With Dry January well and truly out of the way, we've found the best Valentine's gifts for sipping and sharing. Santé! (Although if you're thinking more of a foodie gift, we're on that too - just click here.)
1. Seven Days of Gin and Chill
SevenYays make 7-day countdown calendars for a range of special occasions where you choose a selection of gorgeous luxe gifts for a friend or family member that they can open over the six days leading up to any kind of ‘big day’ where they get a bigger gift - the Seventh Yay. If you are hoping to stay in your Valentine's thoughts, this gift hits the spot - everything from the upbeat design to the hidden treats is guaranteed to raise a smile, for a whole week. All the fun of an advent calendar, levelled up.
Choose a ready-made gift like this Gin and Chill box, or create your own from over 400 gift options. All of the gifts are sustainably sourced and ethically produced from responsible partners.
RRP: £32:00
2. Whisky & Dark Chocolate Gift Box
A classic pairing of Titanic Distillers Blended Whisky, dark chocolate buttons and dark chocolate batons. Great for - but not just for - the boys. Note: not all girls drink pink fizz.
RRP: £70.00
3. Soho Street Cocktails
Soho Street Cocktails is revolutionising the ready-to-drink cocktail market. Each of their small-batch, craft cocktails delivers on bar-standard flavour and consistency for a fraction of the effort and price. Packaged in cool 1.5 litre pouches with a wine box style tap, they are convenient, portable and genuinely delicious, perfect for an indulgent night of top-quality cocktails without the need for a bank loan, a barman, or an Uber.
The current Soho Street Cocktails range includes a Passionstar Martini, Espresso Martini, Raspberry Daiquiri, and a Piña Colada.
RRP: £28.99
4. Tequila Rose Strawberry Cream
This silky smooth strawberry cream tequila is a perfect gift for that sweet-toothed special someone in your life. Great as shots, or served over crushed ice. In a clever touch, the rose design on the bottle changes colour when it is chilled to the correct temperature - so when it's pink. it's ready to drink.
RRP: £12.00
drinksupermarket.com and selected supermarkets
5. Hepple - EDITOR'S PICK
The Hepple Gift Box is a seriously stylish and beautifully packaged gift. Included in the box is a 50cl bottle of choice, two gorgeous etched cocktail glasses with their signature Timorous Beasties juniper sprig design and a selection of cocktail cards. Choose between gin with wild juniper or a ready-mixed Ultrasonic Martini or Negroni - rapidly aged on juniper wood through the pioneering technology of ultrasonic infusion.
The ultimate gift if you're really looking to spoil someone, this has a real luxury feel.
RRP: £60.00
6. Savoia Americano
While you normally need both sweet vermouth and red bitters to make classic aperitivo-style cocktails like an Americano, Negroni or Spritz, Savoia brings both together in one elegant bottle.
Created by drinks-industry innovator Giuseppe Gallo and crafted in a historic artisanal distillery in Turin, Italy, Savoia Americano is a precise and distinctive blend of bitter (“amaro”) and vermouth (“dolce”) creating not only a delicious aperitivo in its own right but a convenient all-in-one base for a variety of drinks - perfect for that sophisticated night in.
RRP: £19.95
7. NIO Cocktails: Bitter-Sweet Love Cocktail Box
For couples who prefer exhilarating experiences to mushy moments, this box is the ideal choice. A cocktail menu split down the middle, with Negroni, Milano Torino, and Boulevardier on one side and Cosmopolitan, Daiquiri, and Gin Proved on the other.
Packaged with a cute Valentine-themed gift wrap sleeve, you simply select your cocktail, pinch the corner, tear and serve. All cocktails are crafted with premium spirits and created by NIO’s Master Mixologist Patrick Pistolesi, Founder of Drink Kong, ranked the 19th best bar in the world by World’s 50 Best Bars.
RRP: £41:00
8. Wine Unpacked: The Pairs Tasting Box
The one-off Wine Unpacked box sets out to introduce the fundamentals of wine tasting, with an additional subscription option that allows you to build and improve on your knowledge across a major range of wines. As well as six fun-sized wines, you will find everything you need to begin your wine tasting journey including tasting notes and access to online tutorials featuring Holly Willcocks, ex-Noble Rot sommelier and co-founder of Camden’s Half Cut Market.
Two size options are available, with the 6 x 100ml bottles designed for two people and ideal for a very cool date night.
RRP: From £35.95
9. Gordon's Pink Gin
Planning a Galentine's Night with your besties? Gordon's have their classic premium pink distilled gin available in some fabulous new, limited-edition bottles designed by artist and illustrator, Ruby Taylor to get the party started. Mix with tonic, lemonade or Prosecco, garnish with berries if you're feeling fancy.
RRP: £16.50
10. Pub in a Box
A Salcombe Brewery Co. ‘Pub in a Box’ is the perfect gift for any beer-lover and includes everything needed for an at-home pub night. There are three different options in the range (including a gluten-free set) and each contains some of Salcombe Brewery Co.’s fabulous beer, tasty snacks, branded glasses, beer mats and bar towels.
RRP: £19.99
11. Floral Prosecco Cocktails
Be your own bartender with this selection of delicately floral cocktails. Designed by Pritesh Mody, founder of World of Zing and Channel 4 Sunday Brunch cocktail expert, each Floral Prosecco Cocktail Collection is presented in a gift box and includes:
Orange Blossom & Passionfruit Spritz 50ml
Peach & Elderflower Spritz 50ml
Saffron & Rose Gimlet 50ml
200ml Bottle of Bottega Gold Prosecco
RRP: £17.50
12. Snow Queen Enigma Vodka
Snow Queen Enigma is a luxurious premium craft vodka, presented in an elegant cut-glass bottle, with etched frosting and silver accents. Subtly scented with rose, lavender and vanilla, it promises a refined and unique taste that's something a little different.
RRP: £45:00
13. Perrier-Jouet Gift Pack
A stunning Blanc de Blancs Champagne from Perrier-Jouët, made using 100% Chardonnay grapes and including a portion of reserve wines in the recipe. It spends three years ageing on its lees, and offers a flavour profile of crisp citrus, ripe orchard fruits and subtle floral notes including violet and vanilla blossom.
This gift pack comes beautifully packaged with a pair of pretty champagne flutes featuring a delicate floral design.
RRP: £76.95
14. Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru 75 Gift Pack
Impress your Valentine with your home bartending skills with this gift pack. Blend the new Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru Murcian Lemon and Martini Prosecco to make an elegant French 75, a refreshing celebratory cocktail and a perfect start to your evening.
Each pack comes with a full size bottle of each and a QR code that links to a video tutorial of how make this cocktail at home.
RRP: £45.00
15. 'Sealed With a Kiss' Liqueur
Isle of Barra Distillers have launched a limited edition Rhubarb & Heather Gin Liqueur for Valentine's Day; as well as being delicately pretty, the bottle has a hand-dipped red wax seal decorated with a lip-print kiss. Cute!
RRP: £22.00
[Items in this article may have been gifted to Chatting Food. No financial payment has been made to feature in this article, and entries to the feature are made independently by members of the Editorial Team. This page contains affiliate links and we may receive a small commission for purchases]
Deputy Editor, Chatting Food London: Amanda David
Freelance food writer, copywriter and blogger Amanda David is dedicated to sharing news about London’s restaurants, bars, events and general wonderfulness. It’s a tough job but somebody’s got to do it.
She has also just launched a new website, A Cook's Bookshelf, reviewing cookbooks old and new, with side-by-side photographs of recipe illustrations next to her home-cooked version.
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