Food and Cocktail Advent Calendars

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is next week?!  Where did the time go? Last year the days seemed to drag on and on, but this year the days are going by super quick. I mean, I feel like the kids just went back to school! So, since things are moving at lightning speed, and there seems to be a delay in getting deliveries thanks to all the crates being stuck just off shore, I’ve already started doing my holiday shopping.

I don’t normally buy presents this early, but since there’s no guarantee on delivery dates and the first night of Hanukkah is the Sunday after Thanksgiving (yes it’s super early this year), I jumped on those gift lists. While a few things have arrived as promised, I’ve already had some delays.  It’s seriously stressful, especially for someone like me who likes to plan.  Luckily two things were delivered on time: the boys’ advent calendars.

Yes, as an interfaith family, we always get the boys an advent calendar. It’s fun to watch them open each little door and see what treasure is hidden inside. No, they don’t get food or cocktail advent calendars. They get Lego. Of course there’s a Lego advent calendar. Actually there are several: the basic Lego City, Marvel, Star Wars and even Friends; they’re all available on Amazon.

But you didn’t come here for Lego advent calendars.  If you’re like me, you want an adult advent. Something the parents can enjoy after the kids are in bed. Well, I’ve got you covered. There are so many food and liquor options out there, it’s hard to choose.  But I’ve narrowed it down to some of my favorites that are still available and you can get by December first… if you act fast.

Let’s start with coffee since that’s how we all start our day. If you’re like me and can’t start your days without a cup of joe, and the coffee companies know it! The biggest surprise is that none of these coffee advents come from the big coffee franchises like Peet’s or Starbucks. Instead they come from Keurig (who we love and use every single morning) and Bean Box, a wonderful coffee service that sells beans from all over the world.

If you prefer tea over coffee, don’t worry, there’s an advent calendar for you as well. There are actually several. No matter if you like matchta, green or caffeine-free, loose leaf or bag, there’s a tea advent out there. I’m a big fan of loose leaf and herbal teas, so I like the 24 Reasons to Smile from T2.

You know the holidays have officially started when peppermint bark appears. While it seems every department store and coffee shop have their own version, the best is still the classic from Williams Sonoma. And since their bark is such a big seller, the cookware company came out with their own Advent Calendar that’s full of the yummy peppermint-laced chocolates. But unlike the tins which are full of odd shaped pieces, the calendar has cute little snowmen, toy soldiers, Christmas trees and Santas all made out of that delectable holiday treat.

To keep with the candy theme, Sugarfina has their own advent calendar as well. I love Sugarfina. Their champagne gummies are some of my favorite gummies out there. But they have all sorts of tasty nibbles if you prefer to drink your champagne as opposed to eat it. If there’s a candy you like, they’ve got it from chocolate to cordials to their famous gummies, and they’re all included in this delicious advent!

All those sweets need something to sip with them, right? After all, there’s nothing’s better with a piece of chocolate than a nice glass of port. So, for every chocolate or candy advent, there’s an alcoholic version. From beer to wine to whiskey, if there’s a specific type of liquor you like to imbibe, there’s an advent for it.

For the beer lovers out there, why not try the 12 Beers of Christmas Beer Box. The plus with this box, is unlike most alcoholic advents, this one comes with 12 ounce cans plus a few little extra goodies. I know it’s only 12 beers as opposed to 24, but at $95 for the box, that’s  still enough to take you right up to Christmas.

But if you’re like me and prefer wine to beer, there’s a box that has everything from chardonnay to a rich port. The calendar from In Good Taste, comes with 24 bottles that each hold 187 ml. That’s enough for about 1.5 glasses of wine, which means you can have a glass of wine with dinner every night through Christmas!

If you’re looking for something a little harder, there are plenty of liquor advents out there. But the one I found the most intriguing was the gin & tonic advent from the guys at Fever Tree. Now, I’ve never been a G&T fan myself because I’m not a tonic fan. Too bitter. But then I tasted Fever Tree’s flavored tonics and I was hooked! Now I’m more than happy to have a gin & tonic as long as it’s made with one of their flavored options. That’s why I love this advent so much. It’s one of the few out there that is a cocktail advent. See, you’re not just getting bottles and bottles of hard liquor. You’re getting both bottles of gin and cans of Fever Tree’s most popular tonic. This advent is a great way to try new gins and mix and match your favorite tonic. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a new combination that will be your goto through the holidays and beyond.

You may have noticed that the price point for these calendars has been increasing as we’ve moved from toys to coffee to chocolate and finally to liquor. But this last advent is for the person who has everything and money is no object.  They also need to love whiskey. And I mean LOVE! Clocking in at $18,999.99, the Very Old and Rare Whiskey Advent from Cask Cartel, may be the most expensive food related advent out there. But tell me you’re not intrigued. I would love to try just one of the days, wouldn’t you? So, if you end up purchasing this calendar, please, DM me and let me know how it is.

Hope this helps with your advent shopping this year. Remember order soon, so you’ll have it by December 1st. Cheers!