Best whisky advent calendars of 2024 to count down the days with a tipple

December 1 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 have snowballed into a whole Christmas category of their own and while you can still find options stuffed with chocolate, the most sought-after boxes don’t contain any confections at all.

Instead, behind those 12 or 24 festively festooned windows lie surprises of a different kind. There’s everything from 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 staunch fans and inquisitive newcomers, a whisky advent calendar offers a delicious way to count down to December 25, though we’d recommend tucking into your treat in the evenings rather than the morning.

A calendar with boozy surprises allows you to try new varieties and brands without splurging on a whole bottle of something that may wind up gathering dust on a shelf.

You’ll typically find 30ml drams behind the windows or doors, each designed to educate as you explore and learn about the beauty of whisky.

Alongside the good stuff, some calendars throw in drinking accessories such as glasses or whisky stones to help elevate the experience. Save the drams for after dinner, or ward off chilly nights by spiking your hot toddy with a measure.

And if you choose wisely, you might 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 your cockles come December 1.

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Harvey Nichols A Whisky Tour of The World 2024

Go on a world tour this Christmas via the delectable medium of whisky. This calendar will see you try premium drams from all over: think Scotland, Japan, Taiwan, India, Ireland and more, allowing you to understand the range of the grain for yourself. 

Beautifully presented in five linen-bound, gold-foiled book packages and filled with stories, tasting notes and insights, it's a must for any whisky aficionado's drinks library.

Buy now £195.00, Harvey Nichols

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 £130.00, 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.

Buy now £130.00, The Whisky Exchange

Whisky Advent Calendar (2024 Edition)

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 age is 21 years, which means you’ll really enjoy bang for your buck.

Buy now £99.95, Master of Malt

Old & Rare Whisky Advent Calendar (2024 Edition)

If you’re looking for an extra special advent countdown this year, this epic advent calendar won’t fail to hit the sweet spot. It not only features a stylish design, but it holds some of the most exclusive, elusive and high-quality whiskies on the planet.

Sit down to sip on something new every day until December 25 (with the included Glencairn tasting glass, no less) with 24 x 30ml drams from some of the most revered distilleries on Earth.

This 2024 compilation is £200 cheaper than last year's, and pre-orders are open now with delivery from October.

Buy now £799.95, 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 £249.95, NOTHS

Master of Malt Japanese Whisky Advent Calendar (2024 Edition)

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 £249.95, Master of Malt

Drinks by the Dram World Whisky Advent Calendar (2024 Edition)

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.

Buy now £129.95, Master of Malt

Drinks by the Dram Gin Advent Calendar - Premium (2024 Edition)

Shopping with someone who really knows their gin? Drinks by the Dram offers this premium gin calendar, a glamorous alternative to the usual Christmassy fare.

Perfect for an elegant gin fan, you’ll find some familiar names inside the 24 windows - plus a few curveballs too to keep you on your toes.

Pre-orders are open now with delivery expected from October 1.

Buy now £99.95, Master of Malt

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 £44.92, Amazon

Drinks by the Dram Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar (2024 Edition)

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 £129.95, 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.

Pre-orders open now.

Buy now £149.95, 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 comes calling.

Buy now £112.00, John Lewis