We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. What to Buy Gift Guides The 13 Best Whiskey Advent Calendars for 2024 Discover curated selections of bespoke bourbons, ryes, single malts, and more from some of the best distilleries in the world. By Alyssa Longobucco Alyssa Longobucco Alyssa Longobucco is a freelance writer, editor, and stylist living in New York with over a decade of experience in the food, home, and lifestyle categories. When she's not diving into the latest trends and products, she's restoring an 1820s farmhouse in the Hudson Valley alongside her husband and children. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines and Jason Horn Jason Horn With a culinary degree, a master's in journalism, and nearly 20 years of experience, Jason Horn has spent his entire career writing about food and drinks. He lives in Los Angeles, where he grills and entertains outdoors as much as possible. He also loves the winter sport of curling. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 27, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Reviews More Food & Wine Advent Calendar Gifts Our Expertise Photo: Food & Wine / Henry Wortock One of the best things about the holiday season is just how many opportunities it presents to spoil your favorite people. If you’re looking to get a jump start on all those warm, fuzzy feelings this season, there are lots of drinks Advent calendars. But you might consider gifting the spirit lover in your life a whiskey Advent calendar in particular. In addition to the perfect whiskey glasses or whiskey decanter, one of our favorite gifts for whiskey lovers is an assortment of whiskies with a new sample for every day of December. Our picks are packed to the brim with bespoke nips from some of the best distilleries in the world, for a fireside sip sure to keep every whiskey lover warm. The best whiskey Advent calendars include holiday picks for bourbon drinkers, Scotch lovers, and every other whiskey fan. Our advice: Order ASAP before they sell out. Best Bourbon Advent Calendar Drinks by the Dram Bourbon & American Whiskey Advent Calendar PHOTO: Master of Malt View on Masterofmalt.com Drinks by the Dram makes an astonishing assortment of whiskey Advent calendars, with specialized editions focused on Scotch, sherry cask–aged whiskey, and other specific styles and regions. The company may be British, but its American whiskey Advent selections are especially strong in 2024. Though they include ryes and single malts, these 25 samples are mostly bourbons, made all over the country and aged everywhere from 2 to 24 years. In a nod to sustainability, this year's calendar uses half as much cardboard as in the past, is entirely recyclable, and even has compostable trays for the sample vials. If you're looking for the perfect gift for bourbon lovers, we think this selection will seriously wow them this holiday season. Includes: 25 (30-milliliter) samples Best Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar Whisky With Us Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar PHOTO: The Whisky World View on Thewhiskyworld.com Whisky With Us spells it whisky and not whiskey, which is how you know the brand is most focused on Scotch. (But don't worry; it can ship to almost anywhere in the US.) This calendar includes blends, Highland single malts, and peated whiskies, ranging in age and distillery location. You get spirits from obscure names like Deanston, Lord Elcho, and Dailuaine alongside the more familiar Dalmore, Laphroaig, and Lagavulin. Even the biggest Scotch nerd should find something new here, but it's not too intimidating for a beginner, either. Includes: 25 (30-milliliter) samples Best Japanese Whisky Advent Calendar Drinks by the Dram The Japanese Whisky Advent Calendar 2023 View on Caskcartel.com Japanese whisky is super-popular — not to mention super-expensive — and this calendar will make you the gifter in any whiskey fan's life. From Chita to Yoichi, it covers the entire range of Japan's distilleries and their coveted spirits. To be extra-generous, throw in a set of highball glasses; mellow Japanese whisky pairs wonderfully with club soda in a traditional highball. Includes: 24 (30-milliliter) samples Best Irish Whiskey Advent Calendar The Spirit Co. Irish Whiskey Advent Calendar PHOTO: The Spirit Co. View on Thespiritco.com Irish whiskey once had a reputation as Scotch's less-sophisticated cousin, but it's having a moment lately, and The Spirit Co. calendar gives you a taste of old-school and new-school spirits from the Emerald Isle. You'll find traditional potstill whiskies and blends, plus several newly trendy Irish single malts. There's not even a single Jameson sample in sight. Includes: 24 (30-milliliter) samples Best Splurge Whiskey Advent Calendar Drinks by the Dram Old and Rare Advent Calendar PHOTO: Drinks by the Dram View on Thespiritco.com View on Drinksbythedram.com View on Caskcartel.com Want to splash some cash on an extra-special whiskey Advent calendar? The Drinks by the Dram Old and Rare edition features spirits you might not be able to get anywhere else on Earth. Its whiskies are aged as long as 33 years, with none younger than 19. The list leans heavily toward single malt Scotch, though there are a couple Irish whiskies and a Paul John single malt from India. If this collection isn't indulgent enough, there's also the Very Old and Rare Whisky Collection, which features samples of some of the most highly collectible spirits in the world, in a handmade carrying case — for £10,000 (or about $13,000). Includes: 24 (30-milliliter) samples Best Worldwide Whiskey Advent Calendar The Perfect Measure 25 Whiskies of the World Advent Calendar PHOTO: The Whisky Exchange View on Thewhiskyexchange.com The U.S., Scotland, and Ireland are all quite famous for whiskey, but the spirit is made around the globe, in a wide variety of flavors and styles. The Whiskies of the World calendar will include spirits from Japan and Australia, a single malt from Yorkshire in England, and plenty more. The Perfect Measure keeps the full assortment a secret, but we can say for sure that there will be intriguing options for every palate. Includes: 25 (30-milliliter) samples Best High-Proof Whiskey Advent Calendar Master of Malt Single Cask Whisky Advent Calendar PHOTO: The Whisky World View on Masterofmalt.com View on Thewhiskyworld.com View on Drinksbythedram.com Typically, whiskey distillers mix lots of barrels to create consistent flavor from batch to batch, but the finest and most distinctive casks are chosen to be bottled one at a time. Single-cask whiskies are also typically bottled at a higher proof, with a more concentrated flavor punch. This calendar rounds up single cask selections from brands big and small, all over the world. Includes: 25 (30-milliliter) samples Best Unusual Whiskey Advent Calendar That Boutique-y Whisky Company 12-Dram Gift Set PHOTO: The Spirit Co. View on Thespiritco.com View on Drinksbythedram.com View on Masterofmalt.com As the name suggests, That Boutique-y Whisky Company is an independent bottler that specializes in some pretty weird and wild stuff. Its spirits are often aged in unusual barrels, made from unusual ingredients, or come from unusual places. This sampler gets you a dozen tastes of its whiskies, which rotate based on availability but might include a Dutch single malt, an all-corn American whiskey, and the global World Whisky Blend. Includes: 12 (30-milliliter) samples Most Popular Whiskey Advent Calendar Flaviar Whiskey Advent Calendar PHOTO: Flaviar View on Flaviar Editor's note: The 2024 Flaviar Whiskey Advent Calendar has sold out. When the 2025 version becomes available for preorder, you'll find it at the same link above. Flaviar offers hundreds of spirits of all kinds, but the site is best known for its curated experiences — like tasting boxes and gift subscriptions — focused especially around whiskey. Its Advent calendar is a particular favorite and sells out early every year. The 2024 edition has a "Hotel Flaviar" theme, with a steamer trunk–shaped box and 24 large single-serving samples. The selection leans heavily on small brands, with American bourbons, ryes, and single malts you may not have heard of alongside whiskies from Ireland, Japan, and Australia. In addition to the sample vials themselves, Flaviar's Advent calendar comes with a pair of Glencairn glasses (our top choice for tasting whiskey), a journal with tasting notes and space to write your reflections, and a yearlong base membership to Flaviar, which gets you discounts on future purchases and special access to limited editions. Includes: 24 (50-milliliter) samples, 2 Glencairn glasses, tasting booklet, Flaviar membership PHOTO: Food & Wine / Henry Wortock PHOTO: Food & Wine / Henry Wortock PHOTO: Food & Wine / Henry Wortock PHOTO: Food & Wine / Henry Wortock PHOTO: Food & Wine / Henry Wortock PHOTO: Food & Wine / Henry Wortock Best Whiskey Advent Calendar for Variety The Spirit Co. Extraordinarily Tasty Advent Calendar PHOTO: The Spirit Co. View on Thespiritco.com $150 at Notonthehighstreet.com This is a choice for the more adventurous drinker. The Extraordinarily Tasty calendar features whiskies from the U.S., Ireland, and Japan, along with a global array of spirits of all kinds. The 24 samples are a great way to get a little taste of everything, including cognac, rum, tequila, gin, and vodka. Some of these are for sipping neat, while others are meant for mixing. (Try the Kakuzo Earl Grey-infused vodka in any of our favorite tea cocktails). Includes: 24 (30-milliliter) samples Best Whiskey Advent Calendar for Beginners Give Them Beer Whiskey Advent Calendar PHOTO: Give Them Beer View on Givethembeer.com For someone who's just getting into whiskey, this calendar is a nice introduction to the major brands and styles. It includes Four Roses Bourbon, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Johnnie Walker Scotch, and other famous names, along with smaller brands that'll help any drinker narrow down their own personal taste. It's the first step along the way to building a full home bar cart. Includes: 24 (50-milliliter) samples Best Whiskey Advent Calendar for Cocktail Lovers Woodford Reserve 8 Day Cocktail Advent Calendar PHOTO: Williams Sonoma $146 at Williams Sonoma Depending on where you and the recipient live, buying and shipping whiskey online can be complicated. This kit contains cocktail ingredients but no actual alcohol, so you can send it anywhere in the U.S. without worry. The 8-day calendar includes four mixers and four flavors of bitters, letting you ring in the holiday season with different old fashioned cocktails every day. All the recipient needs to do is add their favorite spirit — Woodford Reserve is an obvious choice, but any of our favorite whiskies for old fashioneds will be delicious. Includes: 4 (60-milliliter) cocktail mix samples, 4 (10-milliliter) bitters samples Best DIY Whiskey Advent Calendar AlpineDrift The Original Tipsy Tree PHOTO: Etsy $50 at Etsy You can tailor the calendar contents to anybody's taste with this cute Christmas tree, which holds 24 standard mini-bottles. It's also customizable, with up to 20 personalized characters printed in the star at the top for $5 extra. You do, of course, have to supply the liquor yourself with the Tipsy Tree, though that also gives you a lot of freedom. You can fill it with two dozen minis of the same whiskey if the recipient has one single favorite, or any assortment you can think of. Includes: Wooden tree with 24 slots for bottles More Food & Wine Advent Calendar Gifts The 17 Best Chocolate Advent Calendars of 2024 The Vinebox Wine Advent Calendar Has Sold Out 7 Years in a Row — and I Tested It Out We Found the 24 Best Food Advent Calendars to Order Ahead of the Holidays The 14 Best Tea Advent Calendars The Best Wine Advent Calendars of 2024 Our Expertise Alyssa Longobucco is a freelance writer, editor, and stylist living in New York. When she's not diving into the latest in food and home decor, she's restoring an 1820s farmhouse in the Hudson Valley alongside her husband and son. Food & Wine senior writer Jason Horn updated this story for 2024. Based in Los Angeles, he's been writing about food and drinks for nearly 20 years, including as an editor at Liquor.com and spirits columnist at Playboy. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit