I tried booze advent calendars – the festive winner was just £2 per drink
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WHETHER you prefer whisky or wine, gin or beer, alcoholic advent calendars are a growing trend.
They often quite expensive, with the best ones costing you upward of £100 - and in some cases, there's less booze than you'd expect for the price.
Consumer expert Martyn James said: "Twenty four windows of booze might seem like a fun idea for a friend who likes a festive tipple, but tot up the cost of the calendar compared to a standard bottle of spirits and you’ll often find that you’re paying through the nose for some booze in a fancy box.
"Keep an eye on the millilitres when you buy, to make sure you’re getting value for money.”
That said, an advent calendar is a once-a-year festive treat and they make great early gifts too.
So, we decided to give the top calendars a test to find out which were the vest value for money.
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Here's what we thought…
Drinks by the Dram Bourbon and American Whisky Advent Calendar
- £149.90
- Men Kind -
- Rating: 6/10
The world of American whiskey is incredibly diverse and this calendar gives you just a taste with a mix of bourbon, rye, Tennesse whiskey and more.
There's a 30ml sample behind each door, each elegantly sealed with wax and sourced from some of the finest American producers.
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It's not cheap, but it's good value for what you get and makes for a lovely end-of-year treat.
This is the perfect gift for a whisky drinker with a slightly sweeter tooth.
Read our roundup of the best whisky advent calendars here.
Hawkstone Advent Calendar
- £85
- hawkstone.com -
- Rating: 9/10
TV presenter-turned-farmer Jeremy Clarkson makes this beer using barley from his Gloucestershire-based Diddly Squat Farm - so it's great for fans, and it tastes good too.
You needn't just take my word for it as the lager recently won two gold awards at The British Beer Awards.
The calendar is pricey at £85, but it’s jam packed with lager, IPAs, and even cider from Clarkson's Hawkstone brand.
I enjoyed all of them, especially the Hawkstone Hedgerow fruity cider with British blackcurrants and blackberries.
You get a glass on day one and the final door opens to reveal a beer, a second glass and a branded beanie hat, which feels like good added value.
It's bound to sell out so if you want to try it, you'll need to pre-order now and it will be delivered in November.
How to save money buying alcohol
Alcohol can be pricey if you’re planning a party or hosting an event but there are ways to cut costs.
It’s always important to drink responsibly, here, Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements share some tips on getting booze for the best price.
Stocking up can mean big savings on drinks, especially if you want to buy wine or fizz.
The big supermarkets regularly offer discounts of 25% when you buy six or more bottles of wine. The promotions typically run in the lead up to occasions such as Bank Holidays, Christmas and Easter.
If you know you are going to need booze later in the year, it can be worth acting when you see offers.
Before buying your preferred drink make sure you shop around to find the best price – you can use a comparison site such as pricerunner.com or trolley.co.uk.
Don’t forget that loyalty cards can unlock better savings so make sure you factor that in too.
If you like your plonk, wine clubs can also be a good way to save money and try new varieties. You’ll usually have to pay a membership fee in return for cheaper price so work out if you will be buying enough to make the one off cost worthwhile.
Craft Gin Advent Calendar
- £89.99
- craftginclub.com -
- Rating: 8/10
This one is a merry calendar featuring a jolly line-up of 25 mini gins, each measuring a better than average double measure of 50ml.
The gins are picked from distilleries across the UK and beyond, featuring the likes of the classic London Dry and a new Christmas Cake gin from Tarquin's.
So far so good - there hasn't been a single gin I didn't enjoy. The calendar also offers recipe and garnish ideas for the different varieties.
Overall, a good buy that feels good value for money.
Read our roundup of the best gin advent calendars here.
Nio Cocktails 12 Moments to Share Advent Calendar
- £149
- johnlewis.com -
- Rating: 8/10
What better way to shake things up than with this cocktail-themed calendar from Nio through December?
All the drinks come in a portable pouches and there are two to enjoy behind every door, making this a great choice for couples or friends.
