FOOD + DRINK
CHEERS !
THE BEST OF KENT ’ S CHRISTMAS TIPPLES
KENT REALLY DOES HAVE IT ALL WHEN IT COMES TO CHRISTMAS TIPPLES . THE WINE GARDEN OF ENGLAND , THE UK ’ S BIGGEST GROWER OF FRUIT , AND A HERITAGE DEDICATED TO BREWING AND DISTILLING , LOOK NO FURTHER THAN KENT WHEN STOCKING UP YOUR SEASONAL DRINKS TROLLEY THIS YEAR .
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Celebrated for being the Wine Garden of England , Kent ’ s countryside is covered in vines responsible for producing some of the best , most highly regarded wines in the UK . Famous for our English sparkling , acclaimed Champagne houses have recently purchased land in Kent to begin planting up even more vineyards here - this includes time-honoured French brand Taittinger ( www . taittinger . com ) who appeared to be the first Champagne house to start this new trend . With that in mind , party with confidence this festive season knowing that if you have selected Kentish English sparkling for your bucks-fizz upon Christmas morning and your tipple to say “ Cheers !” to New Year , it will be some of the best you can buy .
Not only do Kent ’ s vineyards grow grapes for sparkling whites , they have also passed the challenge of growing pinot noir grapes for a red wine that ’ s perfect for pairing up with your Christmas Day lunch and late night cheeseboards , and most Kentish wineries have even mastered the art of crafting refreshing rosé to go alongside your Christmas Eve joint of ham or smoked salmon too . So , when it comes to wine , you really need to look no further than right here in the Wine Garden of England for your Christmas vino . For those of us that might be tempted to buy cheaper alternatives , or may be partial to a wine imported from abroad , the importance of buying locally must never be underestimated - contributing to your local economy , helping local businesses thrive and avoiding those extra miles of carbon emissions are all huge benefits when it comes to choosing Kentish this Christmas .
As well as wine , the same goes for plenty of other tipples too . Kent is home to a splendid array of artisan distilleries , each passionate about their craft and everything it takes to create their products from professional mixologists to ingredients , which means that all your drinks trolley staples can be purchased from local businesses and are certain to be outstanding when it comes to quality . With all local distilleries taking huge amounts of influence from the landscape and ingredients found here in Kent , these gins , rums and liqueurs are all utterly unique while being reflective of our wonderful county .
It ’ s not just vineyards that grow upon Kent ’ s countryside , our land is also famous for its orchards and hop fields , and with fruit and hops comes cider and beer . Steadfast favourites to have with a Christmas feast for hundreds of years , it ’ s safe to say that Kent ’ s award-winning brewers have well and truly mastered the art of crafted beer and cider . Combining Kent ’ s spectacular history with superb taste and blended with expertise , we don ’ t know why you ’ d opt for anything other than Kentish when it comes to an ale or cider .
For those of us looking for a little glitz , glamour and festive season flair when it comes to Christmas drinks out and about , Kent has plenty of venues just waiting to welcome you with open arms and hand you a cocktail menu . No matter where you are in the county , you are never far away from a restaurant or bar that has embraced the best of Kentish tipples and added their own unique pazazz by concocting lots of ingenious and tantalising cocktails perfect for showcasing the county ’ s tipples in their very best format .
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