Best Beverages for 2022

With a new year comes new innovation and fresh ideas, and it’s always fascinating to see what new trends we can expect in the world of drinks! Will an old classic make a storied comeback? Will a whole new flavour take over? Will homemade cocktails continue the reign they commenced amidst lockdowns? Will celebrities keep making their own tequila? The possibilities are endless!

Recent years have seen drinks like Espresso Martinis rise rapidly in popularity, while newer concepts like canned, ready-to-drink cocktails have had a moment to shine. Lately we’ve seen everything from new-age chocolate flavoured beers to old-school orange wine take the limelight.

When it comes to 2022, experts have a few bold predictions.

Many are forecasting nostalgia to dominate our drinks menus over the course of the year, with old favourites like Cosmopolitans climbing up the ranks.

We’ll see more experimentation in the world of whisky, as distillers explore new flavour profiles and cask techniques to elevate an old classic. Experts predict that reused oak barrels will play a huge part in developing an entirely new, woodier flavour to whiskies around the world.

Experts are also anticipating a lot of innovation in design and packaging as alcohol brands move towards a more sustainable outlook. Will bagged cocktails become the successor of boxed wine? Apparently so!

Tequila is expected to continue its dominance, but some experts predict that the A-List endorsements will shift towards non-alcoholic alternatives.

Lastly, many are expecting fruit and veg to be the champion garnish of 2022, adding an extra bit of zest to cocktails, rums, whiskies and beyond!

Drink Hamper Ideas for 2022

No matter what may be ‘trending’ in 2022, some will always prefer to keep it simple. A good pinot doesn’t need bells and whistles to do the trick! A true whiskey lover could do without the added enhancements! So for many, the biggest drink trend for 2022 may very well be getting back to basics and simply enjoying drinks as they’re meant to be enjoyed!

With the huge variety of luxury drinks hampers at Regency Hampers, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for alcohol gift ideas, let’s explore some of our top picks:

Bubbles

Add an extra spark to any celebration with a couple of bottles of bubbly! Whether you prefer champagne, prosecco, sparkling rosé or otherwise, we have the perfect bubbly hampers to suit your tastes. These are vibrant drinks that can elevate any special occasion, any time of year, and they’re versatile when it comes to food pairings!

On the savoury side, prosecco works well with saltier foods – smoked salmon being a top choice! Our Pembroke Hamper with Prosecco offers a bottle of Zonin 1821 Prosecco Doc Spumante Special Cuvée paired with Severn & Wye Premium Smoked Salmon. You’ll also enjoy a selection of cheeses, marmalade, biscuits, coffee, tea, chocolates and more, presented in a timeless hand-made willow basket.

Looking for drink hamper ideas for a sweet-tooth? Prosecco and champagne pair wonderfully with exquisite chocolates and sweets. The Ladies Gift Hamper is perfect for lovers of all things strawberry! Freixenet Italian Sparkling Rosé is paired wonderfully with an array of strawberry-flavoured delights, from Lindt strawberry & cream chocolate truffles, to Claire’s Handmade strawberries and champagne conserve, to Buttermilk Strawberry Bellini fudge and more.

Fancy a mimosa? A ready-made breakfast in bed is an excellent drink gift idea. Our Breakfast Tray gift set brings you everything you need for a cosy lie in, packed with muesli, tulip muffins, croissants, marmalade, and strawberry preserve. On the beverage side, alongside coffee and tea, you’ll get a bottle of Frobisher’s orange juice and Prosecco Doc Spumante from Zonin 1821 so you can start your day in style.

Spirits

For alcohol gift ideas for more spirited occasions, explore luxury hampers with whisky, gin, cognac, and more.

G&T fans will be over the moon with our Classic Gin & Tonic Lover’s hamper. In this gorgeous hand-woven organic seagrass tray you won’t just get a bottle of London Dry Gin courtesy of Gordon’s and Fever Tree Premium Indian Tonic, you’ll also enjoy a variety of G&T-flavoured treats, including popcorn, gummies, chocolate, and even a gin and tonic scented candle from Pintail Candles!

Whisky lovers are spoiled for choice. Bring the ultimate tasting tour home with our Whisky Tasting Kit, offering a selection of five premium whiskies and available in four varieties to suit any taste. Scotch pairs perfectly with cheeses, dry snacks like nuts, and rich dark chocolates. The Keats Hamper is a brilliant choice, with a bottle of scotch from The Famous Grouse paired with chilli & lime peanuts, oatcakes, caramelised onion & garlic chutney, a Hamlet chocolate assortment and more.

