A drink used to live in Jamaican country clubs, tia maria marries sweet cane sugar with intense coffee to create an enticing and tantalising coffee liqueur that has become world-renowned. There’s a bitter burnt edge to its flavour which mellows as you drink, with dark chocolate notes marrying sweetly with the intense coffee hit. Warm spices and hints at pepper give the drink a deeper intensity and its low abv makes it a wonderful aperitif, perfect for deepening the flavour of your after-dinner coffee or simply over ice as an evening treat.

Even the shape of the bottle harks back to ancient Greece, Tsantali ouzo is a traditional flavour made in traditional ways using copper pot stills. as you’d expect with a good ouzo Tsantali is crystal clear and louches milky white when water is added. On tasting, you’ll enjoy a surprising sweetness which pairs with the strong liquorice notes you’d expect and hints of minty freshness too. The liquorice finish on this ouzo is sweeter than average making it a popular choice.

Based on a recipe that dates back to the 15th century, Tuaca is a brandy-based liqueur which brings together a number of brandies, a secret blend of fruits and spices and just a little sugar to blend it all together in harmony. On the nose is a spicy citrus tang which entices you to drink and when you do you’ll enjoy a surprisingly light and oily mouthfeel, sweet with a little dry spiciness and cinnamon, nutmeg and bitter orange leading the taste profile. It settles into a mellower, sweeter warmth, just the ticket after a filling meal.

First creation within the Botanical Garden Range, made with Lemon Balm, a member of the mint family, also known by its name “Melissa Officinalis”. She produces a herbaceous explosion on the palate that is fresh and distinctive with citrus and minty finish.

Recognisable from its red and yellow bottle and a Christmas favourite, there’s nothing to say you can’t enjoy Warninks Advocaat throughout the year. Just four ingredients deliver the unique and popular flavour: brandy, vanilla, sugar and egg yolks. The flavour is rich like vanilla custard and thick and syrupy in texture, with that bite of brandy providing a warm and satisfying kick. Essential for your festive snowball but enjoyable at any time of the year.

Xante is an unusual liqueur, the ingredients and even a full description of the flavour of which are kept under wraps by its makers. A truly mysterious liqueur with hints of pear as well as liquorice and intense cognac notes. The ripeness of the pears is apparent from the first sip and this combines beautifully with the fine cognac notes and delivers a flavour which is enjoyably sweet but with that refreshing pear tang present throughout.

Originally made by the french Carthusian monks, yellow chartreuse is an aromatic and botanical-led liqueur with a distinctive and herbal taste. 130 hand-selected herbs are combined to create the exceptional flavour of yellow chartreuse and the liqueur is then aged in oak barrels to create a distinctive woody flavour. Honey is added to create a sweeter flavour and its lower proof and lighter on the palate when compared to its green compatriot. Wonderful before or after dinner.

Turkey’s national drink, raki is a sweet, clear brandy which teases the tongue and brings together spicy, hot and sweet notes in perfect harmony. The deep anise flavour is what you’ll take away from each sip of Yeni raki but the flavour is much more complex than that with minty undertones and sugar beet sweetness. First produced in 1944 Yeni raki is one of Turkey’s most famous raki products and is one which can be enjoyed as an unforgettable aperitif.