"The unique Aqua Optima five-step, fast flow filtration system inside the kettle removes up to 95% of lead, 80% of chlorine and also reduces high levels of herbicides and pesticides, which can remain in water even after boiling."

What we thought: The kettle was really simple to set up and at full capacity, the water boiled in just over 3 minutes. The 1.7L capacity of this kettle is a good standard size and the transparency of the water tank means you can see at a glance how much water remains in the kettle.

The say "one Double Life filter lasts for up to 60 days or the equivalent of 200 litres" - fitting it works in a similar way to a cartridge in a water filter jug. What I thought was nifty was the cartridge life indicator to remind you when the cartridge needs replacing.

A couple of small observations: Whilst the dual handles were very comfortable to use, they seemed to rattle slightly against the aluminium as the water approached boiling point. I found the lid a little awkward to lift up each time the kettle had boiled, and I did almost burn my hand from both the steam coming up through the middle of the kettle (as the lid is removed completely during re-filling) as well as on the aluminium shell whilst trying to re-fill the kettle.

The design of the kettle may not be to everyone's taste but there's no denying that it is rather eye-catching in brushed stainless steel and wouldn't look out of place in a modern kitchen. And if you're looking for a good quality solid kettle that produced clean filtered water at the click of a button then this could be the answer to the perfect cuppa!

Reviewed December 2007.

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OXO do a fantastic range of kitchen items, especially designed to make Christmas Day cooking as stress-free as possible.

What we thought: We tried the turkey baster, gravy separator and meat thermometer in our bid to create the perfect pre-Christmas meal!

The baster is long enough to suck up as much juice as possible from the tray and worked well to ensure the turkey was regularly fully basted. However, the bulb (and it's collar) did continually come away from the tube making this a rather tricky task. We also felt that suction control wasn't great as the baster wasn't able to hold the juice for very long.

The fat separating measuring jug was impressive. It performed as expected and the 4-cup capacity easily handled all the juice from one bird. Pouring wasn't messy and the jug was very comfortable to hold. More an observation rather than a negative but the holes at the top are quite large, which meant little bits were able to get through, gicing the gravy a non-smooth texture that some might/might not prefer.

We found the meat thermometer a really useful tool in our quest to ensure the bird was cooked to a safe temperature. With the recent turkey scares in the news this part of the cookery process is vital. The great thing about this tool is that it's so simple to use (insert, wait a little while, then take the reading) and you can use it all year round to ensure a variety of different meats are cooked to perfection.

"Fresh long and elegant, lemony citric elements and a creamy yeast textural palate weight balances acidity offering a long clean mineral finish."

What we thought: Just in time for the festive celebrations, this is the latest addition to the Montana range. Sourced from the best fruit from the Gisborne vineyards this bubbly wine would make the perfect accompaniment to your Christmas dinner or indeed any special occasion. It's so good you could have it in place of champagne. I will definitely be buying a case of this for my family Christmas dinner this year.

"Try Hot Sox for cosy toes - the perfect way to soothe tired or chilled feet, and at the end of a long hard day..."

What we thought: I've used the Aroma Home neck wraps before and find them great for relieving aches and pains and unwinding my mind with the relaxing smell of lavender. The same can definitley be said for their Hot Sox's. After a few minutes in the microwave you have toasty feet once you've got them on. It really made a difference to mine, especially as we have laminate flooring and no under-floor heating. The smell is really relaxing too. I think this could be a real treat for stressed out mums and dads or to help grandparents and anyone whose ill keep the cold out. A perfect Christmas idea for under £20.

"A rich, expressive wine that displays fragrant strawberry and cherry aromas with cedar and spice. Matured for four to six months in a selection of new and one-year-old French oak."

What we thought:Smooth, fresh strawberry fruit flavours and a delicate, oaky finish will appeal to lovers of red Burgundy. Try it with meaty fish, pork, poultry or game, or savour a glass on its own. Perfect for Christmas.

A sparkling blend of orange, grape and blood orange juice, Shloer has used only the best natural ingredients and no artificial colours, flavours, preservatives or sweeteners to create an exceptional non-alcoholic drink, the perfect sparkling alternative to Champagne.

What we liked: Wonderfully refreshing when chilled and not too sweet. it would be lovely used in a punch with some fruity bits and amazingly, it tastes very similar to buzzes fizz, as though it ought to be alcoholic. Definitely a must for Christmas for anyone driving or not drinking.
What we weren't keen on: Possibly a little too carbonated but delicious nevertheless!