Advent calendars for Christmas 2017 – from cheese and wine and gin versions to Baileys and Lego’s offerings, this year’s best designs
Now shops are selling a whole host of wild and wacky alternatives to the classic chocolate advent calendar, from tipples and teddies to cheese selections
GONE are the days of opening a tiny door to reveal a small, square of chocolate.
Now shops are selling a whole host of wild and wacky alternatives, from tipples and teddies to sex toys.
What are the best advent calendars this year?
Advent calendars used to mark the Crimbo countdown with cheery-shaped chocs on a nativity scene backdrop.
But now they feature so much more, as shops push the boundaries to offer new treats to customers in the run-up to the big day.
From food to booze and beauty, there is something to suit every budget.
What are the best alcoholic advent calendars?
Spirits
- Debenhams has a Baileys advent calendar that is made up of 23 Baileys chocolate truffles and a mini 50ml bottle of the winter warmer, and costs only £13.
- is launching an Edinburgh gin calendar with 25 bottles of 5cl of varying flavours, but it will set you back an eye-watering £100.
Wine
- Aldi has launched a £49.99 wine Christmas countdown calendar giving you a miniature bottle of the sweet stuff every day.
- Iceland has released a similar option for £10 less, with their boozy calendar containing 24 mini bottles.
- You can also indulge in a Prosecco advent calendar, filled with delicious pure Belgian chocolate, curtesy of artisan chocolatiers
Beer
- Honest Brew are charging £64.90 for their beer calendar, which offers a 330ml bottle or can of beer behind each door.
- Or you can have an ale of a time with Beer Hawk’s Craft Beer calendar featuring 24 beers and a glass for £85 from Not On The High Street.
What are the best advent calendars for foodies?
Savoury
- Asda is selling a £8 cheese advent calendar and each door has a different cheese variety and the options include Applewood, Mexicana and Jarlsberg.
- Debenhams is launching a pork scratching advent calendar for £15, which contains 24 mini bags of gourmet crackling treats.
- Bargain store B&M recently unveiled a Pringles advent calendar which has proven so popular they are going for double the price on eBay.
- A costing £55 offers a pukka cuppa daily – from English Breakfast to chamomile.
- The features new flavours Mrs Claus’ Raspberry Prosecco, and Mince Pie and Spiced Clementine.
Sweet
- For traditionalists, Hotel Chocolat has unveiled a giant advent calendar that contains a ton of sweet festive treats – and booze.
- The is £13 and packed full of festive flavoured mallows like S’mores, Candy Cane, Humbug, Gingerbread, Mint Choc Chip and Choc Orange.
- Reese's is releasing a £5 offering where you'll be treated to a miniature Peanut Butter Cup behind each door - with a double dose of the white chocolate version on the 24th.
More in Christmas
What beauty advent calendars can you buy?
- Superdrug’s Beauty And The Beast advent calendar is on sale for just £6 and celebrates the 12 days of Christmas, with each door concealing bath and body goodies for the party season.
- Primark's £10 option calendar contains different nail varnish bottles for the days leading up to December 25.
- Recently ASOS launched a beauty advent calendar for £55, includes a mixture of popular skincare, make-up and hair products.
- And from Nyx to Sleek, Boots have plenty on offer this year too.
What alternative advent calendars can you buy?
For kids
Instead of regular chocolate squares concealed behind the dates leading up the big day, Disney have two offerings with adorable themed products behind the doors.
The first features numbered windows that hide cute Tsum Tsum mini soft toys for £59.99, and the second has mini figures of the popular characters and accessories behind each door for £24.99.
Lego has also released a series of playful calendars, includes one themed on
For him & her
For adults, offers all manner of stuff to spice up your bedroom antics.
DIY stop for Xmas? Wera’s offering has a quality tool behind each of its 24 doors.
And finally, keep his whiskers silky-smooth and scented with 24 beard oils for £29.99 with The Bearded Man Company.