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

We’ve hit September, which means it’s officially ok for me to start talking about Christmas! 

And Christmas time means boozy present talk.

I almost feel that these near legendary calendars don’t need an introduction – most people I know have already got one on their Santa list. Yes that’s right, it’s Drinks by the Dram advent calendar time. 

These babies just keep getting better every year. For 2016, there are 26 different calendars available – one for every kind of booze lover. If you’re struggling to choose, and have got a bit of spare cash lying around, you could have 25 out of the 26 for £4978.80. Or if you’re feeling flush, and really like your old whisky, that’ll be just £14978.75 for all 26.

This year, those crazy folk at Drinks by the Dram have added a Very Old & Rare whisky advent calendar for, wait for it, £9999.95. While that may be beyond the reach of most of us, boy does it sound incredible. Highlights include the Balvenie 46 year old from 1968 – which sells for a casual £19,000 a bottle, 60 year old Glenfarclas, and The Macallan 42 year old 1969 – the rarest of the rare collection. 

If you’re not a fan of surprises, you can have a look at the full list, and be amazed.  

And it won't look out of place on your mantlepiece. Each calendar comes in a bespoke wooden box handcrafted by a cabinet-maker. It's available in a walnut or Macassar ebony finish. 

If your budget doesn’t stretch quite that far, there’s the universally loved Ginvent calendar, £124.95 (made with the lovely folk at Gin Foundry), some slightly more affordable whisk(e)y options, bourbon, tequila, rum, vodka, cognac, absinthe, mezcal, and armagnac. Definitely something for everyone. 

There’s even an escalating heat naga chilli vodka calendar, £99.95, for those brave/stupid souls out there. Did someone say 240,000 Scovilles? Yummy...

Crackin'

If you're planning to stick with your Cadbury's calendar this year, and you're sick of those tiny measuring tapes, crap puzzle games, and plastic flicky frogs, you can also up your cracker game too. 

While you still get the hat and the crap joke (of course), you'll be flinging 3cl bottles of spirits under the table/in granny's Brussels sprouts instead. 

You can get mixed spirit and liqueur crackers (£39.95), whisky crackers (£44.95), gin crackers (£39.95), and premium whisky crackers (£69.95).

Here's to a happy Christmas indeed. I think it's time for me to start saving some pennies...