Advent used to mean candles, carols, and quiet anticipation. These days, for a growing number of whisky lovers, it also means tiny doors, tiny bottles, and a nightly toast as Christmas draws closer. Spirit-based Advent calendars have evolved from a quirky niche idea into a seasonal ritual—one that swaps chocolate squares for curated drams and turns the countdown to Christmas into a tasting journey. Below is a brief overview of some of the best 2025 Whiskey Advent Calendars.
Spirit-based Advent calendars have steadily grown in popularity over the last decade. First embraced in Great Britain, they’re now increasingly common in the United States as well. Instead of sweets, these calendars offer a daily shot-sized pour—usually around an ounce—of whiskey or another spirit for each day of Advent.
Advent itself is the roughly four-week period leading up to Christmas. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas Day. The word comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival,” and it traditionally marks the start of the liturgical year for most Western Christian churches. Historically, devout Christians observed the Advent Fast during this time, treating it as a period of restraint and reflection.
Over the centuries, a variety of customs became associated with Advent: lighting candles on an Advent wreath, putting up a Christmas tree, and decorating homes in the weeks before Christmas.
So how did spirits enter the picture?
Advent calendars emerged in the mid-20th century as a way to involve children, who typically did not participate in the Advent Fast. These early calendars, which originated in Germany, hid a small piece of candy behind each numbered door. By the late 1950s, the idea had spread widely. Today, chocolate-filled Advent calendars are popular around the world but remain especially beloved in Germany and Scandinavia.
The adult twist arrived in 2012, when Master of Malt, a British mail-order spirits retailer, introduced Scotch whisky Advent calendars aimed at grown-up enthusiasts. They may not have been the very first to do it, but they certainly helped bring the concept into the mainstream. In place of a chocolate, each day revealed a miniature bottle—a dram of single malt from a different Scottish distillery.
From that relatively modest beginning, the category has exploded. What started as a Scotch-focused novelty now spans a wide range of spirits and dozens of different calendar options, offering everything from classic single malts to world whiskeys and beyond—one small, surprising pour at a time.
Flaviar, the online spirits club and retail store, was among the first American online retailers to offer Spirit Advent Calendars.
The 2025 Flaviar Whiskey Advent Calendar, themed “Flaviar Airlines,” is a limited-edition whiskey “flight” that turns December into a 24-day tasting tour. Packaged like a vintage travel experience, it includes 24 50ml/1.7 oz vials of premium whiskey from major whiskey regions around the world, letting you sample a mix of styles and rare or limited releases as you “visit” a new distillery every day.
The set also comes with two Flaviar-branded Glencairn glasses, a tasting journal designed as a “Whiskey Passport”, and a complimentary one-year Flaviar Black membership, which acts as your “boarding pass” to the Flaviar Key Card. This online club offers access to limited bottles and special pricing.
The 24 spirits, 23 whiskeys, and one Cognac featured in Flaviar’s 2025 Spirit Advent Calendar are drawn from all over the world.
Among the selected whiskeys are the Beyoncé branded Sir Davis American Rye Whisky Finished In Sherry Casks, Kujira Okinawa Japanese Whisky, Frey Ranch, Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey, Mary Dowling Tequila Barrel Finished Bourbon, Two Stacks ‘The First Cut’ Signature Blend Irish Whiskey, Westward Single Malt Stout Cask Finish Whiskey, Akashi Japanese Blended Whisky, New Riff Kentucky Straight Malted Rye Whiskey, Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished In Port Casks, Bob Dylan’s Heaven’s Door Revelation Double Barrel Whiskey, and Martingale Rare Reserve Cognac.
The Flaviar Advent Calendar retails for $270 and is available exclusively from Flaviar. Buy two or more and the price drops to $235 each.
Another outstanding whisky-themed Advent Calendar is Whisky Tour of the World Edition II from UK-based Gravity Drinks. The Advent Calendar, available exclusively at Costco, features 50 ml/1.7 oz samples of 24 whiskies from around the world. The whiskies are presented in five linen-bound books, housed in an engraved wooden bookcase. The pack includes a book on the distilleries, tasting notes, journaling sections, and two whisky tumblers.
The whiskies range from Iceland to Peru, from Australia to Kentucky, and from the Faroe Islands to Taiwan. Among the featured whiskies, drawn from 19 countries, are expressions from Kavalan, Indri, Starward, Isle of Harris, Isle of Raasay, Akashi, The English Distillery, New Riff, Uncle Nearest, and many more. Compared to the Flaviar Advent Calendar, the featured whiskies are more international in scope and include fewer American whiskies. Prices range from $150 to $200, depending on the state. It’s also an outstanding price for such a broad selection of award-winning whiskies.
Whisky With Us is a UK-based online retailer that specializes in curated whisky gift sets and offers a range of whisky-themed Advent calendars. Their calendars typically include 25 miniatures (3 cl drams/1.01 fl. oz.) from some of the world’s most famous whisky producers. Each sample is paired to a QR code that unlocks an expert-led online tasting video, so the calendar doubles as a guided tasting course through December. Two offerings in particular stand out.
Whisky of Scotland Whisky Advent Calendar, featuring 25 premium 3 cl/1.01 oz drams from well-known Scottish distilleries, covering single malts and blends.
Whisky of the World Whisky Advent Calendar is a 25-day world-whisky tour. It offers 25 3 cl/1.01 drams of handpicked whiskies from Scotland, Ireland, the USA, Japan, India, Thailand, Australia, and other regions, including brands such as Kavalan, Amrut, Tomintoul, and Prakaan.
The Christmas Advent Calendars retail for $180.
For other whisky Advent calendar options, see the extensive selection featured in Masters of Malt.
What began as a piece of candy slipped into the Advent season has evolved into a fully-fledged whiskey experience for grown-ups. Today’s spirit-based Advent calendars don’t just count down the days to Christmas—they curate them, turning each evening into a guided tasting that can whisk you from Kentucky to Kyoto in a single pour.
Whether it’s Flaviar’s airline-themed passport to premium drams, Gravity Drinks’ linen-bound “library” of world whiskies, or Whisky With Us’ video-enhanced masterclasses in Scotch and global whiskey styles, these calendars offer something far richer than a novelty gift.
They invite whiskey lovers to explore new producers, revisit classic names, and deepen their understanding of the spirit one measured glass at a time. For enthusiasts and curious newcomers alike, a whiskey Advent calendar is no longer just a festive extra—it’s becoming one of the most enjoyable ways to drink in the season while educating yourself on the world of whiskey.