A little Christmas spirit: 6 boozy advent calendars worth gifting (or keeping)

Liquor Loot started with one whisky calendar, and now they have seven versions to choose from! Whether you want a global whisky tasting experience, just Japanese whisky, or gin instead, they can sort you out.

I’m a whiskey (or whisky) gal, and was fortunate to try the whisk(e)y calendar in recent years. It has drawers with tipples from around the world. The box I received had whiskies from Scotland, England (which was surprisingly good, no shade to Old Blighty), Ireland, Japan, Australia and New Zealand! I believe there was even a sample from a Welsh distillery. And these weren’t your standard whiskies you’d pick up at Dan Murphy’s (no judgement), these were thoughtfully curated and interesting tipples from lesser-known distilleries.

It was an excellent way to explore various kinds of whisk(e)y. Plus, I shared each sample with my partner, and while we didn’t have one every day (we drew it out to well into February), it was a lovely way to taste and learn more about each tipple (thanks to the included tasting note booklet). We still have the box; it looks great on the shelf!

Each calendar features 24 premium whiskies (or gins) with an info card about the dram. Once you have your hands on this advent calendar, you’ll be eager for the clock to hit 5 pm.

Good Pair Days are back with their advent calendar, but this year it’s extra special: It’s a tree! The good people at Good Pair Days are combining their customers’ love of wine with their love of crafting. Inside the “tree” are 12 full-size bottles of wine. Each is inside a triangular box with a recipe card and pairing options plus tasting notes. You can stack the boxes into a tree, or gift them to friends.

They have a couple of variations of wine boxes on offer. First, you choose your price point: Classic with “crowd-pleasing” options, Fancy with higher-priced and higher-end tipples, or Build Your Own (a mix of your own favourites). Next, you choose your wine style: Reds (only red options of various styles from bright and juicy to big and rich), Chillable (with whites, sparkling wines and rosé wines), or Mixed (a mix of options!). Finally, you select whether it’s for you or a gift.

If you are a Good Pair Days subscriber or even if you have an account with them, you can also earn points by submitting your tasting notes and reviews, answering quizzes and building your profile. Accumulated points can be redeemed for wine or merch! This calendar is worth 200 points, as an extra incentive.

Shipping is included, and it ships in mid-November!

If you or a mate is more of a beer drinker, then this alcohol advent calendar might be for you. Featuring 25 (yes, that means there’s a special one for Christmas Day) cans with sizes ranging from 330ml to 375ml.

As independent breweries continue to become a bit of an endangered species on the market, this box is a great way to sample various craft beers and see which ones take your fancy. The contents change from year to year, but Brewquets has teased that their “mouth-watering” selection includes brews from Mountain Culture, Hawkers, Akaasha, and Capital Brewing Co. (all particular favourites of mine!)

If you like the idea of whisky, but aren’t a fan of the harsh burn, rum could be the spirit you are after. I recently went on a cruise with my mother around the British Isles, and we had this exact discussion. She shared that she loved the idea of a nip of whisky, but it was too harsh for her. I suggested she give a dark rum a try. Rum is made from distilled sugar cane molasses, and it retains some of that residual sweetness in the final dram. Plus, a dark rum is aged in a barrel and takes on some of the classic notes of toast, vanilla, and biscuit. She tried some Diplomático (my dark rum of choice) and was an instant fan.

She may or may not be receiving this Master of Malt rum calendar to continue her exploration of the spirit! It features 24 samples from rum makers around the world (including Diplomático!).

Just like the Brewquets, this alcohol advent calendar also features 25 samples. You might think, “Doesn’t all vodka taste the same?” It really does not.

I am not usually a vodka drinker (as mentioned, I’m a whisky gal), but I appreciate the format. I went to a vodka tasting a couple of years ago and wasn’t expecting anything mind-blowing. The “control” for the tasting was Smirnoff, a classic. But after going on to taste Grey Goose, Absolut and ultimately Hartshorn Sheep’s Whey Vodka (honestly delicious) and then going back to taste the Smirnoff, there was 100 per cent a difference.

Like the Rum Advent Calendar, the Master of Malt Vodka version features 25x 30ml wax-sealed drams of spirits featuring some of the world’s best examples of vodka. There’s Absolut Blue, Grey Goose, Haku Japanese Craft Vodka (I have a bottle of this at home, made with rice; it’s fantastic), Ketel One, and The Muff, Irish potato vodka, among others. Some products may vary, but if you are keen on a vodka tasting this festive season, this could be the one for you.