The Best Boozy Advent Calendars of 2023

It’s November which means that Christmas items have been slowly but surely popping up everywhere we look, and whilst the build up to Christmas can be stressful, there’s no reason it shouldn’t just be the kids that get all the excitement.

This year’s boozy advent calendars are being released, and aside from being a great surprise each day, they’re actually a brilliant way to explore a drink you’ve been meaning to try, with 24 miniatures giving you a taste of what’s on offer.

We’ve got something for everyone with our handy guide below identifying the best advent calendar for gin, rum, tequila, vodka, whisky, wine, cognac, and beer. Treat yourself!

Oh, and wine drinkers in particular, if you want to save yourself a bit of money then how about making your own DIY Advent with beautiful, canned wines? Take a look here!

The Best Gin Advent Calendar

Craft Gin Club Advent Calendar

The biggest gin subscription club in the UK is offering a 50ml bottle of craft gin behind each door, finishing on a special G&T on the big day itself. There’s a brand-new selection of gins picked out over the year, including seven exclusives like Tarquin’s Mince Pie Gin that you can’t get anywhere else. You also get expert suggestions for mixers and garnishes for every bottle, which you can buy as a separate bundle if you wish. We’ve had a sneak peek and we don’t want to give too much more away but gin lovers, you will not be left disappointed!

Find here: £94.95

The Best Rum Advent Calendar

The Whisky Exchange 24 Days of Rum Advent Calendar

Rum isn’t the most popular spirit for calendars, and we’re not sure why. It’s more popular for cocktails, but sipping rums are an exciting world once you find your favourite, and trying 24 different miniatures is the perfect way to do that. Not only does this calendar opens doors to every type of rum from all over – with Caribbean classics and lesser known gems from Scotland and Australia, but you also get full tasting notes to light the way and two glasses.

Find here: £84.95

The Best Tequila & Mezcal Advent Calendar

The Spirit Co Tequila & Mezcal Advent Calendar

Because of its association with shots, tequila is far from the first spirit people think of when it comes to boozy advent calendars, but despite the 30ml minis included, this is about exploring the diverse world of fresh, fruity tequila and floral, smoky mezcal. Blancos, Reposados, Añejos and Mezcals await behind each door of this lovely looking calendar, for you to truly explore a spirit dating back to the Aztecs.

Find here: £131.99

The Best Vodka Advent Calendar

Drinks by the Dram – Vodka Advent Calendar

Here’s 24 wonderfully varied 30ml vodkas to put a kick into your Christmas build up, focusing on unique blends from all four corners of the planet. Vodka is another spirit that some drinkers only have bad experiences with after trying a throat burner, so these tasters are a great introduction to what the spirit can be. Reputable brands like Chase and Cîroc are includes, as well Jaffa Cake Vodka, Brecon Five and an intriguing Chardonnay Vodka.

Find here: £89.95

The Best Whisky Advent Calendar

Master of Malt Whisky Advent Calendars

Master of Malt have a stunning selection of 14 different whisky advents, for newbies looking to get into it, seasoned dram drainers, and everything in between. The Whisky Explorer’s Edition is a great for adventures, That Boutique-y Company is for unusual independent releases, and there’s the Japanese Whisky Advent Calendar featuring some of the country’s best producers. If you’ve got the money, then there’s even the Old and Rare selection for £999, and for a Christmas you’ll never forget, there’s the Very Old and Rare calendar priced at £9,999!

Find here: £99.55-£9999.95

The Best Wine Advent Calendar

Virgin Wines Advent Calendar

One of the original players in the world of wine advents, Virgin Wines are one of the UK’s largest suppliers and this year they have premium boxes of 24 mini wines (mixed, red, or white) from across the world, with an extra special treat behind door 25 to wash down the Christmas dinner. Click the link, pick your box and you can see exactly what bottles are included.

Find here: £89.99

John Lewis Fizz

It’s not just their Christmas ad that’s the best because this bubbly bonanza is probably the best sparkling wine selection out there, with champagne, prosecco and six variations of Bottega wines. There’s a couple of Freixenet bottles and a Charles de Mignon champagne as the highlight. Christmas is all about the bubbles, and this makes every day in the run up a joy.

