Half Hitch Gin
If the effervescent colour of the Camden-made Half Hitch didn't give it away, this ain't no ordinary gin. It is, however, very much in the London Dry style, but an extra punch of earl grey tea, among others, in its secret blend of botanicals and other flavourings, mean it makes a G&T like no other.
£42.64, masterofmalt.com
Old Forester Bourbon
American whiskey has now fully taken over the London bar scene, and if you can't make a decent old fashioned at home – well, you should learn.
Old Forester is a fantastic all-round whiskey for the price, lovely for sipping with an ice cube or two but coming alive with sugar, Angostura bitters and orange zest.
£35.45, thewhiskyexchange.com
Snow Queen Vodka
Given its make-up (it's basically a neutral spirit) a lot of people perceive vodka to be a flavourless drink that's not worth spending good money on.
Snow Queen will prove you wrong on all counts – its subtle notes sing in a vodka martini, if that's your tipple. What's more, it's organic and ethically made, too.
£32.49, ocado.com
Rémy Martin XO
If you really want to make a statement, an XO cognac is the best way to do it. In simple terms, XO stands for "extra old", meaning some of the eaux de vie used in the blend are around 70 years old. This means more complexity and subtlety, and more of those beautiful dried-fruit and caramel notes, too.
If it's XO you're after, Rémy Martin is an icon for a reason.
£134; thewhiskyexchange.com
The Botanist Gin
For something a little different, check out this herbaceous gin from Islay, normally better-known for its whisky. It features 32 botanicals, the vast majority of which are hand-foraged within a few miles from the distillery.
£35; marksandspencer.com
