Best Christmas food and drink hampers for a festive feast

Our best buy overall goes to the DukesHill ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ hamper. This is a perfect all-rounder and includes signature Wiltshire ham, pork rillettes and oak-smoked salmon, which is delicious and perfect for Christmas morning blinis. The cherry on top is a lovely, bubbly cava brut to sip.

The Cote Hill blue cheese was another highlight, a meltingly creamy and potent blue cheese that can be easily spread on crackers. Then the sweet offerings include a lovely light fruit cake, milk chocolate honeycomb, top-notch rustic mince pies and moreish Scottish shortbread.

This hamper is perfect for anyone who loves a G&T. The Rock Rose Gin is made with Scottish botanicals, and a full-size bottle is presented in the hamper alongside two cans of Rock Rose Gin and tonic, with flavours of orange zest (these are some of the best canned gin and tonics we have tried).

Also included in the hamper is a Rock Rose engraved gin glass and a candle called “distilling day”, to burn while sipping. There is also a small dog-shaped chocolate lollipop.

If you’re a fan of the bitter negroni cocktail, you’ll love the count negroni hamper from Handmade Christmas Co. The cocktail is made up of sweet red vermouth, bitter orange Campari liqueur and gin, and is the perfect warming winter cocktail. Alongside some tasty snacks, the hamper also comes with a cocktail jigger for the perfect measures of each element and a cocktail stirrer that will magically make you into a festive mixologist.

With six expertly selected bottles of wine – a champagne, a rosé, two whites and two reds – this hamper is a great choice if you’re hosting drinks with friends this winter.

The celebratory champagne is aged for five years and is the perfect way to welcome people into your home. The light Cotes de Provence rosé, served as chilled as possible, was a particular favourite with our testing party. The Inama Carmenere Piu wins the award for prettiest bottle and has deep fruity and spicy notes of plum and cassis – festive perfection.

An IndyBest favourite, Snowdonia Cheese Company’s hampers are great for lots of occasions and this one is perfect for a festive cheese board. There are three cheddars – one truffled, one extra mature and a rich cave-aged cheese – with a trio of chutneys that pair beautifully with each of the cheeses. The rhubarb and gin chutney is a highlight.

This made for a great cheese and wine night with friends and there are some distinctly festive flavours, including the fig and sultana toasts; the warming, fruity red wine; and the fig and apple chutney. There is even some chocolate to nibble afterwards.

Anyone who knows Biscuiteers knows it has some of the cutest biscuits and adorable packaging around, and the happy Christmas gift box is really a joy to open. Inside, there’s a tin of meticulously hand decorated biscuits, iced with adorable festive motives, including a reindeer, a Christmas pudding and a snowflake. The delicious, lightly spiced gingerbread biscuits pair beautifully with the bottle of Biscuiteers own-brand prosecco.

If you’ve been to Cambridge-based cafe Fitzbillies, you’ll know it’s home to some of the best Chelsea buns. These squishy, decadent delights can now be enjoyed all around the country, with nationwide delivery available. For pure Christmas fun, this hamper includes a 10-bun Christmas tree.

The other treats in the box include a bottle of champagne, 12 macarons and 12 gooey brownies, for the 12 days of Christmas – we won’t judge if you eat them all at once. The hamper is called a ‘Christmas Thank You’ hamper but this can just as easily be bought as an end-of-year celebration for you and your family.

If beautiful packaging is your thing, the Charbonnel et Walker scrumptious hamper will be an absolute delight to open. The beautiful round box is packed with a variety of chocolate goodies, from festive caramelised biscuit truffles to cocoa-dusted almonds. Highlights for us were the chocolate almonds and the delectable hot chocolate that comes in a very pretty tin. This is perfect to share with family over Christmas or to give as a gift.

Wine and chocolate is a pairing as perfect as a partridge and a pear tree, and this hamper from Darts Farm in Devon combines the two very well.

A selection of bean-to-barn artisan chocolate treats (made at the farm) comes with three bottles of wine – a red, a white and some bubbles – plus an extraordinarily delicious jar of raw honey. This is a great way to support a small farm business.

The first thing we noticed upon opening the chic, black wicker hamper was the design of the packaging – the Harvey Nichols team always pulls it out of the bag.

