It’s hard to imagine a more arresting centrepiece to any dining table than the Historical Collection Reserve Tawny Port III from Taylor’s.

Taylor’s Historical Collection is a series of limited editions that pay homage to the changing shape of Port bottles since the early 18th Century. The first release was a charmingly dumpy bottle lovingly named “The Onion”, the second was a flatter flagon and a bestseller at Harvey Nichols called “The Chestnut”, and the latest is “The Mallet”. This striking shape had become well established in the UK by the 1730s and shows the progression from the globular bottle (that didn’t allow cellar ageing) towards the more modern cylindrical style we’re familiar with today.

This gorgeous bottle holds an exceptional Tawny Port that’s ready to drink and requires no decanting other than straight into your glass. The liquid contained within The Mallet is a blend of carefully curated Ports from Taylor’s extensive Tawny stocks stored at Vila Nova de Gaia, all of which have been matured for long periods in wooden barrels imparting deep, nutty flavours. The result is very Christmassy, displaying plum, fig, sultana, raisin and marzipan notes, alongside leather, coffee, butterscotch, cigar box, salted caramel and woody spices.