Whether your poison is a sweet treat, fine wine or gin, don't forget to raise your glass a key workers when you enjoy what follows.
The swishest takeaway of all time
Remember those M&S adverts? 'This is not just [insert name of generic foodstuff]. This is Marks & Spencers [generic foodstuff] made with [insert list of exotic-sounding ingredients].'
Clever stuff, but isolation means a chance to up the ante on dining at home thanks to Fischer's of Baslow Hall — which we visited a couple of years ago, and loved. They're making their Michelin-star fine dining available for home delivery, and also giving their suppliers a way to sell their goods. www.fischers-baslowhall.co.uk
Just in case you can't think of an excuse to pour a gin...
Slingsby gin is running a 'gin quiz' on Instagram and Facebook at 6pm this very evening at the time of writing — we're not sure what the questions will be, but there are prizes... and, well, it's gin, on Friday. What's not to like?
The company has been running regular 'sofa sessions' so even if you miss this one, another will surely be along soon.
Meanwhile, Manchester Gin and Tobermory Gin are both — separately — running gin tasting sessions live via their Facebook and Instagram pages. The idea is that you buy a bottle and drink along — you can also submit questions to distillers.
Both are offering discounts to sweeten the deal: Tobermory is giving 10% off, and donating a further 10% to The BEN hospital charity. Manchester Gin, meanwhile, are offering 20% off for key workers, and have a tasting set of four gin miniatures, glasses, tonic and tasting notes. Tobermory Gin on Facebook Manchester Gin on Facebook
Make someone's day (your own, or someone else's) with a hamper
Now this really is a nice idea: hamper specialists Cartwright & Butler are selling a range of lovely little treat boxes that, for the cost of a bunch of flowers, lets you send a selection of goodies to brighten the day of a friend or loved-one. You can order a 'Thinking of You' selection for just £27 — then again, you could always push the boat out with something fancier. www.cartwrightandbutler.co.uk
Instagram live wine tastings
A wine delivery company called www.pullthecork.co.uk (who specialise in organic and sustainable wine and so on) is running live tastings on its Instagram page — the idea is that you order a trio of wines for £45, and can then follow along. www.pullthecork.co.uk
English wine from home
Having spent the last decade helping visitors to explore the vineyards of England and Wales, Wine Cellar Door has branched out by opening an online wine shop. They're not taking orders and delivering themselves, but instead pointing customers direct to vineyard websites — meaning that it's the producers (such as Leonardslee) who take 100% of the proceeds. www.winecellardoor.co.uk
-
The iconic American bars in London perfect for lifting a Thanksgiving cocktailGlamorous American bars were once a familiar sight in London, catering to US and British citizens alike, but only two of the historic ones remain. On the eve of Thanksgiving, Robert Crossan goes in search of both.
-
Curious Questions: Why was absinthe banned?Absinthe is almost unique among alcoholic spirits for having been outlawed in even some of the world's most liberal countries — but how did that happen? Martin Fone traces back the story to find the tales of debauchery, hallucination and even murder that once gave the drink its bad name — and looks at how it's returned to prominence.
-
Perry: The pear cider dubbed 'the English champagne' that's been an English passion for centuriesNot to be confused with cider, the art of perry-making is more than a craft — it’s an English passion. Ben Lerwill meets some of our best producers of fermented pear juice.
-
Seven of the best non-alcoholic spirits to help get you through Dry JanuaryWhether you’re doing it for health reasons or simply for a New Year’s challenge, giving up alcohol isn’t necessarily all that easy. To help you on your way, the Country Life office put a variety of non-alcoholic spirits to the test. Here’s what we found.
-
Hangover cures from some of Britain's greatest writersFrom Hemingway to Wodehouse, we reveal the hangover remedies of literary greats.
-
Christmas drinks gift guide: Best gin, best whisky, beer and more for the festive seasonWhether you're keen to pour your own draft beer, drink Cotswolds whisky or enjoy a raft of different gins, we've got you covered.
-
How to decant wine — and whyIs your decanter gathering dust at the back of a cupboard? If so, says Harry Eyres, it’s high time you started using it to breathe more life into your wine.
-
Curious Questions: What is it REALLY like giving up alcohol for a lifelong lover of fine wine?Sobriety is easier and more interesting than it used to be, finds Giles Kime, who has spent the past year exploring the unanticipated delights of alcohol-free beer.
