Advent calendars have come a long way from the traditional little chocolates hidden behind cardboard doors. These days, you can find an advent calendar for almost every interest, from craft beer and wine to gourmet cheese, hot sauces, and cocktails. And some of them make rather impressive Christmas gifts!
If you are looking for something a little different for your partner this year, I have been exploring unusual advent calendars for him on Amazon. Some delicious and unusual options turn the countdown to Christmas into a daily discovery.
Whether you enjoy sampling interesting spirits, discovering new wines, experimenting with cocktails or love good food, there is something here worth opening.
Of course, I started my search with spirits. Whisky advent calendars are already a firm favourite, but I was particularly interested in finding tequila and cognac advent calendars. With tequila becoming increasingly popular worldwide, I think a dedicated tequila advent calendar would be a fantastic addition to the market. Sadly, I couldn’t find one on Amazon UK while I as searching. Cognac lovers are also missing out on this particular Christmas treat!
Also Read: The Best Alcohol Free Spirits
Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives. From spiced rums and unusual gins to port, wine, and craft beer, there are plenty of ways to discover something new. I’ve also included a few options for food lovers, including a hot sauce advent calendar and a rather tempting cheese and chutney combination.
I’ve added a gift pairing to each selection, too. After all, why not turn an interesting advent calendar into a more complete Christmas gift?
Here are nine delicious and unusual advent calendars for him to explore this Christmas.
Unusual Advent Calendars For Him
1. Wine and Sparkling Wine Advent Calendar
A lovely Christmas gift for wine enthusiasts, this wine and sparkling wine advent calendar offers a selection of miniature bottles to enjoy throughout the festive countdown.
The collection includes different styles, from sparkling wines to full-bodied reds. This will give you a chance to explore a variety of wines and find something to suit different moods and occasions. It is a particularly good choice for someone who enjoys trying different bottles rather than sticking to the same familiar favourites.
Gift pairing: Pair the calendar with these elegant Villeroy & Boch NewMoon wine glasses. The modern, unconventional design features an asymmetrical rim for a distinctive look. They are a stylish addition to any wine lover’s collection and make the daily tasting experience feel a little more special.
2. Spiced Rum Advent Calendar
If rum is more your style, this rum advent calendar offers a great way to explore the world of spiced rum. Curated by Drinks by the Dram, the collection features 25 different spiced rums from producers around the world. Names to watch include Chairman’s Reserve, Langs, Rumbullion and Project #173.
Spiced rum can offer an interesting range of flavours, from vanilla, caramel and warming spices to tropical fruit and richer, darker notes. With 25 different miniatures to discover, this calendar could introduce you to a few new favourites before Christmas arrives.
Gift pairing: Add a little reading material to the gift with Forrester’s Rum Compendium by Chris Forrester. This accessible guide explores how rum is made, traces its history and looks at the traditions and production differences that give individual rums their distinctive character. It is a thoughtful addition for someone who wants to learn more about the spirit while enjoying their daily tasting.
Also Read: 5 Best Blended Whisky to Buy
3. World Craft Beer Advent Calendar
Not everyone wants a miniature spirit every day in December. For the beer enthusiast, a world craft beer advent calendar is an excellent alternative.
This collection brings together beers from different breweries and brewing regions, offering an opportunity to discover new producers and styles. You can expect a varied selection, including hop-forward IPAs, crisp lagers, refreshing pale ales, and other craft beer favourites. It is a fun way to explore the international craft beer scene.
Gift pairing: Beer and snacks are a natural combination. Add a selection of smoked mixed nuts for an easy pairing on those December evenings. The smoky, savoury flavours should work particularly well alongside fuller-bodied ales and darker beers.
4. That Boutique-y Gin Company Advent Calendar
For gin lovers who enjoy experimenting with unusual flavours, this advent calendar looks like a particularly interesting choice. Inside are 24 gin miniatures from That Boutique-y Gin Company, featuring bold botanicals, creative flavour combinations and some rather unexpected creations.
The flavour selection includes Sticky Mango, Chocolate Orange, Spit-Roasted Pineapple, Yuzu and Lime, alongside plenty of other surprises. I like the variety here. Gin is such a versatile spirit, and exploring different botanical combinations can be a great way to discover new flavours and perhaps find inspiration for your next gin and tonic or cocktail.
Gift pairing: Add a set of attractive gin glasses to complete the gift. A good glass makes a difference to the presentation, particularly when experimenting with different garnishes and mixers. A useful addition you can enjoy long after the last advent calendar door has been opened.
5. Quevedo Port Wine Advent Calendar
Next on my unusual advent calendars for him list is something a little different. Why not explore the world of Portuguese port? The Quevedo Port wine advent calendar offers a festive countdown featuring miniature bottles from the family-run Quevedo winery. It is an interesting way to discover the different styles of port and enjoy a small glass during the run-up to Christmas.