Find here: £140

The Best Cognac Advent Calendar

The Spirit Co Cognac Advent Calendar

After falling in love with Cognac and the release of The Three Drinkers in Cognac, we have to include this gem. Celebrating the Charente vineyards, every day brings you a touch of rich, velvety French luxury of various ages. They’re perfect for whipping up Cognac Cocktails, or sipping to find your favourite.

Find here: £200.39

The Best Beer Advent Calendar

John Lewis Beer & Snacks Advent Calendar

Christmas is the season for snacks, so why not combine them with beer in this festive box, with 14 glass bottles and 10 accompanying snacks. Lager, craft lager, pale ales and iconic pub snacks are all thrown in to bring all the pub vibes to your celebrations.

Find here: £80

If you want to save yourself a bit of money and make your own calendar, then we’ve given you 12 Canned Wines to get you on your way!

Pumpkin Ales To Enjoy This Autumn

It was a few years ago when ‘pumpkin spiced’ took over Autumn, and although it was a little later to the party, you can now find pumpkin popping up in a load of craft beers with delicious results.

Pumpkins ale, or beer, is brewed flavoured with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and often brewed with real pumpkin meat. This isn’t just a few days over Halloween either, but from September right through to the New Year, Pumpkin Ales soar in popularity.

Some traditionalists see it as a tacky gimmick, but in fact fruit ‘n’ veg have been used in beer making for centuries, as a relatively cheap way to add sugar or natural flavour. Now, don’t get us wrong, some of them are pretty naff, but, don’t dismiss them just yet because there whilst many end up cloyingly sweet with baking spice, others get it spot on…

Abbeydale Brewery - Pilgrim

An independent brewery since founding in 1996, Abbedyale have introduced pumpkin to their pale and hoppy house style with Pilgrim, part of their small batch Brewers’ Emporium range. It’s a fragrant and  full-bodied golden ale with an elegant bitterness to the finish that emits so much cosiness with those autumnal spices of cinnamon, nutmeg and all spice.

Size: 440ml
ABV: 5%
Price: £18.50 for 6

Elusive Brewery – Carve’n Yams Pumpkin Coffee Porter

A deliciously dark seasonal Porter next, with pumpkin meat and pumpkin spice added to Elusive’s sweet Coffee Porter, creating a swirl of bright single origin Hasbean coffee layered up with aromatic baking spice. Everything is balanced subtly, and the touch of creaminess combined with the flavours mirrors a Pumpkin Spiced Latté somewhat.

Size: 440m
ABV: 5.2%
Price: £25.90 for 6

Wychwood Brewery – Hobgoblin - Pumpking

This has been at supermarkets like Aldi and Morrisons in the past so keep your eyes peeled. It’s unusually light for pumpkin beer and doesn’t overload with the pumpkin spice if you’ve been put off by either of those things in Autumns gone by, then give it another go. It’s ruby coloured, earthy, apricot-y, and only presents a delicate biscuity, vanilla sweetness, rather than the intense fruity sweetness of stronger ales.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 3.8%
Price: £1.99

Barrier - The Carver Pumpkin Beer

This New York beer costs a little more because of the import, but it’s gone down very well. Tastefully brimming with all spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove and of course, full-bodied pumpkin, the balance of sweetness, malt and hops is perfect, an the foamy mouthfeel plays into the pumpkin pie vibes.

Size: 473ml
ABV: 6%
Price: £7.40

Some might say that just trying a pumpkin ale is experimentation enough, but why not go the whole hog and see how they do in cocktails? The spicy sweetness could work very well in many of the recipes in our Beer Cocktails guide.

Your Complete Guide to Celebrating Oktoberfest Near You

Get ready to raise your beer steins and embrace the Bavarian spirit because Oktoberfest is almost here! But wait its only September!? Well, despite its name, Oktoberfest actually kicks off in September each year, and carries on for just over two weeks so get a move on with the planning!

Originally a Munich celebration of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese’s marriage in 1810, this colossal beer bash now has folks around the world celebrating with a hearty "Prost!"

