Best buys
Toast the season Find inspiration for your shopping list with our festive drinks picks
MAKE IT A GREEN CHRISTMAS Give the planet a little TLC with these zero-waste tips and tricks
FRENCH FANCY Put the matches away – this luxurious Cognac is too good to pour over Christmas pud. Beautifully smooth with aromas of candied orange and vanilla, Courvoisier XO is an ideal gift for anyone with a love for the finer things in life – or the perfect treat after you’ve finished wrapping those last-minute presents. Courvoisier XO 20cl, £40 (£200/ltr)
Add flavour to dishes with wine ice cubes
PURR-FECT CELEBRATION
Instead of pouring almost empty bottles of wine away, tip them into ice-cube trays. The next time a recipe calls for a glug of wine, add a couple of the cubes instead.
If you’re planning a New Year’s Eve party, why not make Piper-Heidsieck Champagne your midnight toast? This striking limited-edition bottle and gift box, only available at Tesco, is designed to celebrate the screen adaptation of the hit musical CATS, in cinemas 20 December. Piper-Heidsieck Champagne 75cl, £33
Save flat fizz to make homemade vinegar Tip leftover fizz into a clean jar, then cover with a muslin cloth and secure with a rubber band. Leave in a dark place and in a few weeks you’ll have vinegar for dressings and marinades.
Use citrus peel for cocktail garnishes Twist neatly trimmed citrus peel over your finished drink or flash lemon or orange peel over an open flame to release aromatic oils and drop into an Old Fashioned.
Alcohol prices exclude Scotland
CREAM OF THE CROP Skinny Moo has 30 per cent fewer calories** than Feeney’s Irish Cream Liqueur. Enjoy this blend of Irish dairy cream and peanut butter flavours over ice, or use to make a Skinny Mootini for an after-dinner treat. Skinny Moo Peanut Butter Country Cream 70cl, £12.50 (£17.86/ltr)