5 Amazing Nut Liqueurs for Christmas Drinking

Photo: Esa L

It's that time of year when the sticky, sweet, warming and festive-flavoured drinks become really popular, from port to madeira, and of course a multitude of flavoured liqueurs. In our house, we always have a big bowl of assorted nuts to dip into over Christmas - hazelnuts, almonds, brazil nuts, pecans and the like - but I've recently been discovering a glorious range of nut liqueurs on the market.

If you're a fan of nutty flavours but want a boozy accompaniment to your cheeseboard or an after-dinner sipper, then I highly recommend these tasty nut liqueurs...

Pistachio Cream Liqueur, £19.99 from Firebox

Firstly, and most obviously, check out that colour! Although it may look positively grinch-like, this Italian-made pistachio liqueur is a perfect winter treat, and I'll be sipping it over ice while playing yet another game of monopoly with my family on Boxing Day.

I was lucky enough to try this earlier this year and it really is divine - not too sickly at all, with a nice balance between creamy sweetness and nutty, pistachio goodness.

Chestnut Liqueur (Edmond Briottet Creme de Chataigne), £16.85 from Master of Malt

If you can't be bothered roasting chestnuts on an open fire then this really is the next best thing. It's all-natural, and surprisingly fresh and pure-tasting, so great if you want something less creamy than the pistachio liqueur.

I'm told it's also tasty if you add a drizzle to some Champagne (chestnut... bellini, anyone?) and of course it will also be amazing in festive crumbles, cakes and biscuits.

Walnut Liqueur, £9.20 for 100ml from Demijohn

This British-made walnut liqueur hasn't even been released yet (it will be available literally any day now), but if our past experiences of Demijohn are anything to go by, it's going to be exquisite.

It's been infused with cloves too, so as well as the rich walnutty goodness, there's some wintry spice to warm you on cold nights. Another great cheese match, I'm also going to drizzle mine over some vanilla ice cream when I'm feeling particularly indulgent.

Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur, £15 (down from £17 until 2nd Dec), Ocado

Probably the best known of the nut liqueurs (with the obvious exception of amaretto) I'd argue this is a staple for any booze lover's household all year around, but there's something really special about this when mixed in a creamy, chocolatey cocktail for a praline/nutella effect (salivating? Me too.)

It's also pretty tasty over ice - and if you're quick and buy before 2nd December, it's only £15 a bottle!

Pinnacle Pecan Pie Vodka Liqueur, £26.95 from The Whisky Exchange

Okay, okay, so this isn't really a nut liqueur - but it's a NUTTY PIE LIQUEUR! You can't get pecan liqueur here in the UK (yet!) but this is the next best thing for my fellow pecan fans.

A French vodka with natural flavours, this is a hefty 35% abv, so I'd recommend serving it with some cream (or even eggnog?), slugged in some hot chocolate or make a long drink by putting a shot or two in a glass of ginger ale.

Either way, it's pretty high up on my Christmas wish list...

Which of these nutty liqueurs would brighten your winter evenings the most? Tell us in the comments, and share your other favourite liqueur flavours...