Review: Flaviar Whiskey Advent Calendar 2025

Any spirits fan knows that Advent calendars are popular holiday offerings, a handy way for spirits fans to get their hands on single-serve size bottles of a products they probably wouldn’t ordinarily purchase — or, more to the point, have someone purchase for them.

Flaviar is the first merchant out of the gate this year, with this impressive set of 24 whiskeys from around the world, each appearing in a 50ml vial. Keyed to a flight/travel theme, the ornate box contains 24 semi-surprise whiskeys, two Glencairn glasses, and a detailed “tasting passport” with production information and for you to record your thoughts along the way. (Your purchase also comes with a membership to Flaviar Black, if that strikes your fancy.)

As noted, the 24 whiskeys include are indeed representative of the world, and it’s really up to the drinker to decide how much to keep it all a secret. The door for each vial contains only an airport code to clue you in as to what’s in store. While DUB and PDX may well give away that you’re about to drink Irish and Oregon whiskey, respectively, more obscure codes like BFS and KIX may have you guessing as to what’s behind the cardboard flap. Not interested in surprises? The entire list of whiskeys is detailed on the reverse of the box, so you don’t even need to open the door to know what you’re getting. The question is, how well can you keep a secret to yourself?

As with all Advent-style collections, the selection varies widely, and while there are a few fairly tame offerings in the mix (SirDavis, Loch Lomond 12 Years Old), I expect most of these whiskeys will be new to most recipients of the kit (Bhakta 1928, Westward Stout Cask, New Riff Malted Rye). Some were entirely new to me, even, including Kujira Kyojin rice whiskey from Okinawa, Hai Seas Chinese whiskey, and Kyro Wood Smoke Rye from Finland. I didn’t absolutely love every whiskey in the kit, but I did appreciate their inclusion and enjoyed revisiting some old friends in between sipping the new stuff.

At $270, you’re paying just over $10 per sample, which seems wholly reasonable; buy two or more and they’re $235 each. I’d order soon to avoid a sellout and so you can have delivery before the first of December. It’s an Advent calendar, after all, not a drink-after-Christmas calendar.

A / $270 [BUY IT NOW FROM FLAVIAR]

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