Dust off the Dubonnet: old-fashioned drinks-cabinet staples deserve to be moved from Christmas past into Christmas present, believes Will Hosie

This year, why not rediscover some classic seasonal tipples, such as snowballs or eggnog?

Ivy flowers have gone over and now berries are starting to form. Avoid cutting these back and allow them to develop as a food source for birds. Ivy berries ripen in late winter and are often not eaten

Round off the evening with a sweet tipple to keep spirits bright, or perhaps as a stand-in for dessert

Get the party started with our boozy desserts

This time of year represents big business–and exhaustion–for the producers of festive fare, from crackers to hellebores to ham. Jane Wheatley visits six stalwarts who are flat out right now