Drinks by the Dram boozy advent calendars 2022 – the beautiful, the bold, and the bloody expensive

[Image courtesy of Master of Malt]

We’re into November, which means it’s officially ok to start talking about Christmas (if not a bit late...). And Christmas talk means boozy present talk.

These legendary calendars don’t really need an introduction – they're now in their 10th year. That's right, we're talking about the Drinks by the Dram advent calendars. 

For the 24 days leading up to Christmas, instead of a small, mildly disappointing chocolate treat, you get a 30ml dram of delicious booze to enjoy.

These babies just keep getting better every year. For 2022, the selection has been streamlined to 18 options: 12 whisk(e)y, three gin, two rum and a vodka. One for every kind of booze lover. 

[Image courtesy of Master of Malt]

If you're feeling particularly flush (recent lottery win etc.etc.), the ultimate treat is the Very Old & Rare Whisky advent calendar, priced at £9,999.95. 

That's likely beyond the reach of most of us, but it sounds incredible. Highlights include Probably Speyside's Finest Distillery 50 Year Old 1967 (cask 12418) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing), Glenfarclas 1958 (cask 2061) Family Cask Spring 2015 Release, and The Macallan No.6. If you’re not a fan of surprises (or just want to have a nosey), check out the full list. The calendar is presented in a walnut box with a tasting glass nestled in the middle.

If your budget doesn’t stretch quite that far, there’s the Old & Rare Whisky advent calendar for £999.95, which also comes with a Glencairn tasting glass.

[Image courtesy of Master of Malt]

More realistic still, there's the universally loved Gin advent calendar for £99.95, or Whisky advent calendar for £149.95. With the biggest range of options, the whisk(e)y calendars have something for everyone, with some more specialised options including Bourbon and American Whiskey (£149.95) to Japanese whisky (£249.95), and Peaty Whisky (£149.95) to a calendar from excellent independent bottlers, That Boutique-y Whisky Company (£149.95). The Boutique-y calendar of course comes adorned with signature illustrations by the fabulous Emily Chappell.

[Image courtesy of Master of Malt]

The Whisky Advent Calendar

This year, we've got our hands on the OG Whisky Advent Calendar, and will be spending our December dramming away and sharing our tasting notes. As we're not so great with surprises, we've had a look at what we'll be tasting. There's a real range of countries and styles, including English single malt Gulliver's 47, Finnish Kyrö Wood Smoke Malt Rye Whisky, the classic Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old and Irish West Cork Black Cask.

Let us know if you've got a Drinks by the Dram advent calendar this year, which one you've got, and which dram you're most excited to try.

We were kindly gifted the 2022 Whisky calendar, but it doesn't change our opinion that they're the best in the biz, and we have purchased them in previous years.