’s recipe, apparently. If you dare, drink an ice cold shot after your turkey instead of eating the real deal – as makers Sacred suggest. Or for a more civilised approach, turn it into a Christmas pudding martini with a slice of orange zest on the side. Infused with the flavours of suet, currants, raisins and almonds, it's spicy and rich and has been distilled twice.

The Big Cheese hamper made up of artisan cheese from the Cotswolds

Love local for foodies – lovelocalforfoodies.co.uk

Who doesn’t love cheese. No one. That’s right. So the “Big Cheese” Cotswold hamper will be an instant winner. With six different types of artisan cheese – including some award winning – and it also comes with chutney, quince, beer and wine, which makes for a perfect home-made cheese and wine night. You can also add in extra items to the hampers if you fancy it. What’s better, the company does exactly what is says on the tin and loves local – suppliers are all from the Cotsworlds and have been carefully chosen for their quality.

Made for people who love more than just a little spice is the ultimate hot headz hamper

Anges de Sucre – andgesdesucre.com

The award winning bakery, Anges de Sucre, which is stocked in Selfridges, has stepped into the world of hampers. Each is created for a niche taste in food from the caffeine addicted to Middle Eastern lovers. If you’re all about the spice – as owner and Kuwait-born Reshmi Bennet is – then the ultimate hot headz hamper is made for you, with scotch bonnet piccalilli, jalapeno salsa, and son of Satan’s sweet hot sauce, just a few of the nine products. It also comes in a dark wicker hamper that can be re-used for (spicy) picnics.

Presented in a gift box, the small duo is £20

Sipsmith mince pie gin – sipsmith.com

Sipsmith has created a warming gin, reminiscent of freshly baked mine pies. Perhaps a less calorific way to enjoy one of the festive treats – depending on the amount you’re likely to consume. Made for gifting, the 90ml bottle comes in a Sipmsith-green box, with a mini bottle of Sipsmith dry gin. The recipe uses sultanas, raisins and dates, and the sweetness comes from traditional festive spices including cinnamon, clove and nutmeg, matched with a touch of vanilla to replicate the buttery taste of rich pastry. Sipsmith fans can become members of the Sipping Society, and receive experimental gins delivered to your door for £45 per quarter, or £160 for the full year.

Choose from three, six or 12 month subscriptions at Le Petit Ballon

Le Petit Ballon – lepetitballon.co.uk

Online wine boutique Le Petit Ballon has crafted the perfect gift for aspiring oenophiles to be purchased alongside their three, six or 12-month wine subscriptions. Boxes include the Gazette wine magazine, tasting notes and two bottles of wine each month, hand-picked by master sommelier and founding partner Jean-Michel Deluc. Especially for Christmas they will deliver an exclusive present with every gift card bought: either a bottle of wine with handy tasting notes to enjoy on Christmas Day, or tasting kit comprising two wine glasses and a Le Petit Ballon bottle opener while the recipient chooses their first box of wine from the website.

Recieve your monthly subscription of tea in test tube containers

London tea club – londonteaclub.com

Brits are synonymous with tea. Even if you don’t think you’re into tea, you probably are. And this club has it sorted, arranging monthly sets of tea, teaware and tea scented candles. Subscriptions start from £10 and three teas, selected from around the world, are sent in test tubes with a charming branded cloth pouch. The tea selection is huge, with long lists under each of the six categories – black, pureh, oolong, green, white and herbal. Hopefully you won’t be tead-out before the subscription is up.

Edgerton pink gin – edgertonpinkgin.co.uk

The juniper spirit of gin really is the flavour of the year, and as with wine, why not turn it pink. That’s what Edgerton have done, with their Original Pink Gin edition which (if nothing else) will make a conversation piece at parties– but more likely, excellent cocktails. Made with 15 botanicals, the rosey tint comes from the colour of pomegranates, and is not artificial. Although it’s not really a festive flavour, it is a sweet balance of sweet citrus and dry spiced notes.