CHRISTMAS STOCKING FILLERS

by Patrick Sandeman

In my family at least, even with older children and what with the opening of christmas presents delayed until the eve of Christmas Day itself, when we each have a large glass of Champagne Barnaut in hand, stockings still play an important role in getting the day started  (it is also the most practical way of making sure they get out of their beds in a timely manner for Church). It used to be that stockings were limited to the size of a an old shooting sock, and then mostly filled with clementines and nuts, but today they are more likely to be the size of a large pillowcase and require a great deal of filling!

Either a half litre of Sipsmith Sloe Gin or Delamain’s Pale & Dry Cognac,  in a rather natty 20cl bottle, would make welcome fillers for a hip-flask, and what could be more useful on Boxing Day than Bloody Spice Little Devil, a brilliant little tub filled with individual sachets of Bloody Mary mix? For the more adventerous we have a small selection of Sake, including a delicious sweet Plum infused liqueur. Half bottles of Champagne always go down a treat and our own Benedick Brut is fabulous value, and the odd half bottle of Port does not go unnoticed, especially if they might be either one of Niepoort’s Ruby Dum or Tawny Dee. At this time of year Vin Santo is a real after dinner treat, as is Lustau’s lusciously rich and raisiny Pedro Ximenez, bothe of which are ideally suited to mince pies and Christmas pudding.

If you do not have the inclination or time to buy lots of smaller items then do consider our range of over seventy different magnums, ranging from our incredibly popular house Bordeaux, through to a class Richebourg, each of which will fill a shooting stocking on its own. The pillow case can be swiftly dealt with with a single Jeroboam of Chateau Paveil de Luze!

Whether you are filling a stocking, or looking to fill your cellar, Lea & Sandeman have something for everybody this Christmas (in fact possibly our best range of wines ever) and we are taking orders right up until Saturday 18th December for delivery before Christmas. After that we will always do our best to oblige, and our shops will be open for business right up until 5.00pm on Christmas Eve.