The humble advent calendar, typically a treasure trove of delicious, bite-sized chocolate pieces, has undergone a serious transformation since our childhood.
Typically a festively festooned box made up of 12, 24 or 25 windows behind which lays a surprise to uncover each day. The category has grown over the years, replacing sugar-laden confections with all sorts of other surprises, from miniature drams of whisky and gin, to travel-sized beauty - with few of us able to resist. Why would you? After being good all year, why not indulge in a little end-of-year thrill before the big daddy excitement of gifts under the tree?
Boozy calendars come second only to beauty in terms of covetability. With good reason, for what better way is there to live up to the Yuletide directive of ‘eat, drink and be merry’ than with a wee dram every day until December 25?
If you’re on this page, it may well be the case we’re preaching to the choir. You’ve likely already fallen for the idea of a drinks-laden calendar, hook, line and sinker. To that, we say - welcome to the club.
We won’t hold you up from browsing boozy calendars much longer. We’ve grouped together the best you can buy this year from every available category: we’re talking sparkling wine, as well as red and white, beer, whisky, gin, rum and tequila.
If you see one you or a loved one might like, don’t hang around. Once they’re gone - they’re gone.
Shop the best alcohol advent calendars below
Best whisky advent calendars of 2022 to enjoy a festive dram
Best beauty advent calendars for Christmas 2022
Best gin advent calendars of 2022 to ring in the festive season
Best Christmas gifts for teens 2022: Ideas for hard-to-impress teenagers
Best gifts for him: presents for men who have everything
Best gifts for women 2022: birthday present ideas she will love
Best whisky advent calendars for 2022
There’s nothing like a wee dram of firewater to warm your cockles on a cold December evening.
Find the full list of whisky advent calendars here.
Single Malts of Scotland Advent Calendar
The story of Scotland’s whisky-making history is rich and colourful, so what better way to delve into it than with this whisky-packed advent, packaged in a bookish box? From light to densely peated, there are 25 x 30ml samples to wet your whistle, but all share one thing: they’re single cask varieties.
Ageing ranges from seven years to 31, from some of Scotland’s most prestigious distilleries.
Buy now £250.00, The Whisky Exchange
The Whisky Exchange Spirits Advent Calendar
A gem for liquor lovers, this 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 £175.00, The Whisky Exchange
Johnnie Walker 12 Days of Discovery limited edition calendar
Put a spring in their step this Christmas with Johnnie Walker’s limited edition whisky advent calendar. The handsome yellow and white box opens to reveal a dozen branded miniatures to enjoy in the 12 days before Christmas. Whether they’re new to the world of whisky or just want a journey through Johnnie Walker’s core range, it’s the perfect boozy gift for a fan.
Available now.
Buy now £49.00, Amazon
Japanese Whisky Advent Calendar 2022 Edition
If you’re a fan of all things from the Land of the Rising Sun, continue your admiration for Japanese whisky with this advent from Drinks by the Dram. There are two designs to choose from: this original and a kintsugi option.
Each contain 24 x 30ml wax-sealed vials, delivering a host of exciting styles and flavour profiles. Brands include the well-established such as Suntory as well as smaller distillers. The design is recyclable, as long as you remove the wax first (comes off a treat with hot water).
Despatched from October 10.
Buy now £249.95, Master of Malt
24 Days of Rum Advent Calendar
Transport yourself to sunnier, tropical climes this Yuletide. No need for a boarding pass; this advent calendar will do the job just fine. Spend your December learning about rum, its history and the various tasting notes of the 24 varieties within the box. There’s even a set of two tasting glasses included to help you sip in style.
Also available at Harvey Nichols.
Buy now £79.75, Amazon
Best gin advent calendars for 2022
Get ready to gin-le. Find the full list here.
Virgin Wines Gin Advent Calendar 2022
Virgin Wines may be understandably better known for their fermented grape-packed advent, but such is its popularity that the brand has branched out into other boozy versions. Thank goodness we say, because this calendar has us beside ourselves with excitement for Dec 1.
Housed in a festive green box, the boutique selection brings together a truly epic variety to enjoy all the way up to Christmas Day: think London Dry Old Tom, Navy and flavoured gins.
It’s available to pre-order now with a deposit of only £10 and delivery from November.
Buy now £99.99, Virgin Wines
Craft Gin Club The Very Merry Gin Calendar
Craft Gin Club is back to make the festive season your merriest yet with its wildly popular advent calendar featuring a line-up of 25 mini gins. Coming from distilleries all over the world as well as right here in the UK, you can expect classic London Dry as well as Christmassy flavours like Figgy Pudding. Learn more about the booze you’re wrapping your lips around by scanning the QR code with your phone to reveal a short video paired to each day’s gin.
Pre-orders are open now, with deliveries sent from mid-October and you can pay via Klarna to make the purchase lighter on your wallet.
