‘Tis the season for friends, family, gift-giving, festive decorations, making and eating mountains of food … whew, that’s a lot. So much, in fact, that we’re gonna need a drink. The holiday whirlwind can chew us up and spit us out like an over-baked fruitcake, but what if the countdown to Christmas came with a treat that’s better than chocolate?
Advent calendars have taken on many forms over the years, but alcoholic versions have exploded in popularity, if only as a way to bring a childhood treat into adulthood. There are ups and downs to each of these of course, which the primary down being that the majority of these boxes are still only available in the U.K. (and they’re still learning how to share).
From gin to wine, here are some very merry boozy advent calendars to experience this December.
Heritage Distilling Co. 2018 Spirits Advent Calendar – $59
If you really want to mix things up, Heritage Distilling Co. has the right mix of 24 tiny liquor bottles. This advent calendar is a little whiskey heavy, but it includes a few different ryes and bourbons. For clearer fare, you also get to enjoy gins and vodkas, but you’re out of luck when it comes to rum and tequila. Each bottle holds about a shot’s worth of booze to enjoy solo or as part of a wintry cocktail.
Drinks by the Dram Tequila Advent Calendar – $193
Tequila lovers, rejoice! Enjoy 24 bottles of award-winning tequilas this holiday season, including añejo, reposado, and blanco varieties. This edition of Drinks by the Dram’s Tequila Advent Calendar is still available, but the more colorfully designed versions have sold out.
Give Them Beer Advent Calendar – $90
Thoughtfully curated by GiveThemBeer.com, this festive 12-pack features the best craft beers of the year and a handy bottle opener. From Elysian’s Space Dust IPA to Ballast Point’s Sculpin, these full-sized bottles will make for some very hoppy holidays. You can choose which days to open it or treat it like a variety pack at your next ugly sweater Christmas party.
Vinebox Twelve Nights of Wine – $129
For a different kind of 12-pack, look no further than Vinebox’s Twelve Nights of Wine. The popular wine subscription service offers a sleek box filled with a variety of wines that also make for a stunning gift. Each screw-top vial holds a glass of wine to pair with dinner or to simply sip on as a festive nightcap.
Gin Foundry Ginvent Calendar – $131
Gin might not immediately come to mind when it comes to holiday libations, but Gin Foundry wants to change that. Their Ginvent Calendar features 24 gins, ranging from London Dry to Old Tom styles (and everything in between, if you could consider the other styles in between). Whether you’re a gin connoisseur or novice, this calendar will take your palate on an adventure.
Drinks by the Dram Rum Advent Calendar – $191
Want to bring some pirate energy into the holidays? Drinks by the Dram also offers a rum advent calendar, featuring rums from the Caribbean and beyond. Will you get a sweet, clear rum today or an aged, darker rum? Only time will tell.
