7 of the best booze-filled advent calendars for 2026
Countdown to Christmas with this merry mix of miniatures, from wine to spirits, to beer, says Sam Wylie-Harris.
With boozy advent calendars a firm fixture on the gifting wish list, and promise of a delicious drop of liquid delight behind each door, a tasting adventure is a joyous way to kick-off the festivities!
Whether you’re gifting a loved-one or yourself, these wines, special spirits and beers are a wonderful opportunity to discover new styles, flavours and gateway to a journey of exploration…
1. Mixed Wine Advent Calendar 2026, £89.99, (was £99.99), Laithwaites
One for wine lovers fond of a white, red, and rose; a fine port for after dinner, and full-size bottle of prosecco to pop the corks on Christmas Eve, there’s a surprise with every celebratory sip.
2. The 2026 Hawkstone Advent Calendar, The Brewery One, £95, Hawkstone
Bringing the brewery to your doorstep, Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone has been reimagined in this boxed calendar shaped like the building in Bourton-on-the-Water, Cotswolds. With a dozen beers, some ciders, miniature gin and vodkas, and four novel top drops, not to mention five Golden Tickets inside a handful of calendars, it’s a must for craft beer lovers.
3. Drinks By The Dram, The Premium Gin Advent Calendar, (2026 Edition), £99.95, Master of Malt
Lean into happy hour and gin o’clock with some luxe labels from around the world. With 25 expressions in 30ml wax-sealed bottles, from classic dry to seasonal shots, headliners include Cotswolds Distillery Gin Mare, Isle of Harris, Monkey 47, Roku, and The Sassenach to name a few.
4. Virgin Wines Mixed Wine Advent Calendar 2026, £99.99, (reserve for £10), Virgin Wines
Turn the run-up to the big day into a true wine odyssey with this stellar selection of New and Old World favourites from some of our best-loved destinations. Beyond a sparkling wine from the beautiful Loire Valley, (full-size), think a global tasting with top drops from France, Italy, Australia, Chile, Portugal, South Africa, Argentina and Spain.
5. The 2026 – World Tour Advent Calendar, £100, (pre-order now), The Online Wine Tasting Club
Another delicious invitation for armchair travellers to enjoy a passport to pleasure… and vineyard tour. Twenty four different wines feature in this tasting kit with fab finds from Turkey, Macedonia and India, along with cult favourites such as Provencal rose, Argentinian malbec and New Zealand pinot noir. With 100ml servings in sachets, simply pull these eco sips from the drawer and raise a glass to family-owned wineries.
6. Drinks By The Dram, The Rum Advent Calendar (2026 Edition), £124.95, Master of Malt
Pa rum pum pum pum… rum connoisseur or cocktail hound, the windows in this prize box are an open invitation to taste some of the finest rums in the world. Not to mention a 14-Year-Old Christmas special, an El Dorado 21-Year-Old Special Reserve, Angostura 1824 Founders Reserve, a Ron Zacapa Solera Gran Reserva, and a Seven Three Distilling Black Pearl rum from New Orleans. Better get your skates on to bag this one.
7. That Boutique-y Whisky Company Advent Calendar (2026 Edition), £134.95, Master of Malt
A masterclass in whisky from the world’s most exciting producers, devotees of a wee dram will be treated to a flourish of flavoursome blends, single malts, grain, rye, peated, corn and aged whiskies to sip and savour. Includes 24 x 30ml wax-sealed drams for discerning drinkers. Cheers, Slainte, and Merry Christmas!