5 trendy drinks to try or gift this Christmas

A bottle of wine or champagne can make a great Christmas gift (and a handy last-minute one), but there are plenty of other possibilities if you want to get a little more creative with your gift-giving.

From orange wine to limoncello, we've rounded up some up-and-coming options worth considering this Christmas, if you want to give (or try out) something with a little more flair.

Whether you're after a fruity liqueur or a sophisticated spirit, or something alcohol-free – there's something for everyone. 

Find out what's been trending in the world of drinks, who it might suit, and where you can buy it below.

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1. Orange wine

If you're looking for a gift to impress a wine-lover, orange wine is currently the hot ticket.

Orange wine, which originates from Georgia, has grown in popularity over the last year or so, though it's still relatively hard to get hold of. We haven't seen much on supermarket shelves, though some have options online, usually costing around £10-£15.

Despite what the name may suggest, it isn't made with oranges. It's actually a type of white wine made by fermenting white grapes with their skins on (similar to the way red wine is produced). As it stays in contact with the skin, the wine produced has a slightly amber colour. 

The flavour of orange wine can vary significantly – some bottles are light and refreshing, while others are bolder with a rich depth of flavour – so it's worth checking the tasting notes when choosing. 

As it's a skin-contact wine, it tends to have a more unusual and complex flavour profile compared to standard white wine, so it's a great gift for someone wanting to explore new flavours.

We asked a few wine fans who'd given orange wine a go for their thoughts and they echoed the above, saying they had tried some they really liked and others that disappointed. So it might be a bit of an adventurous choice!

Paul Lester, Which? tech editor, says: 'I found orange wine soft rather than sharp but with a distinct enough flavour to make it a nice change from a more acidic sauvignon blanc.'

Where to buy orange wine: 

Ocado has the widest range of options, with prices ranging from £9 to £21, including a couple of M&S own-brand bottles. You can browse the range at Ocado. 

Other supermarket options include:

• Cote Mas Vin Orange, £10. Described as having fresh citrus and zesty spice flavour. Available at Waitrose.
• Bonny Doon Le Cigare Orange, £15. Described as having the scent of peaches. Available at Tesco.
• Rigal Vin Orange, £8. Another one described as peachy, with citrus aromas. Available at Morrisons. 

You'll also find some options on Amazon, including Solara Orange Cramele Reca, £13, a Romanian orange wine which is one of the better known brands. 

If you've sampled orange wine in Wagamama's, and want to get hold of the orange wine it serves, it's called Gerard Bertrand Gonora, and you can buy it at Vivino for £8.90.

For tried-and-tested wine recommendations, see our independent reviews of the best champagne, the best sparkling wine and the best red wine

2. Sake / Sparkling Sake

Sake is a Japanese alcoholic drink made from fermented rice, following a brewing process that's similar to beer. The end product is more akin to wine though, and it's sometimes referred to as Japanese rice wine. 

Typically the flavour is mild with some fruitiness, and tends to complement more delicately flavoured food. There are still and sparkling versions available. 

Standard sake is typically a little stronger than most wines at around 15% ABV, whereas sparkling sake tends to have a lower alcohol content of around 5-7% ABV. 

Sake is made with a special rice called sakamai, along with yeast and koji, which is a mould used to convert the starches to sugar. The rice grains are polished to remove the outer layers and improve the flavour. More premium sake generally has a higher proportion of polished grain (at least 30%).

Jessica Carson, Which? food and health editor, says:

'I decided to give sparkling sake a try recently, having read about its rise in popularity. I was pleasantly surprised – it's softer than sparkling wines such as prosecco, but still pleasantly bubbly and full of fruity flavour without being too sweet. I got definite hints of pear. 

It's a good alternative to sparkling wine – it still feels special, but it's very easy-drinking and the lower alcohol content is a bonus too. I tried the Takara Mio sparkling sake, which is one of the more widely available options (at Amazon, Ocado and Tesco).'

Where to buy sake: 

You can buy sake from several supermarkets including Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose. It might be harder to find in stores vs online though. 

Small bottles start from as little as £5, but pricier choices can cost upwards of £20. 

Ocado has the widest range of the mainstream supermarkets, but there are plenty of online specialists too, such as London Sake and the Sake Collective.

Best Asian gins – our experts uncovered two top-scoring Best Buys in our blind taste test

3. Tequila / Mezcal

Mexican agave-based spirit tequila has been growing in popularity in the UK in recent years, and there's now a wide selection of options available in supermarkets.

The flavour can vary depending on factors including the type of agave plant, the length of fermentation and the method of aging. 