There is a range of tasty tonic waters with quirky flavours – such as elderflower and pomegranate, orange and lavender, and raspberry and mint – that pair beautifully with the dry gin included. A festive mulled wine is definitely a warming option, and the sweet treats that accompany the drinks are well thought out. The highlight was the pomegranate and pistachio Turkish delight – a sweet and fragrant treat that we couldn’t stop reaching for.

This London deli never fails to impress with its hamper offerings. A carefully curated selection of Panzer’s favourites, the Christmas connoisseur box is a delight from start to finish. From the Fine Cheese Company crackers that pair perfectly with the Shorrocks Lancashire bomb cheese and bishop stilton, to the Panzer’s three-nut selection box and smoked salmon (a particular highlight), the hamper contains everything you need for a foodie feast.

A nice mix of Christmas classics (think Delaforce port and Nana Lily’s fruit cake) and indulgent evening snacks (the Damar tartufi dark chocolate with truffles is just as good as it sounds), the line-up arrives in a box complete with green and pink ribboning, adding to the luxury.

For cheeseboard lovers, this hamper from Devon-based cheese maker Sharpham will be a perfect companion over the Christmas holidays. We loved the rustic chive and garlic truckle, which paired beautifully with the caramelised fig chutney. Meanwhile, the flagship cheese from the dairy, the Sharpham brie, was mouthwatering alongside the super-spicy scotch bonnet chilli jam.

A festive elderberry port liqueur was a sweet addition and made for happy sipping while piling cheese on crackers. The locally made fruit cake finished everything off perfectly. Another standout is the charcuterie platter from Good Game, which uses traditional curing methods – the peppery pork is delicious. The only slightly unharmonious addition was the pasta.

Ensuring you’re well catered for during your festive celebrations, Rick Stein’s family hamper includes a huge 21 products, spanning savoury snacks, fish, sweet treats and vino. Whether indulging on Christmas Eve with caramel sea salt chocolate, vanilla fudge, sea salt truffles or raspberry and white chocolate shortbread (deliciously moreish) or toasting to Christmas morning with a glass of champagne and marmalade on toast, the hamper has every front covered.

Completing the line-up, there are Spanish red and white wines thrown in for good measure, while the two tins of Cornish pilchard fillets in olive oil and rich tomato sauce will pair perfectly with your leftovers come Boxing Day. A lovely touch, there’s also a lobster tea towel designed by Kate Stein, giving you a keepsake to use after the Christmas festivities are over.

Giving you a taste of The Newt at home, this hamper is stellar. Housing a selection of artisanal cheese from suppliers in the area, this hamper has everything you need for a festive cheeseboard. From the Bath soft cheese and blue cheese to the Driftwood goat’s cheese, Merry Wyfe cheese and Solstice soft cheese (a real crowd-pleaser), the line-up is paired with cheddar and apple oatcakes, cheese biscuits and straws, fig and sultana cheese crackers, and jars of chutney, piccalilli and damson fruit cheese.

Topping off the celebrations, three bottles of cyder (fine, single variety and the award-winning ice blend) are found in the hamper. We also loved the thoughtful touches of a giant chocolate coin (great for any little ones at the dinner table) and a Newt 2024 calendar.

If you’re after something a little more classic, The Newt’s Christmas hamper (£145, Thenewtinsomerset.com), complete with chocolate, wine, nuts and olives, is equally enjoyable.

On The Table curates gift boxes of food and wine that are perfect for sending to loved ones over the festive season or to share with your friends and family. We tried the ultimate food lovers gift box, which includes cheeses – the bix organic soft cheese was a particular favourite – alongside a delectable charcuterie platter, plus red wine.

We liked that you can make a whole meal from the hamper: start with a cheeseboard, then rigatoni and tomato pesto pairs well with cured meats, and a glass of one of the outstanding red wines included in the box. There is an excellent Cretan olive oil for extra drizzling, too.

While the price tag is slightly steep, we still think this is a great box for the foodie in your life.

From chef Ottolenghi, known for his London restaurants and delis, comes this hamper, which is chicly packaged and practically overflowing with flavourful festive treats.

