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[T1093]Top 10 Gifts For Christmas

by Sandy Lee, San

Mulled Wine

A long held tradition, especially on cold evenings, a glass of mulled wine is a wonderful way to greet guests after a trudge through the winter weather. Mulled wine can be bought ready-mixed such as the ever-popular Glühwein or you can create your own by adding cinnamon, orange, cloves and honey to a bottle of red wine and warming it by the fire in a pan. By adding orange juice you can turn the mulled wine into a punch.

Traditional Ales

Although largers are always popular, traditional ales still hold an important part of the drinks market and are always one of the top ten drinks for Christmas. With hundreds of microbreweries up and down the country, there are plenty of ales to choose from. Some breweries also produce speciality ales for the Christmas season and these are often beautifully presented with specially designed labels, making them a perfect Christmas present for an ale lover. Kernow Gold Ale, for example, is one of the most popular and well loved of the traditional ales.

What better way to finish off Christmas Day dinner than with a glass of fine cognac? A warming, palate-cleansing drink, fine cognac has been traditionally the perfect way to round off a good meal. Classics such as Hennessy Fine de Cognac always go down well at Christmas.

Alcohol free larger

Although Christmas is a time of celebration, you may be entertaining guests who have to drive after the party. A selection of alcohol free beers will mean that they can join in the toasts without running the risk of drinking and driving afterwards.

White wine

The drier, lighter white wines such as Pino Grigio have become more popular over heavier, sweeter wines, and are perfect for mixing with soda water or lemonade to make a refreshing ‘spritzer'. White wine also makes a perfect accompaniment to fish or white meat dishes, helping to cleanse the palate in between courses.

Red Wine

Heavier and more full bodied than most white wines, a good red wine such as a Merlot or a New World Shiraz makes an ideal gift for your party's host. Red wines tend to have richer bouquets and prices range from just a few pounds for a perfectly drinkable bottle of Merlot to hundreds of pounds for a vintage bottle for a true wine connoisseur.

Rose wine

Rose wine became popular in the 1970's with the iconic Mateus Rose. After dropping out of fashion for a while, Rose has made a comeback in the past year, with new varieties available, particularly from the New World producers such as Australia and Chile. They are often slightly sweeter than most white wines.

Cocktails

A combination of stronger spirits and either fruit juice or carbonated mixers, cocktails are an ideal way to get a party really jumping. Do remember though, that cocktails can actually be much stronger volume-wise than they first appear, particularly if the fruit juice or mixers mask the taste of the spirits. If you're mixing cocktails this Christmas, why not go for some exotic additions such as Rodniks Absinthe, for a truly unique flavour?

Spirits

Spirits are always high on any list of the top ten drinks for Christmas, mainly because there is such a huge variety available, catering for all tastes. From superb malt whiskeys such as Glenfiddich, Irish whiskeys such as Jameson's or Bushmills, through to the more exotic like the coconut rum mix of Malibu or the warming orange flavour of Cointreau, a selection of spirits (including the old favourites such as Vodka and Bacardi) is a must for any Christmas celebration.

Champagne

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a glass of Buck's Fizz on Christmas morning. The refreshing mix of champagne and orange juice is a classic and sets the tone for a day of celebration and fun. Champagnes are available to suit all pockets, from the indulgently expensive Dom Perignon to the cheaper Cava. Remember that to call itself Champagne, the wine has to come from the Champagne region of France. A quick check on the label will tell you if your Champagne is genuine.

If you're like the average person and you don't know much about flying, it makes it hard to pick out the right gift for your loved pilot. Pilots tend to be extremely picky when it comes to receiving a gift that relates to what they're passionate about. Pilots have been polled to find out what kind of flying related gift they would desire and the top results are as follows:

1. Aviation Headset: a top of the line aviation headset is all your pilot needs to alleviate the noise in their current headset. Unfortunately, the more expensive headsets tend to be higher quality. High-end headsets eliminate static and generally contain comfortable, soft gel padding for around the ears.

2. GPS: with this, a pilot will be able to effortlessly navigate through various terrains and never get lost. Who doesn't want the pilot in their life home safely and on time?

3. GPS with XP Weather: take care of your loved one with the GPS and XP weather device; complete with a color moving map and terrain.

4. Chrome Airplane Clock: this clock is perfect for every pilot. Place this beautifully crafted airplane on any pilot's desk and they'll spirits will fly.

5. Subscription: get your loved one a subscription to their favorite flying magazine. Many flying magazines have tips and tricks of the trade-- you can't go wrong with this gift.

6. Flying Books: there are plenty of aviation books on the market for all levels of pilots, from novice to expert.

7. Model Airplanes: you can choose from a wide variety of model airplane styles. You can purchase a model airplane that is already assembled or opt for an airplane with some assembly required. Pilots love these planes, no matter which option you choose.

8. Leather Flight Jacket: give the gift of flying in style. A leather flight jacket is a timeless must for pilots everywhere.

9. Monogrammed Flight Shirts: monogrammed flight shirts are a great way to personalize your gift. These top of the line flight shirts show that you took your loved one's ardor into consideration when purchasing his/her gift.

10. Collision Avoidance System: make sure your loved one always flies safe. Collision avoidance systems are a sure way to avoid all other aircrafts in the sky, even in the worst weather conditions.

There are plenty of gifts for you to choose from. Note: Some of the above presents are more expensive than others. Keep in mind that these gifts last forever. If you opt for a more expensive present, like the collision avoidance system, you will not regret your investment.

Article Source : Uk Food And Drink

About Author

Both Sandy Lee & Paul Gregory are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Sandy Lee has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family Concerns, Arts and Home Management. Visit Drink Finder for the .. Sandy Lee's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.

Paul Gregory has sinced written about articles on various topics from Food and Drink. Paul Gregory is an aviation writer who, after years of receiving sub par , decided to pen a piece on useful gift ideas such as a. Paul Gregory's top article generates over 3600 views. to your Favourites.