Best gin advent calendars 2024, tested & reviewed
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Will a G&T always be your tipple of choice? If so, we highly recommend gin lovers getting ahead of the game and securing one of the best gin advent calendars before the inevitable November rush. It might only be September, but with many of us already starting to think about swapping out the summer wardrobe for Autumn staples – like chunky loafers and trench coats – the festive season is guaranteed to sneak up on us once again.
Once reserved for mixing up martinis, it's safe to say that gin is now one of the most-loved spirits amongst mixologists and modern day drinkers. And things are certainly being shaken up a bit in the once London-centric gin-dustry.
From Ukiyo Japanese Yuzu Gin taking home the Gin of the Year Award at the London Spirits Competition 2024, to the success of the easy-to-drink and award-winning Australian Papa Salt Gin distillers, founded by Margot Robbie and friends, it's clear that more and more of us are falling for the more botanical side of this historic spirit. Essentially, if this year is anything to go by, 2025 is set to be a truly exciting time in the industry.
Feeling inspired to work your way through a fair few wax-sealed drams of gin in the run-up to Christmas? If so, while we always encourage you to drink responsibly, we've got you covered with this carefully curated selection of the best gin advent calendars to pre-order in 2024. From bestsellers by The Bottle Club and The Craft Gin Co. to trending pink gin advent calendars, these Christmas gin calendars are guaranteed to whet your appetite. Now all that's left to do is top up your selection of trusty tonics.
How we test the best gin advent calendars:
Definitely not strangers to a trusty G&T, it's safe to say that there are plenty of people on the GLAMOUR team who know a thing or two about what makes a premium bottle of gin. So, we definitely weren't short of opinions on the types and flavours of gins to look out for in each calendar.
As well as taking into account our collective gin-based knowledge, we also scrutinised specific aspect of every single calendar — such as the quality and range of distilleries included in each calendar, the typical size of their miniature drams, and the overall look and feel of the design. In doing so, we're confident that we've curated a selection of gin advent calendars that you'll be proud to display above the fireplace this festive season.
More advent calendars:
Discover the best beauty advent calendars, jewellery advent calendars, wine advent calendars and alternative advent calendars. Particular GLAMOUR favourites? The Missoma advent calendar, Sephora advent calendar and the Cult Beauty advent calendar.
Ahead, the GLAMOUR’s edit of the best, for 24 days of gin.
Specifications:
- Pros: Really unique flavours; Relatively affordable; Festive look and feel.
- Cons: Primarily festive flavours.
- Number of doors: 24.
- Typical drink size: 30ml.
- Top three gins: Cherry Gin, Chocolate Orange Gin, and Moonshot Gin — all from That Boutique-y Gin Company.
Back together and better than ever, That Boutique-y Gin Company has teamed up with Drinks By The Dram to curate a truly unique advent calendar filled with their some of their most famous flavoured gins. Available to pre-order now, you can look forward to a December spent sampling the likes of their refreshing and floral Neroli Gin, as well as festive favourites like GINgle All The Way and Cherry Gin.
Specifications:
- Pros: Amazing range of flavours; Worldwide distilleries; Extra door for Christmas Day.
- Cons: Quite pricey.
- Number of doors: 25.
- Typical drink size: 30ml.
- Top three gins: Kyrö Pink Gin, Hendrick's Flora Adora Gin, and Roku Japanese Craft Gin.
Japan, Finland, and India are just three of the many different countries with gin distilleries that have been included in this epic advent calendar. Plus, with its stylish look, it’ll make a suitably festive addition to your bar cart or mantlepiece this Christmas. Featuring some of the world's best gin producers, it definitely lives up to its ‘premium’ label. You can't go wrong with a dram of No. 3 London Dry Gin — while Procera's Green Dot Gin will make for some extra special martinis.
Specifications:
- Pros: Great range of distilleries; Bigger individual servings; Reserve for just £10.
- Cons: Only distilleries from UK and Ireland.
- Number of doors: 24.
- Typical drink size: 50ml.
- Top three gins: Tarquin's Cornish Dry Gin, Masons Yorkshire Tea Gin, and Whitley Neil Peach Gin.