The signature panettone is soft and fruity, perfectly paired with the plum and blackberry jam. Jars of Christmas essentials include rosemary spiced nuts, which are impossible to stop nibbling, plus preserved lemon and chilli olives.

The sweet treats are the highlight of this hamper, with white-chocolate-topped cranberry and oat cookies, moreish lebkuchen amaretti, perfect for a festive coffee in the morning, and the delightful Ottolenghi Christmas cake. Pre-order now for Christmastime delivery.

Luxury department store Fortnum & Mason epitomises British Christmas, with its classic Christmas hamper that arrives in a large wicker basket, full of festive wine and treats.

Find indulgent champagne truffles and biscuits in pretty tins, chutneys to pair with your Christmas cheeseboard, brandy butter, plus a caddy of the loose-leaf tea that was originally made for King Edward in 1902.

The highlight is the wine, all of which is sourced by in-house sommeliers. The champagne is the perfect Christmas morning treat on its own or in a cocktail. The classic Christmas pudding paired with lashings of custard is also a must.

One of the cutest additions to our festive hamper line-up this year is the Bellini Box from Fortnum & Mason. What better way to celebrate with your breakfast on Christmas Day than a morning cocktail? We love a festive bellini, made with sparkling wine and peach puree.

Inside the box, you’ll find Fortnum’s own prosecco plus Alain Milliat peach nectar. This is a great gift for anyone you’re visiting on Christmas Day.

Based in the rolling countryside just outside Faversham, Macknade is 175 years old and has been a staple on the Kent food scene for generations. The Christmas favourites hamper is a culmination of excellent food and drink that will take you through the season.

A celebratory champagne and warming port make up the drink selection, while sweet offerings include mince pies, Macknade’s own panettone, and Christmas pudding. Beautifully packaged stilton is great for those who love strong blue cheese, and we loved the cherries in kirsch syrup, which make a great addition to festive cocktails.

What started out as one of London’s trendiest neighbourhood bars, Top Cuvée pivoted to selling wine and at-home meals during the pandemic. The bar has since come back as strong as ever, serving great wine and Italian food, but you can still order wine – and Christmas hampers! – online. Its house wine offerings have become cult classics among young wine drinkers.

The essential Christmas hamper makes a gorgeous little gift and contains a delicious bottle of sparkling wine alongside anchovy stuffed olives and salted pretzel chocolate in a bright orange tote bag.

For a taste of Italy, try one of the food and drink hampers from Fattoria La Vialla. This sustainable and biodynamic family-run farm in eastern Tuscany produces its own olive oil, cheese, sauces, honey, pasta and wine, much of which can be found in the farm’s Christmas hampers.

We tested the largest hamper which includes six bottles of wine, the highlight was the sparkling rose. There is also cured spicy sausage which pairs nicely with the homemade tomato sauce and rigatoni pasta. The sweet treats are delicious too, with raisin studded viallini biscuits and Tuscan almond biscuits that are exceptional with a coffee.

This hamper even comes with a handbook including information on all the products and some recipes with the products included.

Daylesford is an organic farm in the Cotswold Hills that consistently creates beautiful hampers for all occasions throughout the year – we even reviewed the King’s coronation hamper back in the spring. The Christmas range comes complete in the unique branded white wicker baskets which can be used as storage afterwards.

The hamper is the perfect way to spend a festive evening when it’s cold and miserable outside. Warm up the spiced mulled wine on the hob, filling your house with scents of Christmas, and enjoy alongside decadent chocolate-dipped biscuits. The other highlights include the truffle and pecorino nuts and blood orange and cranberry gin, the perfect way to Christmas-ify your sparkling wine. The hamper even comes complete with a small fig-scented candle to perfectly complete the mood.

Iconic French macaron maker Ladurée has launched its hamper and gift box range, with beautifully packaged boxes tied with pink and green ribbons and overflowing with sweet treats to have a Marie Antoinette-style tea party.

In the imperial hamper, there is a box of 12 of the brand’s classic macarons – we adored the raspberry, vanilla and pistachio, plus more chocolate treats like milk chocolate coated candied lemon, a box of six Eugénie which are chocolate-coated shortbread biscuits in a variety of flavours with a melting heart centre. We loved pairing the sweet treats with the fabulous Earl Grey tea.

