The Really Good Whisky Company's Malt Teasers Whisky Advent Calendar
Advent refers to the roughly four-week period prior to Christmas. Among most Christian faiths, it begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas day. The term is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning coming or arrival, and is historically the beginning of the liturgical year for most Christian churches in the West. Historically, devout Christians would fast during this period; a practice known as the Advent Fast.
What does all this have to do with whisky you are wondering? Well, that’s where the story gets interesting. A variety of practices became associated with Advent, including keeping an Advent calender, lighting an Advent wreath, erecting a Christmas tree and putting out Christmas decorations.
Sometime around the mid-20th century Advent calendars appeared that contained a chocolate candy for each day of Advent. The tradition appears to have started in Germany and was widespread by the late 1950s. Today, the tradition of candy filled Advent calendars has spread all over the world, but they are especially popular in Germany and Scandinavia.
In 2012, Master of Malt, the British mail order spirits retailer, began to offer Scotch whisky Advent calendars. It’s not clear if they were the first but they certainly popularized the concept. Instead of a chocolate or a candy, each day had a dram, typically one ounce or so, of a single malt from a Scottish distillery. The practice grew from that modest beginning, and now encompasses a range of spirits and several dozen offerings.
The Whiskey Exchange offers a 24-day rum Advent calendar, as well as a 24-day whisky one. Flaviar has a “Whiskies of the World” Advent calendar and The Boutique-y Gin Company has a Gin Advent calendar. Heritage Spirits has a 24-day “festive mix” of vodka, gin and bourbon, which it produces.
The broadest selection of spirits-themed Advent calendars is from Master of Malt. Their selection includes a range of Advent calendars featuring premium gin, world whiskies, Scotch whisky, Japanese whisky, vodka, rum, tequila and bourbon and American whiskey. They also offer premium collections of single cask offerings and old and rare whiskies. The latter will run you over a thousand dollars.
Unfortunately, Master of Malt isn’t currently shipping to the US or Canada, so you will need someone to ship it for you. Alternatively, many of their Advent calendars are produced by Drinks by the Dram. They have affiliates that can ship to the US and Canada.
One of the best whisky Advent calendars is Malt Teasers from The Really Good Whisky Company. Its Advent calendar features 25 world whisky selections, one more than usual, since, as its founder and Managing Director Shelley Kelaty put it, “who doesn’t want a dram on Christmas day”?
Among the 25 selections in their Malt Teasers Advent Calendar are offerings from Lambay, one of Ireland’s newest distilleries (a joint venture between Ireland’s Baring Family and Cognac giant Maison Camus), Whistle Pig’s 10 YO Straight Rye, A 15 YO Glen Scotia, a Solera matured expression from Australian whisky company Starward, an 18 YO Deanston, a remarkable 28 YO Cameronbridge grain whisky bottled by Old Particular and a rare Cask Strength Glendronach.
Most spirits themed Advent calendars sell for between $100 and $200. Freight will vary depending on from which retailer they are ordered. Counting down to Christmas with a selection of world whiskies might well be an ideal finish to what has otherwise been a crazy year. Enjoy!
Sláinte
