According to an expert.

Ahead of the festive period, NIO Cocktails has partnered with Jay Halford, owner of luxury catering company, Reeka Events, and a private chef to celebrities, who has shared the best drinks Brits should pair with Christmas food this year.

Christmas Dinner

“There are a few drinks that are a must-have when it comes to Christmas dinner. The first one is the classic mulled wine or a good spicy Christmas punch. The warm spices in these drinks echo the seasoning in the various ingredients, creating a well-rounded festive experience.

Gin or vodka also pairs well with a Christmas dinner, too, ensuring you offer plenty of mixers for the spirits so your guests have a good variety to choose from.”

Roast Turkey

“If served cold, we personally love to pair turkey dishes with a nice chilled Cru Beaujolais. The light, fruity notes of the Beaujolais complement the lean, delicate flavours of cold turkey.

For roast turkey, served straight from the oven, we’d recommend a rich white wine like the Aromo Viognier. This gorgeous wine has the body and flavour to match the robust, savoury notes of the roast turkey.”

Christmas Pudding

“ A whiskey-based drink like an Old Fashioned really compliments Christmas Pudding. The rich caramel and vanilla notes in the whiskey reflect the deep, spiced flavours in the pudding, creating a luxurious and indulgent experience.”

Gingerbread

“We haven’t found anything that goes better with the sweetness and spiciness of gingerbread than a smoky Scotch. The smoky, peaty notes in the Scotch pair well with the spicy warmth of the gingerbread, creating a complex and satisfying flavour profile.”

Cheese Board

“Wine is one of our personal favourites to enjoy with cheese. For strong cheeses like Gorgonzola, Roquefort, or Stilton, we recommend a zippy Sauvignon Blanc or a New Zealand Riesling. The high acidity in these wines cuts through the richness of the cheese, making for a balanced and refreshing pairing.”

Cranberries

“Rum or a ginger ale work well with cranberries.  The tartness of the cranberries is balanced by the sweetness of the ginger ale, while the rum adds a warming kick.”

Chocolate Yule Log

“A full-bodied red, like a Zinfandel or a Cabernet Sauvignon, is always perfect to pair with chocolate, especially if it’s a rich homemade Yule Log, with a dark chocolate cream filling. The dark fruit notes in these wines embody the deep cocoa flavours in the Yule Log, making each bite and sip a heavenly match.”

Trifle

“It depends on the type of trifle (and how much sherry is in it), but you can’t go wrong with pairing it with a good sweet wine or an ice-cold fruity liqueur. We find that the wine or the sweetness of the liqueur enhances the fruit and cream layers, bringing it to life.”