If you want to take the stress out of Christmas Day shopping, consider the Made in Oldstead Christmas Day Beef Wellington Menu box. Everything you need to cook a succulent festive wellington with all the trimmings is inside: goose fat roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, fragrant red cabbage and sprouts with bacon and chestnuts, pigs in blankets and more.

The menu is four courses, and there’s plenty of food to go around per person. Start with a delicious and warming butternut squash soup drizzled with parsley oil and topped with toasted hazelnuts, then tuck into a starter of oven-warmed sourdough with smoked salmon, salmon pate, cream cheese and other condiments. The main event is the beef wellington which is tender and juicy with a flaky egg yolk glazed pastry. The dessert is a melting chocolate fondant pudding with toasted hay cream and damson gel. The perfect festive ending to a hearty Christmas dinner.

There are simple instructions in the box which are easy to follow and the dishes are even boxed separately with condiments and garnishes grouped together for ease of assembly. There are three tins of wine which make two small glasses each to pair with the dishes, and we loved the sweet dessert wine. The only downside was the Yorkshire puddings didn’t cook properly, which may have been our oven rather than the puddings themselves.

This hamper is made to order for delivery on December 22 to be eaten over the Christmas weekend and can be ordered for two, four, six or eight people and starting at £175.

With its bricks and mortar bakery located on the Strand in London, Toklas Bakery serves homemade bread and artisan pastries. It has now produced two Christmas hampers which are packed with festive pastries and sweets - that come tied with a pretty red bow.

The festive hamper comes with delicious festive treats including lemon shortbread, marzipan filled stollen, seasonal preserve, amaretti cookies, Christmas cake and mince pies. Highlights included a sensational bergamot marmalade and the soft spiced ginger cookies. This would be the perfect hamper to lay out for “Santa Claus”, a cosy Christmas Eve by the fire.

New Theory - run by a brother duo - works with low-intervention wine makers in South Africa to create delicious and attractively-labelled bottles of wine. The Christmas pack consists of a characterful orange wine called white lies, a pet-nat sparkling wine called pot luck and plastered with a whimsical skeleton motif is growing pains, a barrel matured red.

The perfect gift for a wine-lover, these three kings will round out a dinner party perfectly, each of these three wines is unique but widely appealing. The highlight for us was white lies, the wine was the perfect accompaniment to our cheeserboard and will have you hooked on orange wines. The bottles when bought in this pack come with free shipping.

Funky Cellar is a cheese and wine shop and bistro located in London’s Spitalfields and this year has paired with Belgian brewery Chouffe to bring two Christmas hampers. We tried the deluxe Christmas chouffe hamper which includes two blonde beers and two cherry beers, a range of cheeses and cured meats, plus preserves, olives and crackers.

Practically everything about this hamper is perfect, from the raisin studded crackers that are perfect topped with comte and fig preserve to the sweet cherry beer, peppery saucisson and melting camembert wheel. A lovely addition to this hamper is two branded beer glasses. This is a great alternative to a wine based hamper, and the price is reasonable.

Founded in 2017, Pique creates hampers and picnic baskets pakced with delicious food and drinks throughout the year. Now Pique has joined forces with Whitebox, the canned cocktail company, for special festive picnic hampers. Featuring a cracker with two canned cocktails - with a choice of negronis or margaritas - this is the perfect way to spend an evening in for two.

We opted for margaritas, the less festive of the two options, but a fun cocktail to have alongside the charcuterie board, rosemary and garlic studded camembert with salty rosemary focaccia to dip, deliciously flavoured sausage rolls and more. Sweet options include chewy pistachio and white chocolate cookies and caramel brownies.

Featuring a beautiful bottle of Cygnet Welsh dry gin, this is an elegant hamper that features attractive Pempem de Choc chocolate selection, sashimi grade salmon, truffled honey and goat’s cheese.

Highlights include the Pempem de Choc chocolates, which are wonderfully colourful and intensely flavoured, the salmon which was perfect matched with the soft goat’s cheese that has a two-star great taste award. This is a lovely gift for someone who likes the finer things in life.