If you’re after corporate drink gift ideas, the Buckingham Banquet hamper masterfully combines a feast of savoury and sweet bites, gourmet hors d'oeuvres, and a huge selection of premium drinks, with five bottles of wine alongside bottles of gin, cognac, whisky, prosecco, and champagne from legendary distilleries across the globe. In addition to bite-sized delights like olives, bread thins, crisps, cheeses and more, they’ll also be treated to a honey glazed ham joint from Wessex Cooked Ham and a St. James Smokehouse Scotch Reserve Smoked Salmon selection pack. A truly deluxe gift for a grand celebration!

Wine

Cabernet Sauvignon or Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay or Chablis, wherever their tastes lie, there’s plenty to choose from among our extensive range of luxury wine hampers and cases. You’ll find premium selections from many of the world’s top wineries in a variety of gift sets, from classic hamper to elegant cases to striking gift towers. For simple-yet-splendid drink hamper ideas, explore wine gift sets like our Premium French Red & White wine gift box offering a bottle of Barton & Guestier Châteauneuf-du-Pape with a bottle of Marie-Louise Parisot Chablis. Or, head down under with our Australian Red & White Wine gift box offering Eaglehawk Shiraz and Chardonnay from Aussie icons Wolf Blass.

When it comes to food and drink pairings, wine and cheese truly is the It Couple. Discover a huge selection of wine and cheese hampers offering premium wines with local gourmet cheddars, bries, and even vegan cheeses! Our Trafalgar hamper is a classic choice for an exquisite wine and cheese evening, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay courtesy of Casillero del Diablo, a truckle of vintage mature cheddar from Wainwright’s Choice, organic Cotswold brie from Simon Weaver, and a selection of sumptuous bites.

For white wine connoisseurs, our Badminton picnic hamper is packed with refreshing, summery bliss, from fresh grapes and apples to ripe cherry tomatoes, paired with a bottle of Wolf Blass Yellow Label sauvignon blanc. You’ll also enjoy brie from Le Rustique, Severn & Wye smoked salmon, Sabra houmous, and much more. Meanwhile, its hand-made lidded willow basket with integrated handles makes it all the more perfect for a pristine picnic in the park!

Beer & Cider

Our beer, ale and cider gifts come in all shapes and sizes and offer something for everyone whether they prefer a stout, an ale, a lager or otherwise. For ale lovers, the Five Bottle Real Ale Selection is an easy drink gift idea. Inside a neat wooden crate, you’ll find five premium ales from top breweries like Bombardier, Greene King, and Old Speckled Hen. Enjoy an IPA, English bitter, traditional ale and more in this variety set for ale loving loved ones.

A stately choice for stout lovers, our Ploughman’s Choice crate couples Guinness with Farmhouse Pork Pâte from Cottage Delight, Wainwright’s Choice vintage mature cheddar, Old English chutney with cider, pickled shallots in malt vinegar, and more. 

Beer tends to go best with savoury snacks – especially pub classics like nuts, pork crackling and crisps. Try the Man Crate & Snack selection tray with chilli & lime peanuts, sweet chilli crisps, pork scratchings, and a few sweet treats, paired with your choice of lager, ale, cider, or Guinness – the perfect way to bring the pub home.

Non-Alcoholic Drinks

Of course, it’s not all about alcoholic drinks, and we have a wide variety of drink hamper ideas that are booze-free but maintain the same premium quality. Explore alcohol-free drink gift ideas that are packed with refreshing teetotal beverages like juices, pressés and gourmet teas and coffees alongside tropical fruit baskets, savoury spreads, sweet treats and more.

Bottlegreen’s Pomegranate & Elderflower Sparkling Pressé and Blueberry Sparkle from The Organic Collection are brilliant non-alcoholic bubbly alternatives, perfect additions to our regal Eton Hamper. You’ll find delightful pressés from our friends at Bottlegreen in a variety of flavours across our range of non-alcoholic hampers. Luscombe’s Organic Sicilian Lemonade and Raspberry Crush are also luxurious choices, found in our magnificent Mayfair hamper, among others.

For hot drinks, try our Afternoon Tea & Biscuits gift set, with English Afternoon tea from New English Teas and Edinburgh After Dinner coffee, or the Afternoon Tea & Scones set, with Pure Assam tea and Café Imperial ground coffee from Taylors of Harrogate.

No matter what their tipple of choice, you’ll find fantastic drink hamper ideas across our range of luxury hampers, and if you can’t decide, you could always opt for a hamper gift voucher instead!