Sprawling tents with thousands of merry-makers, millions of litres of beer being guzzled, German music filling the air – if you want a slice of the biggest beer festival on the planet then don your finest lederhosen and find yourself an Oktoberfest near you with our guide below.

Or… host your own Bavarian bash and serve up some stunning Oktoberfest foods and drinks (also listed below!)

What should you drink at Oktoberfest?

No surprises here, it’s all about German Beer. 

So many German producers will release Oktoberfest specials, but we like the hoppy, fruity profile of Hofmeister, made in the heart of Bavaria.

Erdinger is another that you can’t wrong with, in particular their Weissbier with its gentle spice and lively flavours.

For Alcohol-Free Oktoberfests, we have to shout out Lucky Saint, a classic, refreshing lager with a hoppy, citrus finish and they’re German too.

Not everyone likes beer of course, and why should you miss out on all the Oktoberfest fun? Well, sticking with the German theme, get stuck into their Pinot Noir. Did you know that they are the third largest producer of this varietal, labelling it Spätburgunder – it is so distinct. Also, that way, if anyone has a go at you for drinking Pinot at Oktoberfest, you can tell them it’s Spätburgunder and they’ll probably accept it. It’s a cool-climate red berry wine, with lots of crunch, acidity, tartness and we find it so refreshing and easy drinking – give it a go!

What should you eat at Oktoberfest?

Bratwurst is a must. Grilled onions, brioche buns, good German mustard, sauerkraut on the site – mouthwatering… and the best thing is, it all goes so well with hearty, refreshing German bier.

Other than that, Schnitzel is traditional, as our roasted almonds (often sugared as a kind of candy), all kinds of potato dishes, Currywurst and Pretzels.

Where should I go for Oktoberfest around the UK?

Oktoberfest UK, the largest tour in the country is coming to the following cities in the SOUTH OF ENGLAND, bringing authentic German bier, live oompah bands, bratwurst on the sizzle and some of Europe’s biggest Oktoberfest tents:

Chelmsford – Central Park – Friday 6th and Saturday 7th October
Crawley - Southgate Park - Friday 6th & Saturday 7th October
Guildford - Stoke Park - Friday 13th & Saturday 14th October
Milton Keynes - Campbell Park - Friday 13th & Saturday 14th October
Southend - Priory Park - Friday 20th & Saturday 21st October
Beverley - Beverley Racecourse - Friday 20th & Saturday 21st October
Colchester - Lower Castle Park - Friday 27th & Saturday 28th October
Plymouth - Central Park - Friday 27th & Saturday 28th October

For more information click here.

In BRIGHTON, there’s Oktoberfest Bottomless Brunch at Post Cook & Bier Haus every Saturday throughout the celebrations, with oompah, DJs, tables dancers and three litre sizes of Bavarian beer.

For more information click here.

LONDON obviously has a tonne of Oktoberfest events such as:

Craft Oktoberfest:
-        E&C Brewgarden (Friday 6th October and Saturday 7th October with 12+ craft beers in London’s biggest beer garden)
-        Kraft Dalston (Saturday 21st October with Korean-German fusion before Berlin techno until 2AM)
-        Mayfair Cyrpt (Saturday 14th October for the first time, a full meal and drink package for Oktoberfest).

For more information click here.

There are so many Oktoberfest events across London, like Oktoberfest At Pergola Paddington, Oktoberfest Brixton, Munich Cricket Club, Craft Beer Cruise, ALToberfest and Camden Oktoberfest, from budget options to lavish blowouts. Find one near you and Lederhosen up!

In MANCHESTER, the sprawling Freight Island will host an all-singing, all-dancing beer half on Friday 29th September and Saturday 30th September.

For more information click here.

In SHEFFIELD, Stein Haus offer a complete Bavarian offering with all the bands, dancers and live DJ sets you could wish for on Saturday 14th October.

For more information click here.

Honestly, as a nation we’ve fully embraced Oktoberfest and we can’t list every event here, so if you’re not in one of the hubs above then don’t worry, because there’s almost certainly somewhere transformed into a beer hall near you offering Oompah bands, bratwurst, schnitzel, and sloshing steins.

