It may feel like a way off yet, but December 1 will be here before you know it.
Christmas is on its merry way, which means it won’t be long until you can tear open the first window of your advent calendar.
The season’s haul has started flooding in, from beauty to booze. Advent calendars are big business (some 33 per cent of Brits buy one annually, according to YouGov), and while you can still find trad options stuffed with chocolate, the most sought-after boxes don’t contain any sweets in the mix at all.
Instead, behind those 12 or 24 festively festooned windows hide surprises of a totally different kind. I’m talking DIY tools, premium fragrances, jewellery, socks, stationery and more. Boozy advent calendars are among the highest in demand, with options ranging from wine and gin to rum and whisky.
Ideal for both die-hard fans and curious newcomers, a whisky advent calendar offers a delicious way to count down to December 25, so long as you remember to enjoy each window in the evening rather than the morning.
A calendar with boozy surprises allows you to try new varieties and brands without taking a chance on a new bottle of something that may wind up forgotten on a high shelf.
What to expect? Well, typically, you will find 30ml wax-sealed drams behind the windows or doors, designed as a little taster to educate as you explore and learn about the craft of whisky-making.
Alongside the good stuff, some calendars could even throw in drinking accessories such as glasses or whisky stones to enrich your festive experience. Save the drams for after dinner, or ward off chilly nights by spiking your hot toddy with a measure. Choose your 2025 advent wisely, and you may even find a full-sized bottle to enjoy on the big day.
Whether you’re shopping for yourself or a whisky fan, we’ve gathered the finest whisky calendars to warm you from the inside out cockles come December 1.
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The Whisky Exchange Spirits Advent Calendar
An absolute gem for liquor lovers, this advent calendar brings the very best drinks from across the planet to your door this Christmas.
The green and gold book design flips over to reveal 24 perfectly portioned miniatures, covering everything from richly flavoured whisky to artisan spirits from around the globe. When Christmas Day dawns, you’ll find a very special 25th bottle to mark the big day.
Packed to the brim with exclusive bottlings, craft spirits and some of the brightest names in biz, this epic calendar makes an extra luxurious treat to sink into before Christmas kicks off. We suggest enjoying your daily surprise in the evening; morning tastings may not go down well at the office!
Buy now £110.00, The Whisky Exchange
The Perfect Measure 25 Whiskies of the World Advent Calendar
From The Whisky Exchange comes this 25-window calendar that allows you to taste the world via whisky from the comfort of your armchair. Inside expect to find dinky glass thimbles filled with everything from single malt Scotch, American bourbon, rye whiskey and more.
Best of all, if you intend to give this as a gift, the intricate packaging means you needn't bother with wrapping paper at all.
It’s currently £20 cheaper than the 2024 version, so grab it while you can.
Buy now £110.00, The Whisky Exchange
Master of Malt The Premium Whisky Advent Calendar (2025 Edition)
Push the boat out this Yuletide with a premium whisky calendar for someone who really knows their stuff. Only the best brands have been included in this selection of 25, boxed in a gold box that is bound to make the right impression from the off. No spoilers, but one of the distillations has been aged for 30 years.
Buy now £199.95, Master of Malt
Master of Malt Favourites Whisky Advent Calendar (2025 Edition)
You may have your favourites, but what if another Scotch is out there - and it's better? Designed to expand the palate of aficionados, this curated calendar showcases some of the very best producers, from Redbreast and Laphroaig to Balvenie and Glenfiddich. But don't worry, there are a few curveballs in the mix, including one whisky aged in old tequila barrels.
Buy now £249.95, Master of Malt
Whisky Advent Calendar (2025 Edition)
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A supreme gift for a whisky lover, this advent brings light and excitement to dark December days. There are 25 miniatures inside, each spanning different styles and origins, with no two repeated so you’ll always get a taste of something new. The oldest is 18 years, which means you’ll really enjoy bang for your buck.
Buy now £99.95, Master of Malt
Abode Home & Gifts Luxury Whisky Advent Calendar
Want to knock their socks clean off? This luxury calendar is bound to leave them awestruck, if not first for the decorated wooden cabinet then surely with the 25 bottles of 50ml drams housed within. The selection comprises single malts, single grains and blended expressions to cover the breadth of the spirit and help you detect the differences between each one.
Buy now £299.95, NOTHS
Drinks by the Dram World Whisky Advent Calendar (2025 Edition)
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Though purists would argue that Scottish whisky is the OG, the spirit has been embraced the world over. This constellation-patterned advent offers a global perspective on the drink, presenting 24 x 30ml wax-sealed drams in advent calendar form. Prepare to explore booze from every corner of the globe.
Dispatched from September 17.
Buy now £134.95, Master of Malt
Drinks by the Dram Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar (2025 Edition)
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A bonnie option for your favourite Scotch whisky aficionado, Drinks by the Dram has made this advent calendar for those who love spirits crafted northwards of Hadrian’s Wall.
As with the other calendars in the brand’s series, this too offers 24 x 30 bottles sealed with wax. You’ll spot familiar names like Johnnie Walker, Jura and Dalmore, but a few curveballs in the fray there too.
Buy now £134.95, Master of Malt
Master of Malt Japanese Whisky Advent Calendar (2025 Edition)
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Land of the Rising Sun fans can continue their admiration for Japanese whisky with this advent available at Master of Malt.
Wrapped in a perfectly festive red and gold box, each design holds 24 x 30ml wax-sealed vials, delivering a host of exciting styles and flavour profiles. Brands include the well-established Suntory, but there are smaller distillers in the selection too.
The design is recyclable, as long as you remove the wax seals from the glass bottles first (tip: it comes off a treat with hot water).
Buy now £199.95, Master of Malt
That Boutique-y Whisky Company Advent Calendar
There’s no danger of your glass running dry this December, not if you get stuck into That Boutique-y Whisky Company’s advent calendar. The jovial box adds to the excitement, showing whisky elves preparing for the festivities. Behind each of the 24 windows is a 30ml sample dram siphoned from some of the world’s finest, specialist distillers.
Delivery from mid-September.
Buy now £134.95, Master of Malt
John Lewis The Great British Exchange Advent Calendar
This alcohol-inclusive advent offers gin and so much more. Filled with proudly independent brands, the miniatures span everything from cask whisky and honey-infused tequila to vodka and flavoured gins.
Fan of the Isle of Wight's Mermaid Gin? This calendar contains four miniatures housed in their distinctive scaled glass bottles shrunken down to an adorable pocket size. Just the thing to warm your cockles when Jack Frost makes an appearance.
Buy now £140.00, John Lewis
Fireball Cinnamon Whisky Liqueur Advent Calendar
Cinnamon whiskey feels fitting for winter, warming you from the inside out. Fireball is one of the best-known brands, and if you or someone you know is a fan, this calendar will be right up your street. Inside there are 20 miniature bottles of the firewater, plus four gifts to keep things interesting. We'll have ours in a hot toddy or adult hot chocolate complete with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.
Buy now £23.16, Amazon
