The Best Boozy Advent Calendars (2024)
Advent calendars offer daily treats for the lucky recipient. But if chocolate advent calendars are popular with children and often sell out, you can only imagine how popular boozy advent calendars are with adult drinkers. These modern interpretations of a holiday tradition are highly anticipated and offer everything from whiskey to wine and more. Check out our picks for 2024 or take a look back at the 2023 advent calendar roundup version to see if something there appeals to you even more.
Flaviar Advent 2024
The holy grail of boozy advent calendars, this one sells out quickly, so order as soon as you’re able. Flaviar is a member-driven program where coded samples of whiskey (and other spirits) are sent in themed bundles. Fans can blind taste and explore expressions from all over the world. The company also partners with whiskey labels in the U.S., Scotland and elsewhere to craft exclusive bottlings for members.
But you don’t need to be a member to pick up or gift this fantastic collection of 24 50ml top-shelf whiskey samples (though there is a key card included for a free one-year membership). This year’s calendar boasts a hotel theme with 24 “doors” to open. Each leads to a bottle (no repeats!) with enough liquid for two tastings, exploring single malts, bourbons, ryes, and other whiskies from around the world, along with an interactive tasting guide and two tasting glasses. Can’t snag the advent calendar? Consider the 10-bottle Grilled and Distilled kit ($200) as an abbreviated substitute.
$250
Vinebox Advent
Returning this year with a fully revamped 2024 look and calendar, Vinebox offers 12- and 24-pack decorative boxes for the holidays. The gift-sized calendar features two different collections this year: Coastal Holiday and European Holiday. Each box features twelve different 100ml samples. Coastal Holiday highlights selections from America’s wine country, while European Holiday features reds, whites, and rosés from Italy, Spain, France, and Portugal. The 24 Nights of Wine features both collections, and each vial pours enough for two glasses.
$129 (12 Nights) / $199 (24 Nights)
Cask Cartel Advent
You’ll find an advent calendar for every sort of spirits fan on your gift list at Cask Cartel, an online store specializing in higher-end and hard-to-find bottles (along with the regular stuff). Calendars are focused on specific booze categories, in a variety of decorative boxes. Each kit contains 24 or 25 30ml bottles (each different), spanning the flavor profiles, brands, and characteristics of each category or region. You’ll find a whopping 21 calendars from which to choose.
Want to really knock their socks off? Consider The Old and Rare Whisky Calendar ($,2500) or any of the Premium Edition calendars ($600 each), featuring top-shelf selections for bourbon, Scotch, or world whisky.
$230 - $2,500
Spirit CO Extraordinarily Tasty Advent 2024
For the spirits fan who would like to sample a little bit of everything, this British company’s Extraordinarily Tasty box is perfect. 24 different selections cover just about every category, from the basics (whiskey, rum, tequila, gin) to further afield selections (Cognac, Japanese whiskey, Earl Gray-infused vodka). If you’re seeking something more focused, The Spirit Co has a whole slew of boozy advent calendars (check availability) covering a wide variety of categories.
£145 or about $184
12 Days of Bartesian Advent 2024
Bartesian, the smart home bartender appliance has put together 12 of its favorite seasonal cocktails into one handy gift box. You’ll get the fixings for three cocktails for four different spirits (vodka, whiskey, tequila, rum). Holiday riffs include a mistletoe margarita (hints of blackberry, spice, and citrus), and a holiday-spiced old fashioned. A handy guide outlines the best glassware and garnishes for each drink. Your recipient will need a Bartesian Cocktail Maker ($350), so perhaps the calendar could work as a teaser.
$35
Avaline Holiday Collection
Not exactly an advent calendar, but this nine-bottle assortment, featuring wines from Italy, France, and Germany, is a gift that can be enjoyed daily throughout the holiday season. Avaline is a négociant-style bottler, helmed by actress Cameron Diaz and influencer/entrepreneur Katherine Power with the goal of presenting sourced wines in a transparent way, and marketing them look-book style more familiar to consumers of beauty or fashion products.
This collection features 12 bottles of nine different wines (the dupes are great if guests are coming over). You’ll get two bottles each of Avaline’s Prosecco, Riesling, Grenache, and Beaujolais, along with a bottle of Syrah. The grapes are organic, ingredients and nutrition information are listed, and and the producers of each bottle are shared as part of the four-year-old company’s push for transparency and authenticity.
$260