Best whisky advent calendars for counting down to Christmas with a daily dram

Best whisky advent calendars for counting down to Christmas with a daily dramWhy restrict yourself to just one whisky at Christmas when you could have 25 to choose from?The Standard's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.I’ve been in the drinks industry for two decades – and these calendars have been expert taste-tested Becky Paskin/The StandardThe best whisky advent calendars have soared in popularity in recent years. In 2026, there’s a wide variety available, offering unique collections of carefully selected drams behind tiny painted doors.They are an especially good opportunity for whisky lovers to explore unique drams from different countries and across numerous styles, whether single malt Scotch, English rye or Japanese blends. And while the initial cost may seem steep, these calendars often represent incredible value versus what you might spend on sampling the same whiskies at a bar.Right now there are really only two companies offering whisky advent calendars in the UK – The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt. While the latter’s calendars can be found at many online stores, the cheapest place to buy them is direct from the source.Best whisky advent calendars at a glance Best overall – That Boutique-y Whisky Company Calendar: £134.95, Masterofmalt.comBest for beginners – The Whisky Advent Calendar: £99.95, Masterofmalt.comBest for afficionados – The Very Old & Rare Whisky Advent Calendar: £9,999.95, Masterofmalt.comBest for trying new whiskies – Whiskies of the World Advent Calendar: £120, Thewhiskyexchange.comBoth retailers are experts when it comes to whisky, so you can be sure all of the below offer fantastic value, albeit for wildly different prices.But which should you buy, either for yourself or your loved one? I’ve picked out my favourites, each of which offers something a little different, whether you’re a whisky novice or single malt connoisseur.How I tested I’ve assessed the premium appeal of each advent calendar Becky Paskin/The StandardI’m obviously not going to taste through every sample in every advent calendar (I’d be here until Christmas myself!). Besides, for the most part I can tell you based on years of experience which drams are any good. Instead, I’ve assessed the variety of whisky in each calendar, whether they represent good value for money, and who they’d be suitable for. I’ve also taken into account the structure and finish of the calendars themselves, and whether they feel premium enough to justify spending upwards of £100. That Boutique-y Whisky Company Advent CalendarMaster of Malt★★★★★Best: Overall whisky advent calendar What we love: Unique, under-the-radar whiskies; every whisky is an independent bottling, and some very old grain whisky Take note: There are a few weird, curveball samples inside! Considering the age of some of the whiskies inside, this is probably the best value whisky advent calendar you can get. That’s likely because each 30ml sample has been selected and bottled by experts, independently from the distilleries. It’s a varied, sometimes random mash-up of whiskies including some young English and Swedish malts and rye, alongside some hefty, well-aged single malts and grains from Scotland. I’m particularly excited about a 35-year-old Girvan hiding away in here – that would be my Christmas Day whisky for sure, and considering the average price of a dram here is £5.60, you’re looking at a bargain. The calendar design is a little cartoonish for my liking, but there’s a fun ‘spot the character behind the label’ game inside (provided you know your whisky makers, of course).Number of samples: 24x 30mlPrice per sample: £5.60Whisky Style: World WhiskyThe Perfect Measure Whiskies of the World Advent CalendarBecky Paskin/The Standard★★★★★Best: Advent calendar for trying whiskies you’ve never heard ofWhat we love: The diversity of whiskies; gorgeous, premium packaging, and free UK delivery Take note: All the whiskies are less than 14 years old If you’re the kind of whisky fan who feels like they’ve tried it all, this might be the advent calendar for you. The team at the Whisky Exchange have selected 25 very different whiskies from around the world to tuck behind each of their doors. This is a calendar that will take you from Scotland across to India, Taiwan, New Zealand, Japan, the USA and back round to England, offering the chance to explore the world through whisky via some drams I’m convinced you’ve probably never tasted before.Number of samples: 25x 30mlPrice per sample: £4.80Whisky Style: World WhiskyDrinks by the Dram The Whisky Advent CalendarMaster of Malt★★★★☆Best: Advent calendar for beginner whisky drinkersWhat we love: Contains some fan faves, a sturdy calendar and wax-sealed bottles, and free UK delivery Take note: The whiskies are pretty mainstream Whether you’re actually able to open all your windows on the assigned day, or end up with a pile of whiskies to taste when you get the time, this is a calendar that will have you touring the world through your glass. There are samples in here from Canada, Japan, Scotland and the USA, with a couple of Finnish examples, too. They’re more mainstream than the Whisky Exchange’s (e.g. Balvenie Doublewood 12 Year Old), so if you’re a whisky connoisseur, you’re likely to have tried a lot of these already. Nevertheless, it’s a more affordable calendar suited to beginners, and each dram is of fantastic quality, so you won’t be disappointed. Number of samples: 25x 30mlPrice per sample: £4Whisky Style: World WhiskyDrinks by the Dram The Premium Whisky Advent CalendarBecky Paskin/The Standard★★★★☆Best: For trying some older whiskyWhat we love: Opportunity to taste some older Scotch and free UK delivery Take note: The box is the same as MoM’s standard whisky calendar If you’re looking for a more special whisky experience and ready to splash the cash this Christmas, the Premium Whisky advent calendar from Master of Malt could be for you. While there are whiskies here from Japan, Ireland and the US, samples mostly comprise some well-aged Scotch, many of which will set you back more than a few quid if you were to buy them in your favourite bar. They’re mostly recognisable names, such as Aberlour, Bowmore and Johnnie Walker, with a couple of standard and young bottlings to even out the price point. Still, there’s a fantastic opportunity to try whiskies of an older age at a lower price than at the bar.Number of samples: 25x 30mlPrice per sample: £8Whisky Style: World WhiskyDrinks by the Dram The Very Old & Rare Whisky Advent CalendarMaster of Malt ★★★★☆Best: Advent calendar for true whisky aficionadosWhat we love: Beautiful, hand-carved calendar that’s reusable, two Riedel tumblers, and some extraordinarily old and rare whisky Take note: It’s not cheap! If you were to compile your dream whisky lineup, it might look a little like this. Imagine the most sought-after whiskies in the world, rare bottlings, 30-, 40-, 50-year-old expressions from some of your all-time favourite distilleries across Scotland, Ireland and Japan, and you’d be getting close to what’s inside Master of Malt’s top-ticket whisky advent calendar. The calendar has been hand-carved and crafted by bespoke furniture maker Simon Jewell to resemble an antique apothecary cabinet, with black oak inlaid into varnished walnut. It’s a stunning piece, with a price point to match. It also comes complete with two Riedel crystal tumblers to enjoy your whisky from. Plus, once you’re finished with the whiskies, you can refill it with different drams ordered from Master of Malt’s range.Number of samples: 24x 30mlPrice per sample: £417Whisky Style: World WhiskyWhat is the best whisky advent calendar? Finding the right whisky advent calendar depends on what you or your recipient enjoys drinking, what stage they’re at in their whisky journey, and, of course, what budget you’re working with. The Master of Malt Very Old & Rare Whisky Advent Calendar is certainly exciting from a whisky geek perspective, but at almost £10,000, it’s likely a dream for most.The calendar I believe represents the best value for the whiskies inside is the That Boutique-y Whisky Company Advent Calendar. Its selection of unique, independently bottled whiskies – often of staggering ages – is so exciting I’d have to stop myself from tearing open every door to get at them on 1 December. The Perfect Measure Whiskies of the World comes in at a close second – it offers a very interesting selection of whiskies, and really beautiful packaging.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.