Best alcohol advent calendars 2026, from wine to cocktail cans

From wine and gin to cocktail cans and spirits, have a merry countdown to Christmas with these calendars Becky Paskin/The StandardA grown-up, merriment-fueled alternative to chocolate, the best boozy advent calendars span wine, whisky, cocktails and beer – there’s truly something for everyone.These calendars not only keep you guessing with a little daily surprise, but they offer excellent value for money. And while daily drinking isn’t advisable for most, you can save up the calendar samples for Christmas Day hosting, party pre-drinking, or New Year’s Eve soirees. Whether you or your loved one has a penchant for wine, whisky, spirits or cocktails, retailers such as John Lewis, Virgin Wines and Laithwaite offer high-quality advent calendars to count you down to Christmas. Meanwhile, buzzy brands such as Whitebox and Moth are offering 24-day countdowns with trendy cocktail cans. Best boozy advent calendars at a glance Best overall – The Perfect Measure Whisky and Spirits Advent Calendar: £120, Thewhiskyexchange.comBest affordable buy – That Boutique-y Gin Company Advent Calendar: £59.95, Masterofmalt.comBest for cocktail lovers – Whitebox Cocktails Advent Calendar: £110, Selfridges.comBest for wine enthusiasts – John Lewis Wine Advent Calendar: £100, Johnlewis.comHow I tested I’ve taste-tested my way through wine, whisky and spirit calendars Becky Paskin/The StandardWith more than two decades of experience in the drinks industry, I know what makes a good, premium alcohol advent calendar. I’ve assessed the variety of drinks in each calendar, whether they represent good value for money and who they’d be suitable for. I’ve also taken into account the design, structure and finish of the calendars themselves, and whether they feel premium enough to justify spending upwards of £100. The Perfect Measure Whisky and Spirits Advent CalendarBecky Paskin/The Standard★★★★★Best: Overall alcohol advent calendar What we love: Explores the world’s best spirits; excellent diversity and individuality, and beautiful packaging that feels premium Take note: The spirits are designed to both sip neat and mix into cocktails The Whisky Exchange’s Perfect Measure advent calendars are designed to push you out of your comfort zone while also ensuring you have the best December of your life. Its Whisky and Spirits Advent Calendar is chock full of unexpected treasures, from single malt Scotch to Indian whisky, Armagnac, Cognac, rum, coffee liqueurs and even vodka made from milk. This is a fascinating selection of spirits, one that will have you nail-bitingly eager to open each door immediately.Number of samples: 25 x 30 mlPrice per sample: £4.80Drinks category: Whisky and spiritsThat Boutique-y Gin Company Advent CalendarBecky Paskin/The Standard★★★★★Best: Affordable alcohol advent calendarWhat we love: Every gin is from an independent distillery, and really attractive with bright packaging Take note: Some gins are flavoured (i.e. sweet) You won’t find any standard Gordon’s or Hendricks in here. Each sample has been selected by the Master of Malt team from independent distilleries, giving gin lovers a global exploration of various gin styles. There’s everything in here, from chocolate orange gin to Bourbon cask-aged gin – and even a sticky mango-flavoured expression. Stock up on tonic and vermouth – this is a calendar that will have you mixing G&Ts and martinis all month long.Number of samples: 24 x 30mlPrice per sample: £2.50Drinks category: GinJohn Lewis Wine Advent CalendarBecky Paskin/The Standard★★★☆☆Best: Advent calendar for wine lovers What we love: An accessible way to taste a variety of wines, and its suitably festive design Take note: The wine selection is relatively simple John Lewis’ Wine Advent Calendar is a hearty mix of whites, reds and rosés from around the world, offered up as single serves in both bottles and cans (be warned: the latter are tricky to remove). You’re treated to everything from basic ‘white’ and ‘red’ wines, through to big name brands like McGuigan and Wildwood. It’s a selection that will keep anyone busy throughout the month of December, although be warned, wine connoisseurs may want to seek something a bit more elevated. Most of the wines retail for between £ 7 and £ 10 and are relatively simple in style. However, if you’re after an easy win, this is a great budget option for the novice wine lover in your life.Number of samples: 24 x 200ml bottles and cansPrice per sample: £4.17Drinks category: WineWhitebox Cocktails Advent CalendarBecky Paskin/The Standard★★★★☆Best: Advent calendar for cocktail loversWhat we love: There are 2-3 of each cocktail inside, and it’s an impressively large calendar Take note: Doesn’t contain Whitebox’s newer cocktails Whitebox is renowned for the quality of its canned cocktails, with iconic classics ranging from the Freezer Martini to the Pocket Negroni. The Whitebox Advent Calendar contains 24 of their best-selling cocktails, from Margaritas to Martinis and, of course, their classic Negronis, so you can enjoy a well-made drink every night of December. Or you could save and share them with someone special, but who are we to tell you how to enjoy your drinks?Number of samples: 24 x 100mlPrice per sample: £4.60Drinks category: CocktailsVirgin Wines Advent CalendarBecky Paskin/The Standard★★★★☆Best: Advent calendar for exploring the world’s winesWhat we love: You get a full-size bottle of bubbles to open on Christmas Day, and all wines are sourced from independent winemakers Take note: Most wines sit around the £11 mark for a full bottle Calling all oenophiles, this is your sign to nab yourself a wine advent calendar this Christmas and taste your way around the world through a selection of reds, whites and rosés. Although every wine in Virgin’s Mixed Wine Advent Calendar retails for around £11, there’s a fascinating selection that will see you taste a crisp, full-bodied Albariño one minute and sip on a Romanian Fetească Neagră the next. Better value than splashing out on full bottles, the calendar is your opportunity to discover new wines you may otherwise never have heard of.Number of samples: 24 x 187ml bottles, plus one 750ml bottlePrice per sample: £4.15Drinks category: WineJohn Lewis Fizz The Season Wine Advent CalendarBecky Paskin/The Standard★★★☆☆Best: Prosecco advent calendarWhat we love: The prospect of opening bubbles every day, and the calendar’s night sky design Take note: This calendar contains mostly Prosecco There’s nothing like a glass of bubbles to ring in Christmas Day, but what if you could count down to the festive moment with a glass every day? John Lewis’ Fizz the Season Advent Calendar contains 24 bottles of sparkling wine fit for the occasion. Containing mostly Prosecco with a dash of Cava and sparkling Moscato, this is an advent calendar for lovers of easy-drinking bubbles.Number of samples: 24 x 187ml bottlesPrice per sample: £6Drinks category: Sparkling WineWhat is the best alcohol advent calendar?Choosing the right drinks advent calendar for you or your loved one will largely depend on what they enjoy drinking, but if they’re not too fussy, you’re in luck because there are some fantastic options available.While there are a few that feel a little thrown together without much thought, the Whisky Exchange’s Perfect Measure Whisky & Spirits Advent Calendar is the most interesting for any spirits lover. The spirit waiting patiently behind every door is genuinely exciting, with so much variety and quality in every bottle. For wine lovers, you may want to purchase Virgin’s Mixed Wine Advent Calendar, as this contains enough variety to drive that festive anticipation all month long.Why trust me?Becky Paskin is an award-winning drinks writer and presenter, with 20 years' experience tasting, judging and speaking about all things booze – particularly whisky. The only journalist in the world with a distilling qualification, she’s a regular lead judge for spirit competitions. You can find her writing about everything from whisky and cocktails to wine and travel in major magazines and newspapers, and regularly speaking about all the above on ITV’s Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh. She also has a weekly newsletter, Drink This, pouring drinks, bar and travel recommendations and insight.