Everyone loves a Christmas hamper. There’s just something special about cracking open a wicker basket and delving into the treats inside. They also make brilliant gifts for those tricky people – neighbours, colleagues, great aunts – who languish at the bottom of your gift list because you’re just not sure what to get them.
The traditional Christmas hamper is, of course, full of classic festive foods. However, if mince pies aren’t really your thing, this year brands are offering a host of innovative hampers featuring everything from luxury beauty products to afternoon tea. Here’s our guide to the best luxury Christmas hampers for 2022.
Panzer’s Splendid Christmas hamper
This Jewish deli has become North London’s go-to for quality Christmas hampers over the past 75 years. Happily, the wonders of modern delivery methods mean you no longer need to be in the vicinity of St John’s Wood to sample the delights of its A Splendid Christmas hamper – a curation of the deli’s greatest gourmet hits, including champagne, panettone, smoked salmon and sticky toffee pudding.
Full contents: 18 year-aged “Ca La Dal Non” Balsamic, Panzer’s Smoked Salmon, Pierre Mignon Brut Premier Cru Champagne, Felino Cabernet Sauvignon, Charcoal Briquette Cheddar Cheese, Long Clawson Dairy Stilton, Red Cow Parmesan, The Fine Cheese Company Toast for Cheese Selection, Nana Lily’s Sticky Toffee Pudding with Irish Cream Liqueur, Panzer’s Luxury Mince Pies, Panzer’s Panettone, Papa dei Boschi Toasted Hazelnut Bag, Nana Lily’s Cranberry & Port Sauce, La Molina Milk Gianduja Chocolate with whole hazelnuts
A Splendid Christmas Hamper, £320, panzers.co.uk
Harvey Nichols Christmas Cocktail Cabinet hamper
If you’re lucky enough to receive Harvey Nichols’ Christmas Cocktail Cabinet hamper, you’ll know you’re on somebody’s good list. As the name suggests, inside you’ll find enough wine, spirits and liqueurs to restock your home bar for a whole festive season’s worth of parties, with fine mixers and bar snacks to boot. And isn’t that what Christmas is all about?
Full contents: Harvey Nichols Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore NV Magnum, Isle of Wight Mermaid Pink Gin, The Lakes Vodka, Barbieri Aperol, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, Campari Bitter Liqueur, Harvey Nichols Crème de Cassis, Angostura Bitters, Harvey Nichols Sloe Gin, Harvey Nichols Damson Gin Liqueur, Harvey Nichols Cucumber & Lime Tonic Water, Harvey Nichols Raspberry & Mint Tonic Water, Harvey Nichols Elderflower & Pomegranate Tonic Water, Harvey Nichols Orange & Lavender Tonic Water, Harvey Nichols Green Olives Stuffed with Pimento, Harvey Nichols Mexican Snack Mix
Christmas Cocktail Cabinet hamper, £299, harveynichols.com
Melrose & Morgan 12 Days of Christmas hamper
Another fine North London grocer supplying the capital with delectable festive treats, Melrose & Morgan’s extensive range of Christmas hampers cover everything from artisan teas and cheeses to aperitifs and full-service gourmet collections. For a taste of everything to deli has to offer, we recommend opting for the lavish 12 Days of Christmas hamper which, quite literally, contains enough to see you through the New Year and beyond.
Full contents: 6-bottle crate of mixed fine wines, Michel Gonet champagne, Torres crisps, sea salted caramel truffles, luxury mince pies, dark chocolate Florentines, crackers for cheese, Christmas plugging, port and red onion chutney, apple and fig chutney, Boxing Day chutney, chocolate-covered dried orange, smoked salmon, panettone, pralines, chocolate covered stem ginger, British shortbread selection, fine cheese selection, mulled wine syrup, spiced nuts, granola, strawberry jam, Good Morning tea, Good Afternoon tea, Good Morning jam, Christmas cake, gingerbread cookies, chocolate coin, Perello olives, brandy butter, charcuterie
12 Days of Christmas hamper, £595, melroseandmorgan.com
Dukeshill Box of Delights hampers
Telford-based cured-meat specialist Dukeshill held a Royal Warrant to supply hams to the Queen up until the time of her death so, if you’re buying for a carnivore, you know you’re in good hands. Accordingly, a Wiltshire ham weighing in at 2kg takes centre stage in its Box of Delights hamper and is accompanied by all the savoury trimmings imaginable. There’s also a whole host of biscuits, chocolates and sweet pies, plus a bottle of La Grande Marque Saumur Brut with which to wash everything down.