Right now: use the code FREEGINOFFER to nab a complimentary 70cl bottle of gin too.
Buy now £89.95, Craft Gin Club
Gin Advent Calendar - Premium Edition (2022 Edition) [Art Deco]
There are four design options available for this advent calendar, but our heads are turned by this Art Deco style, a glamorous alternative to the usual Christmassy fare. Perfect for an elegant gin fan, you’ll find some familiar names inside the 24 windows - and a few curveballs too, to keep you on your toes.
Buy now £99.95, Master of Malt
The Little Boys Room Gin Filled Giant Advent Cracker
Taking an XXL approach to the traditional Christmas cracker, this version contains far more than a novelty crown and a silly joke.
It comes filled with 24 x 5cl bottles of flavoured gin and gin liqueurs, giving you plenty to get excited about as we count down to Christmas.
Each day, you will be treated to a mini offering from distilleries across the globe including the likes of Edinburgh Gin, Warners, and many more.
Buy now £144.95, NOTHS
Best wine advent calendars for 2022
It’s the end of the year, and all bets are off. Countdown to the big day in style with a red, white, rose or sparkling wine advent! Feast on the full list here.
Freixenet 12 Day Advent Calendar
Start the Christmas season as you mean to go on - with a bottle of fizz in your hand at all times.
This calendar from Freixenet offers 12 days of bubbles that you can enjoy or share among your family and friends to toast and be merry.
Among the offering, there are 20cl minis of Prosecco, Sparkling Italian Rosé, Cordon Negro Brut Cava and Cordon Rosado Cava in a reusable calendar that you can then refill or keep jewellery or makeup inside.
Buy now £75.00, NOTHS
Virgin Wines advent calendar
Wine subscription service Virgin Wines has not just one calendar, not just two calendars but three variations of advents dedicated to red, white or for those who dabble in both.
The Mixed Wine advent is one of the best-selling on the market and is packed with 24 mini bottles of reds, whites, rosé and sparkling that have been curated by the brand’s experts - each of which is a single serving. On Christmas Day, there is a full-sized to be enjoyed alongside your roast and is worth £19.99 alone.
With a nod to the planet, the brand has reduced its calendar’s packaging by 30 per cent this year. Plus it will make a beautiful addition to your festive decorations with the wreath design.
Reserve now for £10.
Buy now £89.99, Virgin Wines
John Lewis Wine Advent Calendar, 24x 187ml
The pretty winter woodland scene that covers the front of this hefty box is almost mesmerising enough to distract you from the contents - but not quite. Hidden behind the festive facade sits 24 x 187ml bottles of red and white wine, ready to enjoy at leisure every evening until Christmas Day. Think of it as your own personal Christmas wine cellar.
Buy now £85.00, John Lewis
BEST BEER ADVENT CALENDARS FOR 2022
What better way to countdown to Christmas than by lifting a festive pint?
BrewDog Advent Calendar
It’ll be a very Hoppy Christmas indeed with BrewDog’s calendar in your corner. Designed to delight every December day until the 25th, this 24-door design is loaded with the brewer’s best selling craft beer flavours - and a few surprises too. They’re keeping the contents of the daily countdown well and truly under wraps so that the advent calendar surprises you, as intended.
Buy now £59.95, BrewDog
Flavourly Canvent Craft Beer Calendar
Make this December your craftiest yet with this boozy calendar which packs in 24 delicious, small-batch cans behind each numbered door. The selection sells out every year and for 2022, the brand has added a whopping 17 new beers to the design. If you're looking to get merry, Flavourly's advent will get you there.
Buy now £47.95, Flavourly
Beavertown Christmas Advent Calendars
Beer-lovers will think all their Christmases have come at once, waking up to one of Beavertown’s advent calendars on December 1.
The craft beer producers have released two versions for the festive season, both packed with a 24-can selection as well as themed merch and limited edition specials. Best of all, the boxes that make up the calendar can be broken off and stored in the fridge for a perfectly chilled serve to enjoy every December night until Christmas.
Choose from Beavertown Beer Advent Calendar (£58) and Limited Edition Beer Advent Calendar (£68), with free delivery on both.
Pre-order opens on September 26.
Buy now £58.00, Beavertown
Dry Drinker Beer Advent Calendar
With more people waking up to the benefits of zero per cent, why not use this Christmas as a chance to road test some brands before Dry January kicks in?
Dry Drinker has whipped up this low and no alcohol calendar featuring some of the best booze-free beers available today, with names like Days and Lucky Saint in the mix.
In a season famous for excess, it's a great way to practice moderate drinking and for newbies, see what all the fuss is about.
Buy now £75.60, Dry Drinker
Original Stormtrooper Beer Advent Calendar
An advent calendar from a galaxy far, far away, film buffs will adore this calendar, themed on legendary franchise Star Wars. The 12 window design hides a dozen craft beers, one each for the days of Christmas.
Buy now £49.50, Menkind
