Dorset-based and brother-run, Let’s Mix
Cocktails is bringing bar-worthy cocktails into people’s homes
at a fraction of the price of your local. Each bottle has been
crafted from years of expertise, produced with a range of
all-natural, high-quality ingredients and packaged up without a
hefty pricetag (each glass costs a cheerful £3 a pop). All that’s
left for you is to pour in your preferred spirit and mix. Bottoms up.

Doing precisely what it says on the tin, Low specialises in
low-intervention, biodynamic wines that have been processed with as
few chemicals as possible. Why? Simply put, it’s healthier for
people and the planet, and tastes just as delicious. Choose from a
one-off bottle from the online shop, or subscribe to gain access to
hosted events that fuse emerging music with emerging wines. Have a
boogie and give a cheers to that.

Founded by childhood friends whose plan to open a physical
natural wine bar was wrecked by Covid, online wine club Oranj is the latest addition to London’s
up-and-coming natural wine scene. Become a member and you’ll
receive a new wine box of curated tipples every month (selected by
a different sommelier or foodie each time), plus an artist-designed
poster and a booklet of tasting notes, recipes and food-pairing
suggestions.

In the natural harbour of the Kingsbridge Estuary, South Devon’s
pretty town of Salcombe is the so-called “Hamptons of the UK”,
renowned for stunning views, shipbuilding and sailing. Of course, a
drop of mother’s ruin usually washes up with maritime heritage.
Paying homage to the 19th-century Salcombe Fruiters – ships that
carried cargoes of fruits and spices – Salcombe Gin
infuses citrus and aromatics in copper stills to create its
award-winning Start Point and blushing Rosé Sainte Marie. Bottles
and merch are available for delivery, but for a taste par
excellence, plan one of its staycation experiences and a lesson at its gin school.

Support small, independent winemakers with the online-only,
crowd-funded Naked Wines. “Angels” (that’s you, the customer)
donate £20 each month, which goes towards supporting the producers,
letting them focus on the quality, not quantity of their grapes.
For that, you can order quirky, off-beat labels you won’t find
elsewhere at wholesale “insider” prices (up to 33 per cent off).
It’s good plonk for less money and buffs your halo too. Cheers to
that.

For several evenings we’ve fantasised about clinking caipirinhas
on Copacabana Beach or knocking back negronis by the Arno.
Thankfully for those living within an 11km radius of Mayfair’s Hide
restaurant, a decent cocktail is but a few clicks away, even in the
depths of a socially distanced winter. As part of the gourmet
Hide at Home
offering – think: croque monsieur for breakfast, grazing platters,
three-course menus – the Hide Below bar has put together a
cocktail-delivery service. Our nightcap of choice? Hot spiced gin
punch.

Breaking the rules, one bottle at a time. So goes the tagline of
Renegade, an urban winery and bar tucked in a
graffitied arch in east London. Think of it as a craft brewery for
wine, putting together experimental hybrids – the bacchus pilsner
is a strong order here – as well as spotlighting its makers by
printing their faces on the labels. Wine bundles come with a decent
discount and UK delivery is free, but if you live within 12km of
the store you can get your hands on a (chilled) bottle within the
hour.

While we can’t make it to The
Newt in Somerset, we’re getting a taste of its bountiful
grounds by way of its food delivery service. The fresh sourdough,
sustainably homegrown veg and artisan-made pantry items are great,
but special mention goes to its offering of Babylonstoren wines and
selection of ciders pressed and fermented on-site. Tasting sets and
a mulling kit go down very easily, but for the gift that keeps on
giving, sign up to the Cyder Club for quarterly discounted delivery
and access to special reserves.

Put down the JD; this niche subscription service brings the
world of small-batch whisky to your door. Sign up to the Craft Whisky
Club‘s membership (from £29.95 per month) to receive boxes of
one or two full-size, artisanal bottles – upcoming brands include
The Lakes in Cumbria and the Scottish lowlands’ Kingsbarn
Distillery – along with gourmet snack pairings. Home tasting
session? It would be rude not to. Gift memberships are also
available.

Clos19 is the arbiter of some of the world’s finest
tipples; it sources rare spirits, vintage champagnes and sniffs out
enough premium wine labels to keep oenophiles happy well into 2021.
Bookmark these guys for when you start planning cocktail parties of
six. Looking for a nailed-it pressie? Check out its Art of Giving page to personalise a bottle.

Specialising in biodynamic, sustainable wines from passionate,
under-radar producers across the world, the Wanderlust Wine Club is a three-tier subscription
service (from £24 per month) for which you’ll wrap your lips around
four to 10 bottles every four weeks or so. Wine is sourced direct
from the vineyards so producers receive a fair price, while club
members can join in free tasting events and talks with the makers.
Alternatively, snag a case of its bestsellers to see you through
the holidays.

This Kent winery has made delivery free on all UK orders, so if
there was ever a good time to stock up on its award-winning English
sparkling, it’s now. It’s not just vino that these guys produce –
order the Chapel Down intro case for a couple of bottles of
bacchus, its blushing pinot noir gin, a brut and a Curious Brew
lager and cider. Alternatively, shake things up with a cocktail pack.