Exquisite selection of gifts for the miraculous Resurrection sunday celebration
We all know that there's always a festive fever before the big holidays. Everybody is in a hurry, hustle, agree on the place of the holiday, choose gifts. So today, I decided to rid you of at least one problem - the choice of a gift. I climbed on the Internet, and collected for you the best, in my opinion, combination of alcohol and sweets. Perhaps my selection is slightly subjective, but I hope most will stop by.
I'll start with MOËT & CHANDON and BUTLERS WHITE CHOCOLATE
Moët & Chandon’s latest Limited Edition is the Gold Fairy bottle. And as usual, it will ensure that you always arrive with the most memorable and stylish present. Emblazoned with scenes of Paris, crowns, the Eiffel Tower, bottles galore and popping corks, this bottle of Moët & Chandon Impérial NV will definitely hit the mark.
Luxury chocolatiers and “purveyors of happiness” Butlers have extended their bestselling Powder Puff chocolate box to house a foil-wrapped white milk chocolate Easter egg and five white chocolate flake truffles. Creamy heaven.
Second composition is THE ROTHSCHILD COLLECTION CHAMPAGNE and VENCHI DARK CHOCOLATE
Elegance is very much the thread that joins all the wines from the Rothschild stable. Delicate, complex and creamy, Champagne Barons de Rothschild Rosé is like bottled springtime. Strawberries, rose petals, lemon zest, chamomile, honey on toast, fresh cream, raspberry sorbet and a long, mineral, almost Chablis-esque finish. Crafted using Chardonnay almost entirely from Grand Cru sites in Avize, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger, and Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims; it’s aged on the lees for at least three years and a further six months after disgorgement. It’s tension and freshness make it a wonderful Champagne for food that is sure to delight with anything from canapés to strawberries and cream, and almost everything in between.
Three layers of dark, thick and soft gianduja. A layer of 56% dark chocolate with almond paste is sandwiched between two layers of 75% dark chocolate laced with Piedmont hazelnut paste. This dark chocolate version of Venchi’s traditional Cremino bar is a soft, melt-in-the-mouth delight, particularly when served alongside a sweet Sherry, dark rum or black coffee.
Third option is RÉMY MARTIN 1738 ACCORD ROYAL COGNAC with HARVEY NICHOLS EGGS
Like all Rémy Martin cognacs: 1738 Accord Royal is harmonious, rich and long on the palate, with generous notes of plum and fig marmalade rounded out by intense oaky notes of toffee and toasted bread. Exceptionally round with a creamy aftertaste and a concentration of nutty aromas, this is an excellent Cognac that boasts great quality.
Decorated with colourful roses, topped with playful bunny ears and filled with luxurious milk chocolate truffles, this novel Easter gift is as mad as a March hare. Each egg, having been crafted and painted by hand, is completely unique. And with only 30 produced, they’re rarer than Fabergé eggs. So, if you want one, you’d better get cracking.
Fourth gift set - HARVEY NICHOLS CASE OF SIX and CHOCONCHOC WHITE CHOCOLATE
Harvey Nichols' Lovely Bubbly brings together our three exclusive expressions of sparkling wine: Brut Champagne, Brut Rosé Champagne and Prosecco. As with all of our own label wines, each one is produced with great care and attention to detail, which shines through in the outstanding quality of the resulting wines. Whether the occasion calls for something fun and frivolous in the form of our Prosecco, something more glamorous in the form of our Brut Rosé or something celebratory in the form of our Brut, there is a bottle here to suit all palates and situations.
The picture-perfect White Chocolate Strawberry Punnet is so beautiful it is almost a shame to eat it. Each of the six fruits is handmade using the creamiest Belgian white chocolate, and it’s a perfect treat to scrump on while watching Wimbledon. Alternatively make them the centrepiece of a decadent afternoon tea or picnic. What better way to celebrate the great British summer?
Fifth option - RON LA HECHICERA SERIE EXPERIMENTAL NO.1 AÑEJO RUM and BISCUITEERS BISCUIT TIN
With no additives or sugar, the smoothness of La Hechicera comes purely from the noble wood of the barrels it has been aged and finished in. Think leather, Madeira, vanilla-laced oak, barbequed pineapple, flambéed banana, pecan pie, juicy raisins, prunes soaked in Armagnac, marzipan coated in dark chocolate, ancho chilli and sweet butterscotch. Dark, rich and woody; this will keep you warm in the cooler months. And with only 7,200 bottles of this highly collectable rum released worldwide, it’s sure to be in high demand, especially considering its beautiful blue wax seal, rainforest motif and hand-numbered bottle.
No Easter festivities will be complete without Biscuiteers’ Easter Party Luxe Biscuit Tin. Bursting with bunnies and erupting with eggs, there are a dozen hand-decorated and brightly coloured biscuits in here, which should prove plenty to see you through the long weekend or a sizeable egg hunt. According to Stylist Magazine: “There is no biscuit like a Biscuiteers biscuit.” We couldn’t agree more. Their hand-iced biscuits are twice-baked to a traditional English recipe, creating a texture that falls between the snap of classic gingerbread and the crumble of buttery shortbread.
