Wine Review: spirits and liqueurs at Marks & Spencer Where can you buy Guatemalan rum, pomegranate liqueur and a pocket-sized bottle of celery bitters? A while back I'd have relied on Gerry's, a venerable Aladdin's cave in Soho for such rarities. More recently, The Whisky Exchange shop at Vinopolis on Bankside in London has arrived, stocking more than 1,500 spirits, some very obscure indeed. And then, of course, there's M&S. Yes, really. Marks has been quietly adding unusual stronger drinks to its shelves for some time, but a couple of months ago it launched a range of cultish, even quirky, spirits and liqueurs, some branded, some own-label. These include a beautiful bottle of Fragola wild-strawberry liqueur, plum sake, a classy grappa, dry curaçao, limoncello and a crème de figue. 'The fig liqueur is very good poured over ice cream,' says the buyer, Emma Dawson. She mixes the pomegranate liqueur below with blood-orange juice, citrus-flavoured vodka and lime to make a punch, and the new passion-fruit liqueur, white rum, mint and lime for a mojito. 'We tried to find drinks that were artisanal and interesting, bottles that a bartender would be into,' she says. A mixologist would certainly approve of the Fee Brothers' American bitters, either celery (for dashing judiciously into a bloody Mary) or West Indian orange (for a tangy gin and tonic). Wine lovers will enjoy the Fragola topped up with cold, frothy sparkling wine, with a sprig of mint to welcome in spring. I just hope that M&S's traditional shoppers are brave enough to welcome in strange spirits. Marks & Spencer Pomegranate Liqueur (£9.99 for 35cl) Ruby-red and very sweet, but with a fresh bite to the finish, this is versatile, from a simple shot that goes with chocolate desserts, to a strong substitute for grenadine in cocktails. 24 per cent Dry Curaçao Triple Sec, Pierre Ferrand, France (selected M&S stores, £25.49 for 70cl) A fine spirit with an orange-peel aroma and honeyed depths. Use in myriad citrussy cocktails. 40 per cent Fragola Liquore alle Fragoline di Bosco, Bepi Tosolini, Italy (selected M&S stores, £23.49 for 70cl) A wild-strawberry liqueur beaded to the brim with the whole tiny fruit intact, and delectable mixed with cold prosecco, or added to fruit salads or red-berry tarts. TIPPLE TIP highland gin... I love the small-batch Scottish gin Caorunn (pronounced ka-roon), made at a Speyside distillery with botanical flavourings, including rowanberry and apple. Serve with tonic and a slice of red apple instead of lemon. Waitrose and Scottish branches of Sainsbury's, from £25.95'