Last checked: 5 October 2026.
It is a fair question. A whisky advent calendar costs more than a good bottle, and you can see a bottle on the shelf. So is it worth it? The short answer: yes, if the point is to discover whisky you would never have bought, and no, if the person only ever drinks one whisky. Here are the numbers, so you can decide for yourself.
The numbers at a glance
| 25 day calendar | 12 day calendar | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £134.99 | £59.99 |
| Drams | 25 different whiskies | 12 different whiskies |
| Size of each dram | 3cl (30ml) | 3cl (30ml) |
| Whisky in total | 75cl, about one standard bottle | 36cl, about half a bottle |
| Price per dram | £5.40 | £5.00 |
| Tasting video and notes | For every dram | For every dram |
| Christmas Day | A special whisky in a glass bauble | No bauble, but some great whisky! |
These are our own 2026 calendars. You can see all five in our whisky advent calendar collection.
The maths on a dram
Each dram in our calendars works out at £5.00 to £5.40. For that you get a 3cl pour, which is about one US fluid ounce, and more than the 25ml single most UK pubs serve. Now think about what a bar charges for one measure of an 18 year old single malt. Our 25 Day Scotch includes whiskies aged 15, 16, 18 and 20 years, and every one of them costs you the same £5.40.
Seen that way, a calendar is 25 visits to a very good whisky bar, without leaving the sofa.
What would the bottles cost?
The other way to try 25 whiskies is to buy 25 bottles. Even at the price of an everyday bottle, that would cost several times the price of the calendar, and whiskies aged 18 or 20 years cost a great deal more than an everyday bottle. You would also own more than 17 litres of whisky, including the bottles you turned out not to like.
That is the real value of a calendar. You are not paying for volume. You are paying to find out what you love before you commit to a bottle of it. By the last door you will have a short list of whiskies you would happily buy in full, and a few you now know to avoid.
What does 3cl look like in a glass?
A 3cl dram is 30ml. In a tasting glass it is a proper measure. It is enough to nose the whisky, take a first sip neat, add a drop of water and taste it again, which is exactly how a whisky is meant to be explored. It is not a thimble, and it is not a sample you finish in one swallow.
What you get beyond the whisky
- Someone to explain it. Every bottle has a QR code. Scan it and you get an expert led tasting video and written notes for that exact whisky: where it was made, how it was matured and what to look for in the glass.
- A reason to slow down. One dram a day for 12 or 25 days is a small ritual. It turns December into a tasting, one evening at a time.
- A Christmas Day finale. Door 25 of our 25 day calendars holds a special whisky in a glass bauble that can hang on the tree until the day. We will not spoil which one.
- A gift that lasts. A bottle is opened once. A calendar is opened 12 or 25 times.
When a whisky advent calendar is not worth it
Honestly, there are times when a bottle is the better present.
- They only drink one whisky. If someone has a favourite and never strays from it, buy them a bottle of that. Variety is the whole point of a calendar.
- You want the most whisky for your money. Measured by the millilitre, a full bottle usually costs less than a set of small ones. A calendar is about range, not volume.
- The style does not match the drinker. A calendar of Scotch is wasted on a bourbon lover, and the other way round. Choose the calendar that fits what they drink, which is why we make five.
Which calendar is worth it for whom?
- For the Scotch lover: the 25 Day Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar, with single malts, single grains, blends and peated whiskies.
- For the explorer: the 25 Day Whiskey Advent Calendar, with whisky from nine countries including Japan, the USA and India.
- For a Christmas present: the 12 Day Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar, which includes a 15 year old, two 16 year olds and an 18 year old. Give it on Christmas Day and it is opened one dram a day through the twelve days of Christmas.
- When you are not sure what they drink: the 12 Day Whiskey Advent Calendar, with Scotch, Irish and American whiskey in one box.
- For the bourbon fan: the 12 Day American Whiskey Advent Calendar.
Questions people ask
Is a whisky advent calendar worth it?
Yes, if you want to try a range of whiskies without buying full bottles. Our calendars work out at £5.00 to £5.40 a dram, each dram comes with a tasting video, and our 25 Day Scotch includes whiskies aged up to 20 years. If the person only drinks one whisky, a bottle of that is the better gift.
Do whisky advent calendars have real whisky?
Ours do. Every door holds a 3cl bottle of whisky, and every bottle has its own tasting video.
How many ml are in a whisky advent calendar?
Each of our drams is 3cl, which is 30ml. A 25 day calendar holds 750ml in total and a 12 day calendar holds 360ml.
How much does a whisky advent calendar cost?
Our 12 day calendars are £59.99 and our 25 day calendars are £134.99. UK delivery is free, and delivery to the USA includes all duties and taxes.
Is 3cl enough to taste a whisky properly?
Yes. It is about one US fluid ounce, more than a standard 25ml UK pub single, and enough to nose the whisky, taste it neat and taste it again with a drop of water.
Is a 12 day whisky advent calendar worth it?
Yes. You get 12 different whiskies and a tasting video for each. It also works as a Christmas present, because it can be given on Christmas Day and opened through the twelve days of Christmas.
Does a whisky advent calendar make a good gift?
For anyone who enjoys whisky, or is curious about it, yes. It is a present that is opened 12 or 25 times. We can deliver it straight to the person you are buying for.