Have You Heard of Guinnessy?

You can probably guess from the portmanteau what two drinks you combine to make one. Yep, Guinness and Hennessy.

The new serve caught traction on American TikTok before crossing the Atlantic, as lovers of both liquids fiercely protected the purity of their drinks, but some were ready to embrace the heresy. 

As you can see from our Guinness Recipe guide, it’s probably more versatile than you think and after The Three Drinkers in Cognac, we’re all up for trying cognac with everything, but how the two work together in reality?

Well, from the original TikTok it’s hard to say as it’s ‘shotgunned’ – a shotting technique in which the drink makes a whole in the bottom of the can, and in this case, pours the Hennessy in the top. He did seem to enjoy it though!

There are lovely stouts out there aged in cognac barres, and both cognac and Guinness are used in a tonne of different cocktails recipes, but we think that, on this occasion, all that malty sweetness and hoppy bitterness mixing with the fruity richness will only serve to ruin both drinks to be honest.

Still, we’re always up for mixology experimentation so you never know. Everything is down to personal taste so try it yourself! (‘shotgunning’ optional).

Aunt Bessie's New Roast Dinner and Dessert Beers are Here!

Calling all quirky beer lovers! Aunt Bessie's is back with a delightful surprise that will tickle your taste buds and transport you down memory lane!

You may remember that back in 2020, they joined forces with Northern Monk to craft “the UK’s first two-course meal made in beer form,” and now they're at it again, this time with an extra couple of tantalizing puddings in mind.

Picture this: a Roast Dinner Brown Ale, a Jam Roly Poly & Custard Pale Ale, a Sticky Toffee Pudding & Custard Porter, and an Apple Crumble & Custard Pale Ale. Yes, you read that right – they've brewed beers inspired by some of the nation's most cherished comfort foods!

The Roast Dinner Brown Ale is brewed with actual Aunt Bessie's Roast Potatoes and Yorkshire Puddings and the Jam Roly Poly & Custard Pale Ale is infused with plum, apricot, and strawberry, which are the same ingredients found in the original Aunt Bessie's pudding recipe.

This isn't the first time we've seen such unique brews though. Remember when Seabrook crisps teamed up with Northern Monk to create Prawn Cocktail and Cheese & Onion flavored beers? Or when Byron’s Burger released its pickle beer?! It seems like the world of beer and food is always full of surprises!

If you're itching to try Aunt Bessie's latest four-pack of brews (4 x 330ml for just £5.50), you can either click right here or head to your nearest Morrisons.

5 Need To Know Weird Beers

If you’ve got even a passing interest in beer then you’ll have definitely come across some peculiar flavours over the years, and there’s no shortage of them in 2023. We embrace the weirdness, but that doesn’t mean they all taste good. In fact, a lot of them miss the mark.

Below are 5 need to know weird beers that we think are really worth a try, from pale ales that sound appetising off the bat, to ales that need to win you around. Cheers!

Northern Monk + Aunt Bessie’s Apple Crumble & Custard Pale Ale

We can always rely on Northern Monk to collaborate with the unexpected and concoct an unusual beer. In the past there’s been Seabrook’s Prawn Cocktail and Cheese & Onion cans, and in fact this isn’t the first time they’ve teamed up with Aunt Bessie’s, releasing a Sunday Dinner Brown Ale previously. These past creations are no longer available, but their newer release, ‘Apple Crumble & Custard’ is and it’s one that is far easier to immediately get on board with. The custard is more forward, with the apple bringing a subtle, candy style flavour. Overall, it isn’t too overwhelming as you might expect and does provide a nice nostalgic sweetness!

Size: 330ml
ABV: 4.5%
Price: £2.50

Fungtn Lion’s Mane IPA

We’ve mentioned these low-alcohol gems before because of their innovative use of medicinal mushrooms. The natural starchy quality of mushrooms complements brewed beer, for example, Lion’s Mane IPA uses Lion’s Mane mushroom. This gives earthy depth, building on the subtle caramel, hay notes among the bitterness. This IPA won has won numerous awards but check out their other mushroom projects like Reishi Citra Hop and the new Shiitake Dark.

