DIY Advent Calendar

Create Your Own Advent Calendar

Let's be honest. Most advent calendars out there are a bit ... meh. They're filled with not-so-generous, 1 oz. samples of ho-hum stuff you can buy at any nearly any corner store. Or worse, they're limited to offerings from one faceless mega-corporation, leaving out any cool indie stuff or obscure spirits you'd actually be excited to try. Not thoughtful, not generous, and boring? That doesn't sound like holiday spirit to me!

Get in the Holiday Spirit

My DIY advent calendar contains everything you need to create a custom calendar for your favorite recipient(s). The first day contains my favorite tasting glass (the Glencairn), and every day after that is an empty bottle you'll fill (and label), just for the recipient. It's a fun project for you, and an amazing gift for them.

Get Creative

You could fill every bottle in this kit with just whisk(e)y, just r(h)um, just gin, just brandy, or what-have-you. Or ... each day could be a new surprise. That's my recommendation.

Maybe December 8th is a sample of a small-batch bourbon you picked up in Louisville. December 9th is a Negroni cocktail you made ahead of time.  December 10th is a can of craft beer from the brewery they love (the slots are flexible enough that you can even take a bottle out and replace it with a 12 ounce / 330 mL can of beer, wine or cocktail). You get the idea. Mix it up!

Boy Math

Filling each bottle is easy enough, but finding the stuff to put inside might seem a challenge. One way to share the load is to find a friend who's also interested in creating a kit, and you can have a "kitting party," each bringing some bottles along. A few surreptitious "quality checks," along the way will make the filling fun.

• Make six kits. Each of the share bottles in the kit holds up to 4 ounces / 120 mL of liquid. One full size-bottle of spirit would fill 6 share bottles (720 mL / 120 = 6). Buy 23 different bottles (remember, day one is a cool tasting glass), rack up the air miles, and you're done!
• Make three kits. Some spirits are available in half-bottles containing 375 mL, which is enough to fill 3 share bottles with a teensy bit left over. This would be a great way to make 3 kits.
• Make one kit. If you have an overflowing cellar full of spirits (guilty), this is a great chance to share your wealth with someone you love and not break the bank at the bodega.

What's In The Box?

• 1x Tasting Journal of your Choice (I'll e-mail you after you order).
• 1x Bespoke Ballpoint Pen to Record Tasting Notes
• 1x Glencairn Tasting Glass: The Queen's Favorite (RIP)
• 23x 4 oz / 120 mL Bespoke Share Bottles
• 1x China Marker to Label the Share Bottles