CHAMBORD LIQUEUR

Let's be honest: the first thing that will grab you about Chambord is the bottle. An orb shape, it is surrounded by ornate gold lettering and capped with a crown, all of which contrasts with the dark purple liquid inside. It looks more like something you'd expect to see the Pope waving around, or perhaps a crown jewel, than it does an alcoholic beverage. What's more, when you buy a bottle, it comes in a nice presentation box - complete with cocktail recipe booklet - ensuring that this is the ideal gift.

Of course, none of this really matters unless the drink itself is agreeable. Thankfully, it's a delicious liqueur. Upon opening the seal, you are immediately hit by a potent, fruity smell of raspberries, and the taste is a wonderful mix of fruit and honey, pleasingly tempered by a slightly bitter tang that lingers for a moment or two. It's tasty enough to drink on its own in small doses, although it might well be too overwhelmingly sweet for most palates. And at 16.5% it has a decent alcoholic kick without being overly strong.

Where the drink excels is as a cocktail ingredient. The booklet gives you a few pointers, but you'll probably find plenty more variants by using your imagination. And interestingly, Chambord also makes a great topping for ice cream, drizzled liberally over vanilla, chocolate or raspberry flavours. A wonderfully decadent alternative to syrup!

DAVID FLINT