Soothing drinks to end the year | Fiona Beckett drinking

It's easy to see why the term "comfort wine", or even comfort drink, is not in common usage: no one wants to claim that alcohol is comforting (well that, in moderation, it may be). Of course, many non-alcoholic beverages are comforting, including tea and hot chocolate (I'd say coffee doesn't fall into this category, as it's more of a stimulant, but fans of lattes and flat whites would definitely disagree).

To be comforting, a drink must be familiar and consistent, hence the popularity of brands such as Coca-Cola and PG Tips . It may even remind you of your childhood: I still love Rose's lime juice cordial, for example, which I remember tasting for the first time when I was about two years old; these days, however, I prefer it in a spin.

I think red wines are more uplifting than whites, although I had a vigorous disagreement with a friend about it. He argued that sancerre was comforting, mostly for familiarity reasons, but I disagree, especially at the price you pay for it these days. I maintain that cheap, or at least modestly priced, drinks are more comforting than expensive drinks, comforting being different from rewarding. And, despite that oft-recited quote from Lily Bollinger – “I drink champagne when I'm happy and when I'm sad” – and Winston Churchill's “In victory I deserve it; in defeat I need it”, I don't find champagne particularly comforting. It's more festive.

Sweetness, however, is comforting, especially if combined with strength, as in port, rich oloroso or sherry whiskeys. Is there anything more soothing than a hot toddy when you have a cold? Perhaps a hot buttered rum or, a drink that brought comfort to the wounded soldiers of the First World War, a benny and hot (Hot water Benedictine), which is curiously good. And if you were offered a bottle of eau-de-vie or armagnac for Christmas and you managed to keep it away from the family, it's time to enjoy it.

Some flavors are also comforting – especially t ginger. I love a mac of whiskey (whiskey and ginger wine) at this time of year, and find mulled wine just as, if not more, appealing after Christmas and in January as before; so does hot cider, but both come down to hot drinks. Not a bad idea, especially if, like many of us, you've turned the heat down.

Big alcoholic reds aren't normally my bag, but I enjoy them really at this time of year, so bring the Malbec, Syrah and Zinfandel along with the hearty Douro and Languedoc reds. But keep in mind that this weekend marks the end of the Christmas promotions - next week expect to see prices continue their relentless upward trajectory.

The King's Ginger £20 (50cl) Waitrose, £25 Berry Bros & Rudd, 29.9%. A warming ginger liqueur originally created to keep King Edward VII warm when he went out in a carriage. Can do the same for you when walking the dog.

Three Year Old Somerset Cider Lifeswax £27 for 50cl, £35 for 70 cl, £32.25 The Whiskey Exchange, 42%. I like the whole Somerset Cider Brandy range, but this is the most affordable, with a lovely pure apple flavor.

Vila Real Rabelo Red 2017 £6.35% . Made from the same varietals used to make Port, this spicy and spunky Douro red is just what you need with a stew.

Morrisons The Best Brands of Los Rios Rioja Crianza 2018