Size: 330ml
ABV: 0.5%
Price: 12 for £33.60

Eagle Brewery Banana Bread Beer

You might have had enough of banana bread when everyone started making it during the pandemic, but now you’ve had a rest, how about experiencing it in a whole new form? This Eagle brew uses their own natural mineral water and Fairtrade bananas, bringing inviting banoffee aroma with the silky, rich malt blend and touch of peppery spice. Unlike so many flavoured beers, it does really taste of banana, and it’s delicious.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 5.2%
Price: 8 for £12.50

Hammerton Crunch Peanut Butter Milk Stout

Smooth and silky texture, this is like drinking liquid peanut butter… albeit the stout version. It took tonnes of experimentation, but the balance of roasted peanuts and biscuit is spot on. It’s surprisingly light, with malty, chocolatey, coffee notes in the background. Delicious.

Size: 330ml
ABV: 5.4%
Price: £3.70

Marmite Love Hate Ale Camden Town Brewery

This one completely lives up to the saying, so we just had to include it. Not everyone loves it, but those who do really do. Now, it is very yeasty, and the profile of Camden Hells unsurprisingly comes through, so if you’re drawn to that already then definitely give this a go. Real marmite, Pilsner and Munich malt combine for a smoky, bready for an unforgettable experience.

Size: 330ml
ABV: 4.8%
Price: 12 for £24.99

Take a look at our Beer Cocktails guide and experiment with these odd flavours in one of the recipes! You never know what you’ll create!

A New Twist on Tradition: Exploring the World of Beer Cocktails

When it comes to cocktails, beer definitely isn’t the first ingredient that comes to mind. However, the world of mixology has embraced the idea of blending beer with other spirits and flavours to create unique and refreshing concoctions, so don’t write it off just yet! It’s probably the most beloved drink of them all, so let’s dive into the delightful realm of beer cocktails, where traditional brews meet exciting twists.

Marbeerita

The Beer Margarita, the Beerita, the Beergarita, whatever you call it, it really works. The beer brings a refreshing twist to this classic putting a bubbly spin on the traditional mix of tequila, lime and aromatic orange... which marries with hops deliciously. Barbeques, laid-back afternoons, the Marbeerita is well worth a go.

Ingredients
50ml tequila (blanco or reposado)
30ml lime juice
25ml Cointreau
15ml triple sec
120ml chilled beer (go for lager, ideally Mexican)
Lime wedge (garnish)

Method
Add everything except the beer, stir to combine, add a little ice, and pour beer over the top. How’s that for simple?

Shandy

Cocktails do not get simpler than this. If you order a Shandy, you’ll almost always get beer and lemonade, usually in a 50:50 split. It’s ideal if you want something thirst quenching but not too boozy, and also adds some bright and juicy sweetness to the crisp beer. If you don’t fancy lemonade, then try fruit juice or ginger ale. A Radler is basically the same thing too, but uses lemon soda instead.

Ingredients
120ml beer
120ml lemonade

Method
To avoid chaotic fizz levels, pour the beer first and top up with lemonade. Shandy complete.

Michelada

Becoming more and more popular stateside is the Michelada, a brunch style cocktail like the Bloody Mary but usually without the tomato. Traditionally it’s simply light Mexican beer with a dash of hot sauce and a salted rim and lime, but Worcestershire sauce also makes a nice addition. To make a Chelada, just ditch the hot sauce and pepper and up the lime.

Ingredients
250ml beer (light lager)
Dash of Mexican hot sauce
Salt and pepper rim
Lime for juice and garnish

Method
Mix salt and pepper on a plate (chilli powder too if you want more heat). Rub the rim with the lime and roll in the seasoning. Then, squeeze the lime and add to the rim before adding hot sauce, and topping up with lager. Unless your beer is ice-cold, add ice because the Michelada really is best served super chilled.

Beermosa

The Beermosa is a delightfully simple twist on the classic Mimosa. By replacing the sparkling wine with beer, you get a malty bitterness that tames the sweet citrus nicely. This beer cocktail is perfect for any time you want a little citrusy goodness with a beer kick.

