Christmas Tipples 2025

CHRISTMAS TIPPLES: It’s nice to have something special on the table when welcoming family and friends around the festive period. I do like a Christmas tipple, usually in my plastic cup decorated with cartoon motifs. Which is probably not most people’s choice, but it is my tradition. There are some great drinks out there at the moment, from the traditional to the more creative. These are some of my top picks, depending on the crowd you’re trying to please.

The Big Guns

The big news for 2025 is the collaboration between Baileys and Terry’s Chocolate Orange. Which I can’t really believe hasn’t happened before, as it’s pretty much the match made in heaven. It tastes exactly as you hope it will. Decadently creamy, with sweet orange flavours running through and that typical boozy kick towards the end. Serve over ice to welcome guests. Or over ice when you’ve got the house to yourself and you don’t have to share it. (Around £11 a bottle)

Chocolate orange that focuses on bitterness

If a Baileys mash up is too sweet and rich for you, then look out the Outland Choc-Work Orange Stout. Same basic flavour profile, but instead of being sickly and creamy, this really pulls the bitterness out of the ingredients. Think chocolate nibs and orange oil, with a relatively light body and long finish. A more grown-up approach to the chocolate-orange combo. (Around £2.50 a can)

Eggnog for vegans?

Eggnog has never really been a massive thing in this country, compared to its fanbase in the states, but it does seem to be on the rise. Black Lines have created Oat Nog for the past few years to offer a dairy free alternative. It’s got creaminess and a flavour that leans heavily on oat and malt tones, cut through on the finish with nutmeg and a hint of vanilla.

I liked it, but I found as I got further down the glass I started to notice a bit of body missing in the lower register – the same issue I find with oat milk. This drink will please most guests, but those of us used to the mouthfeel of animal fats may be less inclined to go in for a second. Vegans are sure to love it though and it’s a good quality festive treat. (Around £20 a bottle)

Creamy pudding beer

Not strictly festive flavours, but certainly dessert in a can, seek out Black Iris’ collaboration with Azvex – The Splitz – a vegan friendly banana split ice cream sour. It’s made with banana puree and coconut cream, so it’s not wildly dissimilar in the glass from eggnog, if I’m honest, but you’ve got a nice sweep of acidity to tone down the richness. (Just over £6 a can)

Moderate strength wine

If you want to enjoy a drink but keep your alcohol consumption at a moderate levels, Future Château have released a range of 5% ABV wines. You can pick up a red, white or sparkling. I dived in with the Sauvignon Vermentino first. I thought the wine still delivered bold flavour despite the light alcohol content. It’s citrus led and dry, refreshing and has just a hint of salinity. Remember, low alcohol doesn’t mean no alcohol, but this is certainly a handy middle ground for keeping things on the lighter side. (Around £29 a bottle)

Table beer

Mid 3% ABV is a brilliant strength, and luckily the current tax system encourages brewers to level out at 3.4%. Just tipping over that however, is a wonderful mixed fermentation beer from Burning Sky, which is a great dry, refreshing beer that acts as a lower strength alternative to wine and is great for the heavy food of Christmas. Seek out Petite Saison, if you can find it,or any of its near cousins, like Petite Damson, for a fruitier hit. (Around £4 per can.)

Some of these drinks were gifted to me for research purposes, others I bought myself. Either way, I’ve written about all of them because I wanted to and given you my honest opinion. So there you go.