Unsurprisingly, Virgin Wines is best-known for its impressive line-up of wine advent calendars — but it happens to also truly deliver in the gin department. Boasting a mix of big brands and boutique producers, expect to find classic London Dry gins from the likes of Aber Falls and Bombay Sapphire, as well as plenty of more unusual botanical blends. Giving it as a gift to your favourite gin aficionado? Reserve your calendar today for just £10, and add a little personalised message at checkout.
Specifications:
- Pros: Lots of popular flavours; Doubles as festive decor; Reusable.
- Cons: Really expensive.
- Number of doors: 24.
- Typical drink size: 50ml.
- Top three gins: Malfy Sicilian Blood Orange Gin, Poetic Licence Picnic Gin Strawberries and Cream, and Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb and Ginger Liqueur.
As well as being filled with 24 mini bottles of some of our favourite flavoured gins, this wooden tree-shaped advent calendar makes a lovely festive decoration that you'll definitely want to refill with bottles of your choice and enjoy again next year. Expect crisp and refreshing cucumber gins, and elderflower gin liqueurs — as well as a vast selection of sloe gins for that classic festive flavour.
Specifications:
- Pros: Really premium gins; Year-round staple flavours; Pre-orders open now.
- Cons: Only 12 days.
- Number of doors: 12.
- Typical drink size: 30ml.
- Top three gins: Silent Pool Gin, Hendrick's Flora Adora Gin, and Mayfield Gin.
If getting through twenty-four different types of gins seems like quite the task, definitely consider this slightly more compact countdown from Drinks by the Dram. Featuring a dozen top-notch tasters from some of the industry's most admired producers, expect a staple dry gin from The Botanist, a Silent Pool gin infused with twenty-four botanicals, and a bright and citrusy Chase Pink Grapefruit & Pomelo Gin.
Specifications:
- Pros: Premium gins; Delivery begins end of September; Worldwide distilleries.
- Cons: Not a very festive design.
- Number of doors: 24.
- Typical drink size: 30ml.
- Top three gins: 6 O'clock Damson Gin, Hepple Gin, and Gin Ting - Passionfruit, Mango & Elderflower.
Filled with all the classics, this Premium Gin Advent Calendar by Drinks by the Dram is a great option if you're keen to skip the squares of chocolate this year. There are lots of different gins inside to sample, but we're particularly excited about Ungava Gin — which has been crafted with six Arctic botanicals from northern Quebec, and is perfect for whipping up unique cocktails.
Specifications:
- Pros: Small and independent distilleries; 5 surprise gins; Lovely festive design; Large individual servings.
- Cons: None that we can see!
- Number of doors: 24.
- Typical drink size: 50ml.
- Top three gins: Tarquin's Christmas Cake Gin, Spiced Blackberry Gin by Warners Distillery, and Winter Gin from Forged Gin.
If you like the sound of a craft gin advent calendar that puts the focus on smaller and independent distilleries, this is the one to choose. Expect festive takes on typical flavours — like ‘Under the Tree Gin’ from The Spirit of Manchester Distillery, which boasts tasting notes of citrus, pine, and warm and earthy juniper. We love the generous size of each dram, and also that there are suggested mixers and garnishes for each individual one on the back of the calendar — all chosen by Craft Gin Club’s in-house mixologist.
Specifications:
- Pros: 12 full-size G&Ts; Expert pairings; Premium gins.
- Cons: Clearly, it includes only Fever-Tree tonics.
- Number of doors: 24.
- Typical drink size: 60ml gins and 150ml tonic tins.
- Top three gins: Tarquins Rhubarb & Raspberry Gin, Sipsmith Sloe Gin, — and — in terms of mixer, Fever-Tree's fan favourite Elderflower Tonic.
Fever-Tree is our go-to brand when it comes to tonics and mixers —so their brilliant advent calendar definitely deserves a mention. Behind each individual door, you'll find either a delicious Fever-Tree mixer, or a premium mini gin — so you can look forward to sipping on twelve full-sized G&Ts throughout the Christmas season. Our favourite pairing? A suitably festive tipple, we're loving the sound of Tarquins Rhubarb & Raspberry Gin paired with Fever-Tree's iconic Ginger Ale.
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