The traditional Christmas cocktail party season may have ended in Covid tiers — but you can still recreate the best of the festive season with DIY cocktail kits delivered to your home.
Put together by expert bartenders (who, sadly, have a lot more time on their hands these days), these fun boxes contain everything you need to make top-quality cocktails, from ready-mixed formulas to measured portions of alcohol, mixers and garnishes.
Some kits even include cocktail shakers, elegant glassware and suggested playlists for that authentic night-out feeling. You can still get most of these kits delivered before Christmas, or there’s plenty of time to order a treat for New Year.
So how do they measure up? JENNY WOOD put them to the test …
The traditional Christmas cocktail party season may have ended in Covid tiers — but you can still recreate the best of the festive season with DIY cocktail kits delivered to your home
BERRY NICE
Nordic Negroni Arctic Bramble Akerbar cocktail kit (serves two, pictured below), £22.50, professional bar kit, £49.95, and two glasses, £16.99, drinksfusion.com
One of several cocktail kits available from Drinksfusion, this limited edition box includes the classic mix of gin, vermouth and bitters infused with a rare Arctic Bramble (Akerbar) berry, handpicked in the Arctic.
As well as a 200ml bottle of very fancy cocktail, there’s a link to an online tutorial, plus a pouch of unusual-looking berries and leaves to use as garnishes.
To get the full bartender experience, you can also buy stylish glasses to serve your drinks in, and even a professional-quality mixologist’s kit.
Last orders before Christmas: By 11am today.
Last orders before New Year: December 29.
Shaken or stirred? 5/5
PARTY IN A BOX
Gin or Rum Lovers’ Party Box (serves six), £90 plus free p&p, luckypineapplebar.com
By far the prettiest packaging of all the kits we tried, and it’s available with cocktails or non-alcoholic mocktails.
As well as all the spirits, syrups and fruit needed to create three different drinks, there are garnishes, recipe cards that double-up as wall art, gold paper straws and, depending on the kit, nibbles, decorations and an accompanying playlist curated by a professional DJ. A fantastic idea for a Zoom New Year party.
Last orders before New Year: December 24.
Shaken or stirred? 5/5
Some kits even include cocktail shakers, elegant glassware and suggested playlists for that authentic night-out feeling
MULE-TIDE CHEER
Gin-Gin Mule Kit (serves two, pictured below), £29.99, thisboxrocks.uk
Vegan-friendly and packaged in a fun gift box, this kit comprises everything you need to make two large Moscow Mule cocktails.
There are two 5cl bottles of Edinburgh gin, a mixer bottle of ginger beer, two paper straws and a recipe card, along with a pair of funky copper-coloured stainless-steel handled mugs to serve it in. Cheers!
Last orders before Christmas: By 11am tomorrow.
Last orders before New Year: Midday on December 30.
Shaken or stirred? 4/5
BESPOKE BEVERAGE
Bespoke cocktail kit (serves six), £150, thedrinks drop.com
As well as selling kits for cocktails from some of Manchester and London’s top bars — from mojitos to margaritas — the bartenders behind this clever service can also invent a bespoke drink just for you.
After a video consultation, learning your likes and dislikes, a mixologist will then create and name a cocktail in your honour, packaging it in easy-pour, recyclable and freezable pouches.
It’s delivered in a stylish box, with garnishes such as salt for the rim of your glass. It’s not cheap, but has the wow factor.
Last orders before Christmas: Tomorrow.
Last orders before New Year: December 29, by 3pm.
Shaken or stirred? 4/5
As well as selling kits for cocktails from some of Manchester and London’s top bars — from mojitos to margaritas — the bartenders behind this clever service can also invent a bespoke drink just for you
PROSECC-HO-HO-HO
Christmas Spritz Kit (serves six), £47.95, palefoxprosecco.com
Suitably sparkly, this kit contains a recipe card and everything you need to make a ‘Christmas spritz’, including a 75cl bottle of prosecco, pourable pouches of bitter amaro and cranberry syrup, a can of sparkling water and six decorative dried orange slices.
It comes in a large, tasteful box and combining it all makes you feel like a master of mixology.
Last orders before Christmas: Tomorrow, by noon.
Last orders before New Year: December 30, but check website for options.
Shaken or stirred: 5/5