Skip to Content

14 Best Alcohol Holiday Calendars for Every Type of Cocktail Lover

Wine, whiskey, bourbon, or beer? There's plenty to cheers to this year.

By ,
alcohol advent calendars

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Alcohol Advent calendars put a grown-up spin on the classic Christmas countdown, replacing traditional treats with wine, beer and festive spirits. From mini bottles of gin and tequila to full-bodied reds and ready-to-pour cocktails, there's plenty to discover behind each door.

Of course, spreading holiday cheer is half the fun. These boozy countdowns make wonderful gifts for any bubbly enthusiast or bourbon aficionado in your life. They're also a particularly merry addition to a White Elephant gift exchange. Ahead, we've rounded up the best alcohol Advent calendars to shop this season, with options for a range of tastes and budgets.

This collection contains a variety of the highest-rated craft brews, including IPAs, ales, and stouts. Unlike some beer boxes that seem like they just cleaned out the back of the cooler, this one features award-winning craft brews.

2
Best Whiskey Advent Calendar

Flaviar Museum of Flaviar

Museum of Flaviar
2
Best Whiskey Advent Calendar

Flaviar Museum of Flaviar

Calling all whiskey connoisseurs: The Museum of Flaviar is officially open for the season, and admission includes 24 delicious exhibits. This pick from Flaviar showcases 50-milliliter samples from eight whiskey regions, including a calendar-exclusive blend of American rye and French Armagnac. You'll also receive two Glencairn glasses and an interactive booklet with tasting notes and stories behind the distilleries. Consider the complimentary one-year Flaviar Black membership, your museum gift-shop perk, which offers special pricing on full-size bottles.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Pop, fizz, cheers! If hard seltzer is your drink of choice, this 12-day countdown will brighten your spirits. Inside, you'll find a bubbly assortment of big-name brands and under-the-radar discoveries, so you can try something different without committing to a full six-pack.

Scotland may be famous for its whiskey, but it's far from the only country worth raising a glass to. This pick brings together 25 whiskies from around the world, including Korean single malt, Japanese whiskey, Irish whiskey, and American bourbon. You'll recognize a few familiar names, like Maker's Mark, alongside bottles you might not have encountered before.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Sure, you won't find a partridge or pear tree inside, but this 12 Beers of Christmas Box will mark all 12 days of Christmas in delicious style. Prepare your palate for a dozen craft beers sourced from breweries around the country. Expect Belgians, stouts, New England IPAs, and more great options in every style.

If you're just trying to figure out whether you're a red or white, sweet or dry, or somewhere in the middle, this wine Advent calendar will help guide your way. With 24 mini bottles of vino, there's definitely something for every taste.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

If you like to customize your own bar menu, try this adorable (and reusable!) tree-shaped alcohol Advent calendar. It has spots for miniature bottles of liquor or wine. You can even personalize it for a thoughtful gift.

You might struggle to decide whether to display this Advent calendar or tuck it under the tree—its charming packaging is just too cute! Expect a mix of reds, whites, rosés, and Prosecco, each in a 187-milliliter glass bottle. Discover a different wine every day, with plenty of opportunities to find a new favorite before December 25 arrives.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Did somebody say tequila? Put away the lime and the salt; these are 12 samples of blanco, reposado, and añejo from popular distilleries around the world. If you've only ever tasted this diverse spirit in a margarita or tequila sunrise, you owe it to yourself to try these.

Test your bartending skills this holiday season with this calendar full of cocktail mixers. You'll find 12 different flavors to experiment with, including chai hot toddy, apple cinnamon smash, and ginger pear daiquiri. And if you're skipping the booze, these mixers work just as well for whipping up festive mocktails.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11
Best Variety Alcohol Advent Calendar

NIPYATA! Variety Advent Calendar

Variety Advent Calendar
11
Best Variety Alcohol Advent Calendar

NIPYATA! Variety Advent Calendar

Credit: Nipyata

This pick has something for every palate, whether you like to put the rum in the coconut or prefer your drinks shaken, not stirred. With 12 bottles of spirits from all over the world, every day is a new journey.

Pop some bottles to celebrate the season – 12 of them, to be precise. You'll journey through some of the most iconic sparkling wine regions of the world with samples from California, Spain, Italy, and, of course, France.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Five golden rings sound lovely, but we'd happily trade the six geese a-laying for a good cocktail. Inspired by the classic "12 Days of Christmas" carol, this clever calendar features 12 cocktail cube flavors, including Partridge in a Pear Tree (pear, cinnamon, and lemon) and Calling Birds (cranberry, chocolate, and almond). You'll get two cubes of each flavor, for 24 total. Just muddle two cubes with a splash warm water, add your favorite whiskey, and enjoy.

Calling all chocoholics: Behind each window of this Danish-made Advent calendar is a miniature bottle crafted from rich dark chocolate, filled with a delicious liquor. And we're not talking about vaguely boozy chocolate here. These little treats contain actual spirits and liqueurs, including Kahlúa, Southern Comfort, and Cointreau.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Can I ship alcohol to my state?

double line break

Alcohol shipping laws can be confusing because they vary by state. Some states, including Utah and Rhode Island, have particularly strict restrictions on direct-to-consumer alcohol shipments, while others, such as Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Delaware, have different rules depending on the type of alcohol being delivered. Before ordering an alcohol Advent calendar, check the retailer's shipping restrictions to make sure it can be delivered to your address. You'll also need someone who's 21 or older to show a valid photo ID and sign for the package, so make sure someone's home on delivery day.

Headshot of Abby Dupes

Abby Dupes is a New York City–based commerce writer and editor with more than five years of experience covering fashion, home, lifestyle, and beauty. Previously, she held editorial positions at Byrdie, Seventeen, and StyleCaster, where she reported on everything from viral launches and emerging trends to expert-backed product recommendations. Her work has also appeared in Cosmopolitan, Town & Country, Parade, and Bustle. When she's not testing products or falling down a social media rabbit hole in search of the next big thing, you can find her walking with her dog or working on her latest needlepoint project

Headshot of Lizz Schumer
Lizz Schumer
Senior Editor
Lizz (she/her) is a senior editor at Good Housekeeping, where she runs the GH Book Club, edits essays and long-form features and writes about pets, books and lifestyle topics. A journalist for almost two decades, she is the author of Biography of a Body and Buffalo Steel. She also teaches journalism as an adjunct professor at New York University's School of Professional Studies and creative nonfiction at the Muse Writing Center, and coaches with the New York Writing Room.
Watch Next 
Video poster
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below