Wet your whistle and get your cocktail-concocting on point with these top-notch delivery services
Lead image: jimandtonic.com
Jim and Tonic
Image: jimandtonic.com
Clue’s in the name: the jauntily-titled Jim and Tonic is a small-batch gin operation using quality ingredients to delectable effect. They’re also all about sustainable production, using recycled water, packaging and local ingredients. Their distillery bar can be found within London’s Mercato Metropolitano, but until that reopens, head to their website and order in the brilliantly good value Home Cocktail Making Masterclass Set.
The kit gets you started with four gins (including latest launch, London Dry Gin), mixers, garnishes and all the mixology equipment an aspiring pro could need. There’s a recipe booklet with a DIY guide to four gin cocktails – a Pink French 75 and Classic Gin Sour being two of them – but we suggest joining in the fun and interactive live masterclass over Zoom with Jim & Tonic’s chief mixologist, ‘Mixo Seb’.
From £49. Order here, next masterclass is at 7pm on Saturday 3rd April
Glasgow Distillery
Image: glasgowdistillery.com
One of Scotland’s first licensed distillers, the Glasgow Distillery relaunched in 2014, becoming the first Single Malt Whisky Distillery in the city for over 100 years. As well as offering temptation with their whisky range, their ‘cocktails @ home’ service has got you covered with premium gin, rum and vodka. The special kits include a your chosen spirit, mixer and recipe card – we’ve got our eye on the ‘Glasgow Mule’ with Banditti Spiced Rum and the delicious-looking ‘G52 Espresso Martini’ with G52 Rich Coffee Botanical Vodka.
Prices vary, order from the website
Heads, Hearts & Tails
Image: heads-hearts-tails.myshopify.com
More of a Cognac connoisseur? This sexy little kit from Heads, Hearts & Tails and Rémy Martin will have you counting down the minutes until you can bring out the crystal and let cocktail hour begin. The focus is on what we would argue is the crème de la crème of the cocktail world – The Old Fashioned. Your drinks package comes with everything you’ll need to get creating, including Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal Cognac, sweetening syrups such as fig & plum and coconut & chocolate, garnishes and two crystal tumbler glasses.
Priced at £44.95, available here
The Cocktail Man
Image: thecocktailman.co.uk
Top mixologist James Vyse wants to get you making world-class cocktails at home – and for friends and family when we’re all allowed to see each other. The expertly crafted ‘cocktail experiences’ could have you creating an array of delights, among them a Champagne Cosmopolitan, Lemon & Elderflower Collins, Raspberry & Rose Gin Fizz and our personal fave – the Rhubarb & Ginger Negroni. The box, which contains “4 generous servings plus 1 for a late gatecrasher”, features Conkers Port Barrel Gin, Campari Bitters, The Cocktail Man’s very own Rhubarb & Ginger Vermouth (10%), detailed instructions and dehydrated orange for garnish.
From £34.99, browse the full selection here
Cahoots
Image: facebook.com/cahootslondon
C’est magnifique! We may not be able to travel to Paris right now, but we can channel the amorous spirit of the City of Light in our living rooms. London bar Cahoots have lovingly assembled a cocktail kit for two – ‘Love Letters from Paris’ – with two lust-worthy cocktails on the menu. ‘The Metropolitan’ is a gin, Chambord, and vermouth concoction with fruity flavours, while ‘La Petite Mort’ (oh-la-la!) is a more-ish serving of bourbon whiskey, Amer Picon aperitif, D.O.M. Benedictine liqueur, Lillet Blanc vermouth, chestnut liqueur & licorice bitters. Garnishes are included and there’s an instructional video so it all goes smoothly.
£39, order here
Cocktail Crates
Image: cocktailcrates.co.uk
A classic tequila serve and a goodie – couldn’t leave out the salty-but-lovely margarita, could we? This sleek-looking set by cocktail gift box brand, Cocktail Crates, has you kitted out with enough ingredients for four cocktails. There’s the all-important tequila, some orange liquor, lime juice… and they even provide the Himalayan salt. Whether you decide to gift it to yourself or someone else is up to you, but get the margarita glasses ready either way and follow the easy instructions for a tangy tipple.
Priced at £43.99, order here
Salcombe Gin
Image: salcombegin.com
We’re big fans of Salcombe Gin, having gone in person to their Devon-located bar to sample their award-winning wares (well, someone’s got to do it). Given that a G&T is in fact a highball cocktail, the distillery’s Bespoke Salcombe Gin Gift Set is a good opportunity to try a bonafide classic with some premium ingredients. You can pick between the Rosé Sainte Marie (a fresh-tasting ‘pink’ gin) or the classic, more citrus-led Start Point, then select your preference of Fever-Tree tonic water and build your own perfect serve. The copper jigger for measuring is a nice touch too.
