Drinks sage Douglas Blyde offers a bibulous Christmas guide led by Mayfair, then London-wide diversions
‘Tis the season to eat, drink and be merry, yet with such a plethora of choice on offer, picking the right festive tipple to suit your mood can be trickier than you might expect. Luckily, we have esteemed drinks expert Douglas Blyde on hand to guide you through the very best offerings in Mayfair and beyond. From a champagne-fuelled culinary journey at The Ritz to the world's most expensive cocktail at The Donovan Bar at Brown's Hotel, there's no shortage of decadent drinks to get you in the Christmas spirit. Read on for a season’s worth of diversions for thirsty Londoners, from Mayfair to the map's edges.
Start with Maison L'Epoque, a Cognac shaped by Tatiana Kharchylava, Creative Director at The Birley Clubs, and Cognac connoisseur Yohann Pinol, blending Grande Champagne eaux de vie across five decades.
£360, selfridges.com
At Birley Bakery, The Macallan whisky is folded into a 1kg panettone.
£50, birleybakery.com
At the legendary Connaught Bar, Director of Mixology Ago Perrone fashions a gin honouring London’s past, touched with red Bordeaux and Amalfi lemon.
£115, the-connaught.co.uk
The Ritz offers an Epicurean Journey guided by Executive Chef John Williams MBE with four caviars and choice of champagne.
£950 for two, theritzlondon.com
Lucky Cat By Gordon Ramsay in Grosvenor Square hosts a sake masterclass with sparkling, still pourings and canapés.
£190 for two, gordonramsayrestaurants.com
At The Donovan Bar at Brown's Hotel, cocktail maestro Salvatore Calabrese serves Salvatore’s Legacy with components including 1788 Clos de Griffier Vieux Cognac.
£8,500, roccofortehotels.com
And for regulars of Dukes Bar, where renowned head barman Alessandro Palazzi lets a trace of vermouth fall in the making of his martini, there's ānti-parfum’s Duke’s Carpet fragrance.
£175, anti-parfum.com
Beyond Mayfair, La Fromagerie in Marylebone runs vivid cheese and wine sessions led by founder Patricia Michelson and Senior Cheesemonger Max Melvin.
From £50-£395, lafromagerie.co.uk
Buffalo Trace’s Covent Garden outpost explores bourbon, American whisky blending, and elusive single barrels.
From £19.99, buffalotracedistillery.com
At Blackbook Winery in Battersea, music man turned sommelier, now winemaker Sergio Verrillo crafts frank English expressions including baby Grenache-like Drums>Space Red Field Blend.
£29.50, dvinecellars.com
Tour Wandsworth’s old Ram site with John Hatch, who saved its title of longest operating brewery, then enjoy Neapolitan-style pizza.
Visit Carmen O'Neal's ethical Haggerston distillery, 58 and Co, to distil your own gin alongside cocktails and charcuterie.
£125, 58andco.com
And over in Walthamstow, Burnt Faith reveals brandy’s potential via charentais distillation, with the butterscotch edged Batch One.
£36, burntfaith.com