Blanco tequila is aged briefly (less than two months) in steel tanks and generally has a strong, pure agave flavour with grassy and spiced notes, so is best for those familiar with tequila who prefer punchier flavours. 

Other types of tequila such as Reposado and Añejo are aged in oak barrels, which leads to a richer, more complex profile with notes such as vanilla and caramel.

Mezcal is the smokier cousin of tequila, and can use any type of agave plant as its base, whereas tequila is always made from blue agave. It's a bit harder to track down in supermarket stores, though you'll find a wide range online.

Where to buy: Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose all have a selection of tequilas available. The cheapest bottles start from around £15, while the most expensive can be more than £50. 

4. Limoncello

With its vibrant, yellow colour and sweet, citrusy flavour, a bottle of limoncello is the perfect gift for brightening up dreary winter days.

This lemon liqueur, originating from Southern Italy, is traditionally served chilled as an after-dinner digestif. More recently, it's become popular to mix it with prosecco and soda and serve as a fruity, refreshing spritz.

It's a nice idea for someone who's perhaps fond of the ubiquitous Aperol Spritz, as the fresh taste with a bitter edge holds similar appeal.

Daniella Delaney Mendes, Which? senior editor, says:

'I've started making homemade limoncello to gift to family and friends. It's super easy to make. You simply combine lemon peel and vodka, leave for a couple of weeks, then top up with a homemade sugar syrup and bottle. 

Bringing a touch of the Amalfi coast into the recipient's lives never fails to make them smile.'

Where to buy Limoncello: 

​Pallini Limoncello is a popular supermarket brand, available from Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco (£15.75 for 50cl). 

You can also buy Santa Marta Limoncello from Waitrose (£16 for 50cl).

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5. Low-alcohol botanical spirits

Low-alcohol alternatives have come forward leaps and bounds in recent years, and there's now a wide choice of 'botanical spirits' to suit a variety of preferences.

For festive cocktails minus the booze, there are plenty of alcohol-free options that aim to recreate the flavour profile of classic spirits including gin, rum and whisky. 

In our 2022 gin taste test, we asked our experts to taste a selection of low and no-alcohol botanical 'spirits' to find out which ones are worth trying. Gordon’s and Tanqueray 0% spirit drinks were preferred over cheaper supermarket own labels, with our experts finding they did a better job of mimicking the flavour notes of an alcoholic gin.

If you're after something a little different however, there are also non-alcoholic options focused around creating unique flavour profiles. Popular flavours include green herbs, rhubarb, grapefruit, ginger and spiced orange.

Jessica Carson, Which? food and health editor, says:

'Low-alcohol drinks are increasingly sophisticated. Whether you want to replicate a favourite spirit, or try something new and different to your average soft drink, there are plenty of options. I recently tried some flavours from no-alcohol brand Drinks Kitchen at a local market, which really impressed me. The bottles are beautiful too, so they can make a great gift. '

Where to buy low-alcohol alternatives: Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose have a range of low and no-alcohol options from the big brands. They tend to be similar in price to alcoholic versions, although supermarket own labels can be slightly more affordable.

Many big alcohol brands produce their own low or no-alcohol versions, but there are some specialist brands too, including Nozeco, which specialises in low-alcohol wine, and CleanCo and Pentire, which produce non-alcoholic spirits.

You'll also find a wide selection of options online. Try online specialist Dry Drinker. There's also a wide range on Amazon, including popular brands Everleaf, Mother Root and Sentia.

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Other ways to save on festive favourites

If you're thinking of gifting a bottle, but want to keep costs down, it's worth keeping an eye out for multi-buy offers in the run up to Christmas. Several supermarkets offer 25% off when you buy multiple bottles (typically 3 or 6) including Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco.

There are also plenty of cheaper supermarket alternatives to expensive brands. For example, Aldi often sells wines and spirits designed to mimic big brands but at a fraction of the price.

Hannah Fox, Which? principal researcher/writer, says:

'I'll always look out for a bottle of Le Petit Poulet at Aldi. It's a rosé wine similar to La Vieille Ferme (AKA the viral "Chicken wine"). It costs £6.50 so is cheaper than La Vielle Ferme (£8.50) and is very drinkable. Or Chassaux et Fils Saint Victoire Provence rosé (£10.99), which is a nod to the ever popular Whispering Angel rosé wine (£22). For a red wine, Aldi's The Reprobates (£4.99) is a much cheaper alternative to 19 Crimes Red wine (£9.50).

Looking for more last-minute Christmas gift ideas? Check out our guide to the best gin and the best champagne truffles

See DrinkAware for information and advice about drinking responsibly.