The popularity of drinks-themed advent calendars continues to grow, as festive packs of wine, spirits and ready-to-drink cocktails add to the merriment of the season.
Inspired by frequent requests from customers, Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers in Beamsville has introduced its first seasonal selection, a 12 Days of Cocktailing gift pack. Dillon’s brand steward and distillery manager Whitney Rorison explains they surveyed the extensive range of offerings, from wine-specific or single spirit selections, to figure out what they wanted to package up for their first festive release. They settled on a well-rounded selection of different spirits and prepared cocktails. “It’s good for grown-ups to have a cool Advent calendar,” she says.
Growing interest in the signature cocktails Laurie Megna makes for Clarity Unruffled Cocktails, an off shoot of her family’s Twisted Lemon Restaurant & Boutique Inn in Cayuga, has seen her annual Advent Calendar inspire a collection of gift packs and new released board games called Tic Tac Toast and Clarity Jump Shot.
“I wanted to introduce some things that are fun and new,” says Megna, who launched the batch made cocktail brand launched during the pandemic to keep the business alive. “Fun is the most important part for me, I want people to have a fun experience that represents the quality of how we do things.”
Dillon’s Gift Pack Advent Calendar (12 Days) (Canada), $159.95
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The package promises an assortment of classic and clever spirits and pre-mixed cocktails made Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers in Beamsville, Ontario. Some of the surprises include a ready-made Manhattan made with Dillon’s own rye whisky, sweet vermouth and bitters and a Rhubarb Vesper that I enjoy served with sparkling wine and a twisted of lemon. Recipe cards are included to assist preparation of festive mixed drinks. Available at the above price in Ontario or direct, dillons.ca.
Holiday Season Clarity Cocktail 24-Pack Gift Boxes (Canada), $199
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Since 2021, Clarity has presented a range of house-made cocktails as an Advent selection of 24 two-ounce bottles. The selection includes proprietary whisky-based cocktails, such as the Fresno Sour and the Ron Burgundy, and riffs on classic selections, including the Negroni, Paloma and Rum Punch. This year’s offering also includes a silicone ice cube tray, coasters and a bag of the salty and tangy Lemon Pepper Twists that greet guests sitting down to dine at Twisted Lemon. Available direct, twistedlemon.ca. Shipping available in Ontario. E-mail info@twistedlemon.ca for details.
Quevedo Port Advent Calendar (Portugal), $99.95
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A festive assortment of port styles from a family-owned winery in the Douro, this includes 24 miniature (50 ml) bottles showcasing a range of aged Tawny, rosé, dry White port, Late Bottled Vintage and single vintage Colheitas. Available at the above price in Ontario and various prices in British Columbia and Alberta.
Road 13 Six Bottle Advent Calendar (Canada), $278
Oliver-based Road 13 got a boost from Last Week Tonight when host John Oliver discovered winery’s selection of wines bearing his name on a Nov. 2 broadcast. “A winery in Canada called Road 13 has a John Oliver selection of wines, and while Road 13 does sound like the address of the underfunded English orphanage where I was presumably raised, this winery and I are actually unaffiliated,” the British comedian explained on air. The winery’s labels actually honour late B.C. premier John Oliver. Those wines and other labels in its range of stylish white and robust red wines are no joke as you can sense from the six or 12 bottle ($561) assortments packaged for holiday gifting or enjoyment. Available direct at road13vineyards.com.
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