Sixth present is ARMAND DE BRIGNAC BRUT CHAMPAGNE with HARVEY NICHOLS CHOCOLATE EGGS
The iconic, flagship tête de cuvée from the 11th generation Cattier family. 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier and a trio of vintages; 2009, 2010 and 2012. To taste, peach, apricot and red berry aromas, followed by crystalized citrus, orange blossom and hints of brioche. Rich palate of cherries, exotic fruits, lemon, vanilla and honey. The mouth is soft and creamy, with a hint of toastiness, from the unique dosage aged for one year in French oak.
One is never enœuf. Luckily you have three dozen chocolate praline eggs in this box. Individually wrapped in colourful foil, each milk chocolate egg contains a silky-smooth praline filling studded with little crunchy bits. Perfect for an egg hunt, an Easter present or simply for enjoying solo – the latter avoids there being an inevitable standœuf over the last one.
Seventh choice - THE DIGBY ENGLISH SPARKLING WINE and HARVEY NICHOLS GOLD ALMOND DRAGÉES
Hand-blown, lead-free, dishwasher-safe, thin and light, the glasses are an absolute joy to drink from. The short three-finger stem design takes inspiration from antique Georgian cut crystal. Meanwhile, its angular lines focus English sparkling wine’s inherent energy, drive and freshness. Dipping inwards at the top, the glass traps all those delightful orchard aromatics and fits elegantly against the lip. Pleasing to the eye and full of personality, its bowl is easy to swirl and its low centre of gravity helps to prevent spillage of the elixir within.
As this is Harvey Nichols, there will be no boring confectionery here. Big and shiny, that’s how we like our indulgent snacks. Hence why we created these enormous Gold Almond Dragées - delicious crunchy almonds in crispy coats that are sure to add a little golden glamour to proceedings.
Eighth pick - BOTTEGA PETALO MOSCATO SPUMANTE and VENCHI DARK CHOCOLATE EASTER EGG
As the rose on the bottle suggests, this low alcohol Moscato is kissed with the scent of roses and a touch of sweetness. Petalo Moscato is the perfect wine for a romantic picnic or surprise breakfast. Alternatively, it could be paired with Turkish delight or red fruit-based desserts. If that doesn’t stir amorous feelings, the rose-covered box that it comes in, is also rose scented. It’s the perfect gift when you want to set hearts aflutter.
To create this unbelievable vegan-friendly Easter egg, these Italian master chocolatiers have formed a shell of 75% Cuor di Cacao dark chocolate with a layer of 56% dark chocolate and then completely coated the inside with crunchy, pearl-like 80% Chocaviar granules from Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. Protected within a metal tin, this is the chocolate equivalent of a Fabergé egg.
Ninth offer - GAME OF THRONES SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY with BOOJA BOOJA EASTER EGG CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
Every one of Diageo’s Game of Thrones-themed whisky series is highly collectable, but this one is something special. An ode to The Night’s Watch, the Oban Bay Reserve, in its black bottle complete with the ominous vow delivered by the stewards on the Wall, is the perfect dram for staving off the cold, dark nights. Spicy with rich flavours of cherry pie, marmalade, blackcurrant jam, dark chocolate, Olbas Oil, crunchy-topped crème brûlée and a fresh log thrown on the fire. The Oban Distillery sits on the border between the wild, scary Island malts and the softer, friendlier Highland malts, so it makes a fitting tribute to the men of the Night’s Watch, who carry out a similar role. Actually, come to think of it, from certain angles Oban Distillery actually looks like a big, imposing, black wall, maybe it inspired Castle Black? Don’t watch this one for too long, it’s sure to sell out rapidly.
Booja Booja is the foreword in dairy-free, gluten-free and soya-free luxury and they’ve crafted an exquisite collection to help you celebrate Easter in style. Their Large Easter Egg with Hazelnut Crunch Chocolate Truffles is one of our favourites thanks to its incredible hand-painted keepsake egg that houses the twelve sumptuous truffles packed with roasted Italian hazelnuts. A perfect present for modern day chocoholics and vegans.
Tenth - HIGHLAND PARK 17 YEAR OLD SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY and CHARBONNEL ET WALKER CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES
This is an intensely warming dram, one built to hunker down inside with and shelter from the wild winter weather pounding on the windows. Lose yourself in the heat and the complexity that swirl around like a tempest; fig rolls, roasted chestnuts, cinnamon sticks, orange and polenta cake, lemon pepper, stewed herbal tea, coffee beans, pine sap, Christmas spices, brandy-soaked raisins and the smoke of distant barbeques on the sea breeze.
Can’t decide between Charbonnel et Walker’s Milk or Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel Truffles? Don’t worry, this assortment contains a layer of each, so you can merrily enjoy the creamy richness of milk, before the box swings open and you’re lured over to the dark side. Inspired by a recipe belonging to the Second Earl of Sandwich that can be traced back to 1668, the truffles within this candy stripe box make a perfect gift for any occasion, or simply a treat for yourself.
Of course, this selection is not complete, but you already have the first ten options. Write me in the comments if you want to see the continuation of this collection or are you interested in other compositions. Or maybe you already got something? In any case, I will be interested to read.