Corporate gift review: The Fortnum's Hamper from Fortnum & Mason

 

As the name suggests, this hamper should include all the Fortnum staples and essentials that provide a journey through its famed food halls. And in many ways, it does. There are jars for spooning (preserves, marmalade, and curd), and pots for spreading (savoury jams and piccalilli); wines for sipping (red, white and sparkling) and teas for brewing; biscuits for dunking (from shortbread to chocolate chip); and luxurious chocolate truffles. 

 

 

Ever had cinnamon and apple curd? Neither had we, but it was an instant hit and our undisputed favourite. We imagine spreading it on some hot toast, curled up under a blanket at Christmas time. We were also surprised by the buttery shortbread, which came in a big wheel – perfect for sharing. The piccalilli was mustardy, acidic and sweet (an excellent addition to the Christmas turkey leftover sandwich), whereas the onion marmalade with its subtle hint of booze could be great with some crumbly cheese or would give depth to bangers and mash.

 

 

The let-down is not due to taste, but to the quantity and inclusion of products – where are the savoury biscuits to compliment all the yummy spreads? We had to supply our own crackers as the idea of piling piccalilli on a sweet macadamia-nut biscuit didn’t appeal to us. We would perhaps swap some of the biscuits for some salty crackers or a mature cheese. 

 

With that being said, the choice of alcohol was great and helped balance the hamper’s different flavours. The champagne, Fortnum's Brut Reserve N.V, Louis Roederer, was not too sweet, yet not too dry, and went really well with the real grown-up taste of the chocolate truffles. The red Côtes du Rhône was a crowd-pleaser (your connoisseurs and amateurs alike will be happy), and helped off-set the sweetness from the biscuits. The white wine was light and fresh – excellent with the savoury bits.      

 

 

 

Priced at £175, the hamper sits mid-range among Fortnum’s offering. The size of the hamper is perhaps deceiving in terms of the quantity of its content – not forgetting that there’s three bottles of wine in there, as well as condiments that will survive way past Christmas. Your client will also get to keep the hamper, and as a good-quality basket can be used for everything from carrying a picnic to decorating their home.   

 

 

Treat your more traditional and older client to this hamper – perhaps someone who would have lots of family around at Christmas (the wide biscuits selection will come in handy when having guests around). Someone with a sweet tooth will definitively appreciate this as well. 

 

 

Have someone in mind? Simply click on the button below to order it from the concierge team at Fortnum & Mason. Alternatively, browse other hamper options here.