Full contents: Boneless Wiltshire Ham, Oak Smoked Salmon, Baron Bigod Cheese, Colston Bassett Stilton, Montgomery’s Cheddar, Extra Large Melton Mowbray Pork Pie, Proper Piccalilli, Chicken Liver Pâté with Port, Boxing Day Chutney, Parmesan & Pistachio Sablés, Cornish Sea Salt Thins, Multi Seed Crackers, Extra Large Christmas Pudding, Classic Mince Pies, Handmade Scottish Shortbread, Chocolate Selection, Turkish Delight Selection, La Grande Marque Saumur Brut
Box of Delights hamper, £250, dukeshillham.co.uk
Bombay Bustle Flavours of Home hamper
Traditional holiday flavours aren’t everyone’s cup of mulled wine so, if you’re buying for a gourmand who won’t be impressed with mince pies and a wedge of stilton, Bombay Bustle has the perfect alternative. The chic Mayfair restaurant has teamed up with interiors firm Dandelion Living to curate a festive hamper that puts an Indian spin on the snacks, sweets and condiments found in more classic hampers. Complete with four gorgeous napkins, it also has your tablescape sorted too.
Full contents: Seersucker Dinner Napkins by Dandelion Living, Signature Lime & Chilli Chutney, Signature Garlic Pickle, Signature Carrot Pickle, Signature Chilli Papdi Gathia, Signature Murukku, Artisanal rose and pistachio flavoured chocolates, Corte Delle Calli Prosecco
Flavours of Home hamper, £85, bombaybustle.com
Petersham Nurseries Gardening Hamper
Buying for someone who loves to grow their own veg as much as they love to roast it for Sunday lunch? London’s pre-eminent restaurant cum plant nursery, Petersham Nurseries, has assembled a gorgeous gift basket aimed squarely at the gardener in your life. Containing elevated versions of putting shed essentials, as well as some luxurious products to care for soil-worn hands, it’s the gift that will keep on giving.
Full contents: ash-handled trowel and fork, terracotta pot, seed collection, twine, labels, gardening gloves, hand lotion, wicker gardener’s basket
Gardening hamper, £190, petershamnurseries.com
Harrods Knightsbridge Hamper
Harrods’ stellar Food Halls have undergone a major refurbishment over the past few years, with the last piece of the puzzle being an extravagant Chocolate Hall, which opened in 2021. To celebrate, the department store has curated a lavish hamper full of festive Food Hall delicacies, including Harrods’ signature Christmas pudding, shortbread, champagne and the best-selling chocolate Gold Bar.
Full contents: 9-Months Matured Classic Christmas Pudding, Classic Mince Pies, Spiced Victoria Plum & Berry Jam, Whisky Marmalade, Brandy Butter, Spiced Salted Caramel Shortbread, Chocolate & Hazelnut Biscuits, Blanc de Blanc Champagne Non Vintage, Rioja Crianza, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, 20-Piece Chocolate Selection Box, Golden Cocoa-Dusted Nut Mix, Christmas Spiced Black Tea Loose Leaf, After-Dinner Christmas Coffee
The Knightsbridge Hamper, £250, harrods.com
Daylesford Nourishing Breakfast hamper
Hampers make an ideal gift if you’re being hosted at a relative’s home over the Christmas period but, if your host is likely to have the menu planned and the Fortnum & Mason order sorted by mid-November, how about a hamper to help them recover from the Christmas chaos? Daylesford, purveyor of brilliant organic produce (and sister brand to Bamford, home of wonderful beauty products, great facials and even better yoga classes), has curated its Nourishing Breakfast hamper to promote some serious morning wellbeing. Alongside the perfect cup of tea, it also offers the kind of high-end eggs, smoked salmon and orange juice you normally only find in a five-star hotel.
Full contents: Organic Smoked Salmon, Organic Red, White & Blueberry Granola, Organic Sourdough, Daylesford House Blend Tea Caddy, Organic Ground Coffee, Organic Cold Pressed Orange Juice, Organic Cold Pressed Apple Juice, Organic Salted Butter, Cotswold Legbar Eggs, Organic Non-Homogenised Whole Milk
Nourishing Breakfast Hamper, £65, daylesford.com
Liberty 12 Days of Christmas suitcase hamper
Hampers are all well and good but how often did you actually go on a picnic last year? Once? Twice, maybe? Step forward Liberty and its range of suitcase hampers, which leave recipients with a genuinely useful Liberty-print emblazoned suitcase to use long after the treats have been demolished. Fashion lovers everywhere are guaranteed to adore this heritage-print case filled with classic Christmas delicacies.
Full contents: Myrtles Boxing Day Chutney, Liberty Marzipan Brussel Sprouts, Loison Panettoncino Classic, Cranberry & Orange Mini Mince Pies, Liberty Print Milk Sea Salt Caramel Truffles
12 Days of Christmas Suitcase Hamper, £110, libertylondon.com
Dishoom Cookery Book Hamper
Add a kick of spice to Christmas proceedings this year with a selection of culinary gifts from Dishoom’s kitchen. Among these is the Masala Dabba, a quick-start collection of 12 spices for mastering Dishoom recipes and Indian cookery. The spice selection is accompanied by the Dishoom Cookery Book, featuring more than 100 different recipes for Bombay comfort food and drink, written with charm, flair and warmth.
Full contents: Dishoom Cookery Book, Dishoom Masala Dabba, Urad Dal, tote bag, organic cotton tea towel, Dishoom Chilli Chutney
Cookery Book hamper, £70, dishoom.com
Read more: The best luxury advent calendars for Christmas 2022
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