Advent calendars have become big business in recent years, so it felt natural for Club O to survey the market for the best alcohol advent calendars available to lovers of fine wine and spirits. From humble origins that saw nothing more than an illustration or a piece of chocolate behind the window for each day, there are now calendars to suit a range of tastes and interests, offering samples of beauty products, scented candles, cheese and myriad other product categories as the days tick down to Christmas. The drinks industry has not been left behind.
The calendars are a great opportunity for companies to let customers try products they may not otherwise buy, so it was inevitable that drinks brands would see value in participating in the trend. There are some impressive premium examples available, with the best alcohol advent calendars offering carefully selected, quality tasters that are as much about pleasure as they are promotion. We’ve selected seven of the best drinks calendars below.
Seven of the best alcohol advent calendars to buy in 2024
Whisky Advent Calendar: 25 Whiskies of the World
The Whisky Exchange’s 25 Whiskies of the World calendar features a 30ml bottle of whisky for every day of advent, with the samples selected from distilleries in Scotland, Ireland, Japan and the US, as well as some more unusual destinations, including Australia, Israel and Denmark. Contents include single malts ranging up to 18 years in age, small batch bourbons, drams aged in sherry casks and more; there are plenty of famous names too: Kavalan, Jura, Caol Ila, Dingle and Port Charlotte all feature. Frenzied excitement at Club O HQ meant some of the doors proved too flimsy to survive the opening process but the bottles themselves have classy labels, and the purple case with etching is stylish, sturdy and tactile.
The Whisky Exchange, £125
The 67 Pall Mall Sommeliers’ Calendar
The sommeliers at 67 Pall Mall have once again consulted the club’s bestsellers list and considered their own favourites in order to select 24 special wines to feature in the 67 Pall Mall Sommeliers’ Calendar for 2024. The box, which is designed to resemble the façade of the private members’ club in Mayfair, contains a 75ml bottle for each day of advent. Once the contents have been poured into a suitable glass, a QR code printed on the label can be scanned, taking drinkers to a video presented by a member of the club’s team giving more background on the day’s wine. The contents are kept a surprise but last year’s calendar included 2004 Château Latour, an ’89 Sauternes and a Premier Cru Meursault. Unlike access to the club itself, you don’t need to be a member to buy the calendar (though members do get a special price). Bordeaux, Burgundy and, new for 2024, Italian editions are also available, curated by Jane Anson, Jasper Morris MW and the Italian head sommelier at 67 Pall Mall London respectively, for lovers of those prestigious regions.
67 Pall Mall, Members £475, non-members £550. Orders must be placed by 18 November.
Moth Cocktail Advent Calendar
Moth’s calendar serves up a ready-to-drink cocktail in a can each day of December, meaning you can count down the days with minimal effort and maximum pleasure. Tough day at work? Finally braved the shops? Burnt the mince pies? Just fancy a little drink before dinner? A cocktail is ready and waiting for you behind each window to make life feel more festive whatever the day’s circumstances in December. There’s impressive depth to Moth’s range, with ten different serves included in the calendar, including their Margarita, Espresso Martini, Paloma, Negroni and Old Fashioned. Cocktails in an invariably hectic month without buying all the spirits required or spending the time mixing them – what’s not to love?
Moth, £80
The Rum Advent Calendar
Drinks by the Dram releases a selection of advent calendars each year, including this edition dedicated to rum. The simple box features 25 windows containing 30ml bottles of rum from a variety of distilleries, from the big to the boutique. There’s a range of styles from light to dark, including Black Tot Master Blender’s Reserve, Phraya Gold and Ron Zacapa Centenario Sistema Solera 23. If sipping your way around the world via some special rums sounds like an appealing journey to Christmas Day, this is the one for you.
Master of Malt, £100
Old and Rare Whisky Advent Calendar
This luxurious whisky advent calendar contains 24 wax-sealed 30ml bottles of old and rare liquid, including drams from Balvenie, Dalmore, Glen Grant and Glenfarclas. A Glencairn tasting glass accompanies the calendar to make sure the recipient can appreciate each whisky to the fullest each day. This is undoubtedly be one of the more expensive alcohol advent calendars available but considering the contents, it effectively constitutes a rare opportunity to experience an extensive selection of top quality whisky without buying any of the individual bottles.
The Tequila & Mezcal Advent Calendar
Perfect Cellar Fine Wine Advent Calendar
For those of us with budgets smaller than those required for the calendars from 67 Pall Mall above, look to Perfect Cellar’s Fine Wine Advent Calendar. A 100ml serving of wine is featured for each day of December until Christmas, including 15 red wines, eight wines and a rosé. There’s a great mix of styles and countries: among the reds are a Bordeaux, a Sicilian Nero d’Avola, a French Pinot Noir, a Tempranillo from Spain and a Barolo, while the whites include a Spanish Verdejo and a French Aligoté. Given the lineup, you’re likely to come across some favourites but the calendar should also throw up the odd, exciting surprise.
perfectcellar.com, £189