Port is particularly suited to the festive season. Whether enjoyed alongside cheese, chocolate or a traditional Christmas pudding, it is a wonderful after-dinner drink.
Gift pairing: I thought this traditional nutcracker would make a fun addition to the gift. It also ties in nicely with the nutcracker design of the advent calendar packaging. A small Christmas decoration you can bring out year after year.
6. Laithwaites White Wine Advent Calendar
Another option for wine lovers is the Laithwaites White Wine Advent Calendar. This calendar features 23 award-winning miniature bottles of wine, followed by a full-sized 750ml bottle of Prosecco on the final day. What better way to finish the countdown than by opening a bottle of bubbly to share on Christmas Eve?
The selection explores different grape varieties, styles and wine-producing countries. From oaky Chardonnays and crisp Sauvignon Blancs to even a festive white port, there should be plenty of variety to keep things interesting.
Gift pairing: I came across this rather unusual wine accessory and thought it would make a fun addition to the calendar.
Inspired by the legend of King Arthur and the Sword in the Stone, the Excalibur wine corkscrew looks like a sword emerging from a stone base. It’s a conversation starter that turns the simple act of opening a bottle of wine into a little Christmas theatre.
7. Letterbox Cocktails Advent Calendar
For anyone who enjoys a well-made cocktail, this is a fun way to bring a little bar experience home. The Letterbox Cocktails Christmas Advent Calendar contains 12 individual 100ml bottles, with one cocktail for each of the first 12 days of December. It is a slightly different take on the traditional 24-day advent calendar, but one that could be particularly appealing to cocktail enthusiasts.
The selection includes classics and festive twists such as Gingerbread Whiskey Sour, Pornstar Martini, Blood Orange Martini, Blackberry Bramble and an exclusive Christmas Cosmopolitan. The cocktails are freshly made in the UK using real spirits and quality cocktail ingredients. Simply chill, pour and enjoy.
Gift pairing: A cocktail shaker kit is an excellent excuse to upgrade your home bar. Add this cocktail-making kit with a shaker, jigger, bar spoon and strainer. It gives the recipient the equipment to experiment with their own creations and continue making cocktails throughout December and beyond.
8. Gourmet Hot Sauce Advent Calendar
Not every advent calendar needs to contain alcohol! I came across this hot sauce advent calendar and immediately thought of my husband, who is a big fan of chilli and spicy food.
Inside are 25 individually packed gourmet surprises, including sauces, oils, rubs and chilli flakes. The collection takes inspiration from international flavours, with a range of smoky, sweet, tangy and fiery profiles.
For someone who enjoys experimenting in the kitchen and adding a little heat to their meals, this could be a particularly enjoyable Christmas countdown. It is also a great way to discover new chilli sauces and ingredients without buying full-sized bottles of everything.
Gift pairing: Keeping with the chilli theme, these fun drinking glasses make an unusual addition to the gift. They are a playful way to continue the spicy theme and would look rather good alongside a collection of hot sauces.
9. Luxury Chutney and Cheese Advent Calendar Bundle
Last but not least on my unusual advent calendars for him list, something for the serious food lover! This luxury gift bundle combines two advent calendars in one, making it a particularly tempting option for anyone who enjoys putting together a good cheeseboard. The cheese advent calendar contains 24 individually wrapped cheeses, while the accompanying preserves calendar features 24 miniature jars of jams, chutneys and marmalades.
It is a lovely way to explore different flavour combinations throughout December. You can experiment with matching different cheeses to the preserves, discovering which sweet, savoury and tangy combinations work best together. It also makes a nice change from the usual chocolate advent calendar.
Gift pairing: Complete the gift with a bamboo cheeseboard. This natural bamboo board has a smooth finish and provides a practical way to serve the cheeses and preserves as you work your way through the calendar. It is an especially good addition for someone who enjoys entertaining, hosting friends or putting together a relaxed weekend cheeseboard.
Final Thoughts
Advent calendars have evolved into something much more interesting than the traditional chocolate-filled cardboard boxes we grew up with. Today, options exist for almost every taste and interest, and these unusual advent calendars for him on Amazon make fun and unusual Christmas gifts.
Whether you choose a spiced rum or gin collection, explore different wines and craft beers, or opt for something completely different like hot sauce or gourmet cheese, the idea is the same: a little surprise to look forward to each day.
Personally, I love the idea of an advent calendar that encourages you to discover something new. It is not just about the gift itself, but about the experience of trying different flavours, finding new favourites and perhaps discovering something you would never have picked up otherwise.
And I still think there is an opportunity waiting for someone to create a really good tequila or cognac advent calendar. With growing interest in tequila and the established appeal of cognac, I suspect plenty of enthusiasts would be interested in exploring those spirits one miniature at a time.
Until then, plenty of delicious alternatives are available. Which one would you most like to find behind your advent calendar door this Christmas?
Also Read: The Best Speyside Whisky
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