There are 12 days' worth with everything from classic Cosmos to Manhattans, Espresso Martinis and Margaritas. All were delicious, good quality and I loved trying the different options.
It's far from cheap at nearly £150, though, and that steep price is the only reason it didn’t get top marks. But it is a lovely way to countdown to Christmas.
Virgin Wines Mixed Wine Advent Calendar
- £89.99
- virginwines.co.uk -
- Rating: 7/10
This is a very indulgent advent calendar with a reindeer on the box and is filled with a line-up of 24 187ml red, rose and white wines plus a bottle of sparkling and a bonus full-size bottle of The Black Pig The Price Shiraz for Christmas Day.
The box also includes wines never featured in the calendar before and from all over the globe. Highlights include a full-bodied red from the snow-capped Andes Mountains, a classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and a Prosecco from the Veneto region in northern Italy.
This one is great value for so much wine, you really can't go wrong.
Read our roundup of the best wine advent calendars here.
Brewdog Beer Advent Calendar - WINNER
- £55
- brewdog.com -
- Rating: 10/10
You can often pay through the nose for these advent calendars, but this one seemed really cheap compared to some of its rivals.
It contains 24 of BrewDog's best-selling thirst-quenchers - which aren't cheap individually - and a special Christmas pint glass to enjoy them in.
Yes, you could buy a multipack for £30, but you wouldn't get as much variety as you have here.
It's not stuffed simply with old favourites - there are a few surprises too including a Hoppy Christmas IPA.
It contains all the best BrewDog beers, from Punk IPA and Hazy Jane to Clock Work and Elvis Juice.
Eight of the cans are larger in size, too.
Overall, this is affordable and all boxed up in some super cheery Christmas packing, which is perfect for the festive countdown.
Read our full Brewdog advent calendar review here.
Fever Tree 12 Days of Festive Drinks
- £45
- John Lewis -
- Rating: 5/10
This one has 12 doors, but every other one is a mixer so you only really get six drinks here and I'm not sure it's the best value for money.
You need to open the drawers in numerical order to achieve the perfect pairings, including season gin and tonics, sparkling Spritzes and vodka with coca cola.
It looks attractive and is more compact than most, but you get a lot less booze than other calendars offer.
Read our roundup of the best advent calendars for women here.
Sandford Orchards Cider Advent Calendar
- £80
- sandfordorchards.co.uk -
- Rating: 8/10
A great way to ease yourself into the festive spirit, this 24 day calendar allows you to discover a new cider every day made by Sandford Orchards, a craft cider maker in rural Devon.
Each and every one is a real warming treat at the end of a cold December day and there are many of the orchards' favourites included such as Wilde Cherry, Old Blossom and Devon Red.
One new addition for 2024 is Red Zero, a brand new no alcohol cider, which is a great option if you want to give your liver a break during December.
It was great to have a 24-day set to last the entire month, but be warned - as a result, it is incredibly heavy to lift.
Best of British Beer The 12 Beers of Christmas
- £36.95
- bestofbritishbeer.co.uk -
- Rating: 7/10
This is definitely one of the best designs with a stunning festive box and isn't too bulky to store, despite offering 12 beers inside. There are 12 330ml craft beer bottles including some old favourites and some new ones, all designed to get you in a merry mood.
They come from top breweries all over the UK including Portobello, London, Saltaire, Yorkshire and Harbour Brewing in Devon.
This cheap and cheerful buy is a delicious, fun and affordable way to count down to December 25.
Read our best advent calendars for men round-up here.
Laithwaites Mixed Wine Advent Calendar
- £99.99
- laithwaites.co.uk -
- Rating: 9/10
This calendar has a seriously impressive line-up of red and white wins for you to enjoy during the Christmas countdown.
To give you an idea of what to expect, you'll unbox 23 187 ml bottles, including El Bombero, Le Malbec d'Herve and Cabalie.
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Plus there's a full bottle of Alessandro Gallici Prosecco to enjoy Christmas Eve and that would be worth £25 on its own.
There's a lot of wine for £90 and I thought this calendar was excellent value. Cheers to that!
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