Christmas shopping is difficult enough without having to buy something for a colleague you barely know. There’s always someone who suggests doing Secret Santa, and before you know it, you’re wandering around the shops trying to find a present for somebody whose only known interest is occasionally using the office microwave.
Well, Dutch Barn Vodka has come up with something a bit different this year. It’s launched a mystery-flavoured vodka, and if you can correctly identify what’s inside the bottle, you could be in with a chance of winning £10,000.
That would certainly make January a little more bearable.
What’s the Secret, Santa?
Launched on 10 November, Dutch Barn’s limited-edition Secret Santa Vodka costs £32 for a 70cl bottle, plus delivery, and is available exclusively through the company’s website.
The interesting bit is that you con’t know what flavour it is.
Each bottle comes with a QR code that takes you to an online competition page, where you can submit your guess. Everyone who gets the flavour right goes into a random draw, with one winner receiving £10,000.
The winner will be selected and notified in January 2027, with the prize due to be paid by the end of that month.
There’s also a festive gift label, so you could give a bottle to someone for Christmas and let them have a go at solving the mystery themselves.
Personally, I quite like the idea of a Christmas present that involves a little detective work. Although I can imagine the arguments around the Xmas dinner table when everyone thinks they’ve identified the secret ingredient.
Ricky Gervais and a Yorkshire Orchard
Dutch Barn is part-owned by comedian Ricky Gervais, which probably explains why the brand doesn’t take itself quite as seriously as some of the more traditional spirits companies.
The vodka itself has an interesting background. It’s produced in North Yorkshire using British apples, including windfall fruit that might otherwise go to waste.
The company is also B Corp certified and has been working on reducing its environmental impact through lighter packaging, lower carbon emissions and biodiversity projects.
It’s refreshing to see a vodka brand talking about something other than how many times its product has been filtered through a substance you’ve never heard of.
The Secret Santa edition is the latest addition to a range that already includes flavours such as British Raspberry, Black Cherry, Balinese Vanilla and Ginger Spiced Vodka.
But the mystery flavour? You’ll have to work that one out for yourself.
My Favourite Vodka Cocktail? A Bloody Mary, Obviously
I’m a big fan of a Bloody Mary. In fact, it’s probably my favourite vodka cocktail.
Forget the fancy martini glasses and elaborate garnishes that require a small engineering qualification to assemble. Give me a decent Bloody Mary with plenty of spice and I’m happy.
I particularly like that it’s one of the few cocktails where you can adjust almost everything to suit your own taste. More Tabasco? Absolutely. Extra black pepper? Why not?
Dutch Barn has its own version called the XXL Bloody Mary, which takes the traditional recipe and adds a rather generous garnish.
This one uses the brand’s original orchard vodka rather than the mystery-flavoured Christmas edition.
Dutch Barn XXL Bloody Mary Recipe
Preparation: 5 minutes
Serves: 1
Glass: Large tumbler
Ingredients
- 50ml Dutch Barn Original Vodka
- 300ml Big Tom tomato juice
- Worcestershire sauce, to taste
- Tabasco, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Ice cubes
- Lemon wedge
- Your choice of savoury garnishes
Method
- Fill a large tumbler with ice cubes.
- Pour in 50ml of Dutch Barn Vodka.
- Add the tomato juice.
- Season with Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco and black pepper according to your taste.
- Stir gently to combine.
- Finish with a lemon wedge and your favourite savoury garnishes.
Dutch Barn suggests going XXL with the garnish. Personally, I think a stick of celery, a couple of olives and perhaps a pickled onion would do nicely. You don’t need to construct an entire Sunday roast on top of the glass.
You can find the original XXL Bloody Mary recipe on the Dutch Barn website.
A Christmas Present With a Difference
At £32, Secret Santa Vodka isn’t exactly a budget office Secret Santa present, particularly if your spending limit is a tenner. But as a gift for someone who enjoys trying different spirits, the mystery element makes it a little more interesting than another bottle wrapped in Christmas paper.
And there’s always that £10,000 prize to think about.
Although if I gave someone a bottle and they went on to win, I might find myself wondering whether I’d made a terrible mistake or at least want a share in the winnings!
Dutch Barn Secret Santa Mystery Vodka is available now, while stocks last, from dutchbarn.com.
Competition Terms and Responsible Drinking
The Secret Santa competition is open to UK residents aged 18 or over. Entrants must correctly identify the mystery flavour and submit their guess through the online portal accessed using the bottle’s QR code. One winner will be chosen at random from eligible correct entries. The winner will be selected and notified in January 2027, with the £10,000 prize due to be received by the end of January. Full competition terms and conditions apply; check the official Dutch Barn website before entering.
Alcohol is for adults aged 18 and over. Please drink responsibly. Do not drink and drive. For UK alcohol advice and recommended drinking limits, visit Drinkaware.
This article is based on information supplied by Dutch Barn Vodka. We have not independently taste-tested the Secret Santa mystery flavour (yet).