Spectator Life

A look at the Christmas Hampers of 2021

  • From Spectator Life
iStock

Already a subscriber? Log in

This article is for subscribers only

Subscribe today to get 3 months' delivery of the magazine, as well as online and app access, for only £3.

  • Weekly delivery of the magazine
  • Unlimited access to our website and app
  • Enjoy Spectator newsletters and podcasts
  • Explore our online archive, going back to 1828

St John’s Wood’s famous delicatessen Panzer’s offers a luxurious Christmas hamper packed with an array of culinary delights. It features their famous, thick-sliced smoked salmon, various cheeses from stilton to Montgomery cheddar, Firetree dark chocolates and even a 2012 bottle of Delaforce Port. The highlight, though, has to be the delicious 15g pot of Sturia Oscietra Caviar.

Christmas Connoisseur Hamper, £135, nationwide delivery.

Snowdonia Cheese Company

Snowdonia_Cheese_Vegetarian.jpg
The Vegetarian Christmas Star Hamper

Snowdonia’s cheese hamper was almost perfect. The aged cheddar was the best: well-balanced between maturity and softness. The truffle cheese was a disappointment: not just taste wise, but ideologically. Truffle is in vogue, but not for any culinary merit. Even cheese hampers are not immune to populism.

Vegetarian Christmas Star Hamper, £75, mainland UK delivery.

Daylesford

Sparkle-Smoked-Hamper.jpg
The Sparkle & Smoked Hamper

Daylesford’s ‘sparkle and smoked’ hamper has all you could want for Christmas morning. Bung the blinis in the oven for the briefest of moments, then smudge with a little dill and mustard sauce, or if you prefer, the anchovy cream – and top with the perfectly pink Irish smoked salmon. Crack open the Sparkling de Léoube rosé and away you go. It all comes in a smart white wicker hamper which could easily be repurposed to keep nick-nacks in. Thank you, Lady Bamford!

Sparkle & Smoked Hamper, £150, nationwide delivery.

Melrose and Morgan

Melrose_&_Morgan_Festive_Artisan_Tea.jpg
The Festive Artisan Tea Hamper

The lemon and orange zests of Melrose and Morgan’s Somerset Cider Brandy Butter give a sweet kick whilst retaining a buttery richness one would expect. In fact, it greatly compliments a butter croissant, so I would keep hold of it for post-Christmas festivities, if you can.

The Festive Artisan Tea Hamper, £50, mainland UK delivery.

Harvey Nichols continental hamper; £140

Harvey_Nicholls.jpg

In this age of Covid, everyone knows that jetting around the continent isn’t as fun as it used to be. Thankfully, Harvey Nichols has done the hard work for you. Its Christmas ‘Continental Hamper’ helpfully gathers various festive flavours from around Europe and delivers it to your doorstep. There’s chocolate and amaretti panettone from Italy, champagne – and champagne truffles – from France, and Gouda Cheese Palmiers from the Netherlands. Britain is also well represented: a selection of Earl Gray teabags and cheery cherry jam – laced with brandy – make the cut. The hamper highlight though is an old-fashioned favourite: a tin of chocolate biscuits. These are meant for sharing but you can hardly be blamed for scoffing the lot before the big day.

Harvey Nichols continental hamper, £140, available online

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in