Ingredients
120ml beer (try and get one with citrus notes)
120ml orange juice
Orange wheel for garnish

Method
Pour equal parts of beer and orange juice into a glass (no ice if they’re both chilled). Stir gently to combine the two and keep the bubbles alive, before a wheel of orange to finish the sunny look. Nom.

Black Velvet

A famous stout cocktail this time, the gorgeous Black Velvet. Created during the national mourning of Prince Albert in Victorian Britain, Guinness is almost always used (or a very dark stout) for its bitter, silky richness to offset the fruity and fizzing lightness of the sparkling wine. Surprisingly moreish so give it a try!

 Ingredients
100ml Champagne (Crémant or Cava is fine)
100ml Guinness

Method
Champagne first, then pour the Guinness over a spoon to layer it up nicely. Enjoy!

Every cocktail we love today was discovered through experimentation so try stuff out! Need inspiration? Check out our recent Daiquiri Twists here!

What Should I Drink With Sushi?

With intense and varied seafood flavours, vinegary rice, and spice all in play, sushi has a reputation for being a nightmare to pair with. There are actually lots of really complimentary options out there, however, so let’s take a look at the possible drinks you could serve to elevate your sushi experience!

SAKE

Choya Sake

Sake is enjoying a surge in popularity in the West, where it’s often served alongside sushi. This isn’t something picked up from Japan, however, where traditionally drinks alongside meals served the purpose of being light, easy-drinking and cleansing the palate. Because sake is brewed from rice, serving ‘rice on rice’ in this way isn’t seen as the way forward. Having said that, sake is actually very food friendly, so a delicate, clean, and restrained sake like this might not be the traditional pairing, but the umami of both makes for a lovely marriage all the same.

Size: 720ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £11.25

BEER

Asahi Super Dry

This might not be the most innovative pairing we’ll give you that, but a light and dry Asian lager like this that isn’t too malty, and overpowering is a really solid pairing. Japanese beers used to be thought of as bitter, but Asahi was at the forefront of changing that and their Super Dry is crisp and clean, allowing the sushi to shine.

Size: 620ml
ABV: 5.2%
Find here: £2.40

WHITE WINE

Reichsrat von Buhl - Riesling Trocken 2021

Both wine and sushi provide endless possibilities and hugely varied flavours and styles. One varietal that we always return to for intensely flavoured foods because it is so adaptable is Riesling. Crisp and highly acidic German Riesling like this is great for fighting spice, complementing fattier fish, and offsetting the bold flavours with bone dry refreshment. It’s as close as you can get to adding lemon juice to fish in a bottle of wine which is why it works so deliciously.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: £12

SPARKLING WINE

Sainsbury's Cremant d’Alsace, Taste the Difference

A delicious and velvety dry sparkler like this really enhances the zest in seafood, and rather than competing with the flavours of the food, it simply refreshes from the backseat and allows its fizzing texture to open up the raw fish. Champagne loves sushi too, but at a fraction of the price this is the wiser option with little compromise on quality whatsoever.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £12

TEA

Green tea - Konacha

Tea is often traditionally served alongside sushi, and the high heat is surprisingly adept at refreshing the palate between bites, preserving the delicate textures and subtler flavours found in sushi. There are a few different teas you could serve. Genmaicha is a roasted rice tea that’s nutty and served warm, but green tea is probably the best match. Sencha and konacha are both popular types in sushi restaurants, and both wash down the fatty fish to reset the palate perfectly. They’re also a great way to include a non-drinker in the sushi experience with something more exciting than just water.

Size: 100g
Find here: £11

Copenhagen Sparkling Tea GRØN

Sparkling tea is more popular than ever, and if you don’t like the idea of warm tea with your sushi it’s a fantastic way to go. There are 6 Delicious Sparkling Teas here if you’re interested, but the one that we recommend with sushi is Copenhagen’s Green. It’s as fresh as any drink gets with a stunning green tea base, but also ginger to tie in with the dishes and fizz for resetting the palate.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 5%
Find here: £16.95

The right drinks accompaniment can truly make or break a meal, so check out other guides including Indian, Thai and Mexican!