Christmas Dinner Winners

The Final Touch

So, the Christmas dinner’s planned and stockings are full, but how about that fi nal litt le something for extra sparkle? Nic Reuben has a few suggestions from some of Wales’ fi nest artisan producers.

Tipples

A stone’s throw from the Welsh Marches border, Montgomery’s Monty’s brewery is a family owned independent specialising in contemporary ales, which have won numerous awards, including 2020’s Insider Made in Wales for food and drink. Made with cinnamon and citrus, their Figgy Pud Christmas Ale is a malty, sweet, and spicy winter treat. (£33.50 from montysbrewery.co.uk) ey also o er a range of gluten free beers, including a hoppy wheat free IPA. When you’re ready to move on to the stronger stu , you won’t go far wrong with Aber Falls Single Malt Welsh Whiskey (£28.00 from aberfallsdistillery.com) Named a er the Abergwyngregyn waterfall, at the foot of which sits the distillery, this award-winning spirit has notes of vanilla, candied citrus, and cloves.

Aber Falls also o ers a spicy gingerbread gin, but for something less sweet, you’ll want to try Dà Mhìle Organic Seaweed Gin (£23.00/35cl from damhile. co.uk). Family owned since 1981, Glynhynod Farm - which houses the organic Dà Mhìle distillery - is also the home of Caws Tei raw milk cheese. is herby, fresh organic seaweed gin is a Great Taste 2019 award winner. For spiced rum lovers, look no further than Devil’s Bridge Spiced Rum (£39.00 from shop. devilsbridgerum.com), infused with Bara Brith. For vodka a cionados there’s In e Welsh Wind’s new kid on the block, ree Grain Vodka. Smooth enough to savour neat, great with your favourite mixer or cocktail and made using Welsh grains, what’s not to like? (£40 from inthewelshwind.co.uk).

Once you’re ready to move on from dry martinis to cheese and biscuits, there’s no better accompaniment than port or a lovely mulled wine. Celteg Mulled Elderberry Wine (£10.95 from celticwines.co.uk) comes with its own spice bag for simmering, and Celteg Welsh Elderport (£12.50/25cl from celticwines. co.uk) is rich with blackberries, brandy, and of course, elderberries. is full bodied port is the perfect pairing with a cheeseboard, packed with wonderful Welsh cheeses.

Cheese

Talking of which, there’s nothing more reliable than a good cheddar - strong or mild - and Dragon Cheese has some beautiful options. Our favourite is their Vintage Cheddar & Leek (£2.25/180g from dragonwales.co.uk). Like all their everyday cheeses, it’s made from Welsh milk from local cows, and matured at their Llŷn Peninsula creamery. For something a bit more special, try their Welsh Slate Cavern Aged Cheddar (£3.50/200g), aged in the Llanfair caverns.

Family owned Caws Cenarth is home to Golden Cenarth, previously awarded Supreme Champion place at the British Cheese Awards. All milk for their wonderful selection is sourced from within 30 miles of the Fferm Glyneithinog dairy. For a rich and creamy addition to any cheeseboard, try their Cenarth Brie (£6.70/200g from welshcheesecompany.co.uk). With nutty tones and hints of fresh mushrooms and butter, this velvety, gooey cheese is a mild but avourful delight.

Located in Clynderwen, Pembrokeshire, Pant Mawr’s farmhouse cheese is the product of decades of selftaught cheesemaking know-how. All their milk is locally produced, and all their cheeses use vegetarian rennet. eir dedication to cheese is hard to question, as evidenced by the word CAWS spelled out in 20 foot trees, planted as part of a dedication to stay carbon friendly. For a smoky, avorful addition to your cheeseboard, try their Oak Smoked Cerwyn (£6.20 from welshcheesecompany.co.uk), cold smoked with wood from sustainable forests, and gold award winner at the World Cheese Awards.

Recently featured on Gordon Ramsey: Uncharted Showdown, Snowdonia Cheese Companies’ renowned range of award winning cheeses deserve a spot on any holiday spread. eir range of mature cheddars is no slouch, but for something a bit di erent this winter, we’d recommend their Tru e Trove extra mature (£6.15/150g from welshcheesecompany.co.uk). A new addition to their range, this tangy, earthy cheddar is made with black summer tru es.

Snacks and Sundries

But what’s cheese without a few biscuits to go with it? ere’s really only one option here: Cradoc’s Savoury Biscuits o er an incredible selection of crackers, baked with real vegetables, herbs, and spices, and sourced locally from their home base at the foot of the Brecon Beacons. It’s hard to pick just one from their range, which includes Szechuan Peppercorn, Fennel and Red Onion, and Leek and Caerphilly Cheese. But we’d go for their delicious Beetroot and Garlic (£2.99 from cradocssavourybiscuits.co.uk). ey’re vegan friendly, too! Right then, that’s cheese and biscuits sorted. How about some chutney? Try Calon Lan’s small batchmade sauces and preserves (from £3.20 from blasarfwyd.com), especially their traditional Welsh onion marmalade (£3.99 from blasarfwyd.com) and Welsh cranberry sauce (£3.29 from blasarfwyd.com). For the laver lovers, why not add some Welshman’s Caviar seaweed, handpicked from the coast by the Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company (£4.75 from beachfood.co.uk).

From our Farm’s original gourmet biltong (£5.89/70g from fromourfarm.co.uk) is made from grass-fed beef raised on their Pembrokeshire farm. e family owned farm has been run by the George’s for over 100 years, with their award winning biltong inspired by a trip to South Africa, where this cured, protein rich, and delicious dried meat snack originates. eir original recipe is seasoned with garlic, coriander, and black pepper, although spice lovers might want to try their habanero or even ghost chilli o erings.

Based near the Brecon Beacons, family run Black Mountains’ smokery o ers the beautiful Black Mountains Oak Smoked Salmon (£45.00/750g from smoked-foods.co.uk). e Great Taste Awards have heaped stars on this gorgeous, dry-cured salmon year a er year, and it’s easy to see why. eir smoking recipe uses Welsh Oak shavings from Cadw or local furniture makers, never commercial wood chips or pellets. Or maybe you fancy some pigs in blankets? Black Mountains also o er Charcuterie Cooking Sausages (£6.50/250g from smoked-foods.co.uk) and Dry Cured Free Range Bacon (£6.95 /250g from smoked-foods.co.uk)

Sweets and Cakes

No holiday hamper would be complete without some sweet seasonal treats, so why not start with Blas ar Fywd’s artisan Mince pies (£4.35/4 from blasarfwyd. com), and some Popty Bakery Traditional Bara Brith Fruit Cake (£3.75 from jonesogymru.co.uk). Or, for something more traditional, this Christmas Pudding Selection (£19.95 from celticwines.co.uk) laced with elderport and apricot brandy.

For sweet and salty lovers, Halen Mon Sea-Kissed Vanilla Fudge (£4.05 from halenmon.com) elevates its natural buttery avour with hints of their world famous sea salt. For vegans and non-vegans alike, Coco Pzazz o ers a range of chocolate delights from their base in mid-Wales, sourcing exploitation-free cocoa from all over the world. Try their vegan Salty Spiced Orange Giant Dark Chocolate Buttons (£3.95 from cocopzazz.co.uk), made with 70% and Welsh spiced salt sprinkle.