Craft spirits continue to be as popular as ever, and what better way to find your new favourite brand than with a seasonal taster set? Behind each of the 24 doors is a 3cl miniature bottle of gin, and the brands range from big names such as Hendrick's to small-batch producers, including UK-based Two Birds and Wisconsin's Death's Door Spirits.
Yes, you read that right – this is not merely an advent calendar but an advent village; 24 individual mini-houses, hand-painted by makers East of India, lined up tastefully in a wooden frame. A charming aesthetic addition to any house this Christmas, each house can be filled with a tiny gift, toy or tasty treat.
East of India Advent Village, Harrods, £49.95; Harrods.com
Eclectic Little Luxuries
Doing what it says on the tin (or box), Selfridges' very own Eclectic Little Luxuries bring you a range of products from Lancome, Viktor & Rolf and Urban Decay, along with Keihl's and Yves Saint Laurent. From mascaras to moisturisers, this advent calendar is packed to the brim with more than enough to ensure you sail through the Christmas party season.
Selfridges Eclectic Little Luxuries, £95; Selfridges.com
Biscuiteers Advent Biscuit Tin
While you may not necessarily expect to see them in your average advent calendar, biscuits are classic Christmas fare. Biscuiteers makes some of the best, and for the occasion it has created a quirky, circus-themed collection decorated as an array of colourful characters, from a dancing poodle to acrobats. It comes in an equally beautiful tin, and if you feel like splashing out, the company has teamed up with interiors expert Susie Watson to create an embroidered cloth calendar to hang in the home.
Biscuiteers Advent Biscuit Tin, £48, with cloth calendar £99; biscuiteers.com
Wedgwood Advent House
Another unique take on the traditional design, Wedgwood Advent House is a carefully crafted work of art disguised as an advent calendar.
Shaped with laser-cutters "to imitate the refined look and graceful lines of the Georgian architecture which inspired its design", this model house has been lovingly hand-painted to create a classy Christmas calendar full of beautiful porcelain ornaments in individual pouches.
Ceramic manufacturer Villeroy & Boch has taken the advent calendar to a new, minimalist level - with no gifts.
Yes, the pleasures of its 2016 Christmas offering are derived entirely from its aesthetic design, which features 24 ornate porcelain drawers made by hand. For those who want a beautiful framework to house their own customised treats, Villeroy & Boch has got you covered.
Liquorice may be something of an acquired taste, but this is the ideal option for those who love its distinctive flavour. It's well known that Scandinavia turns out some of the finest examples of this confectionery, and the Danish Lakrids is among the best of the bunch. Each day you can sample another of the company's playful flavours, including chocolate, mint and blackcurrant.
Lakrids Liquorice Advent Calendar, £34.95; souschef.co.uk
Fortnum's Wooden Tea Advent Calendar
This set embodies the quintessential Englishness of this shopping institution. Hidden behind each door of this quaint, handcrafted wooden calendar is a selection of rare teas sourced from India and the Far East. Varieties include Ceylon, Darjeeling and Lapsang Souchong, as well as two dramatic flowering teas, Jasmine Fairy and Double Dragon Pearl, which open to reveal a hand-sewn flower when prepared in boiling water.
From British make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury comes this cornucopia of beauty products sure to excite anyone who enjoyed her indulgent 2015 advent calendar: the Book of Makeup Magic. Using a stylish fold-out cabinet design, this year's twelve assorted products await, ranging from mini versions of Magic Cream and Multi Miracle Glow to full-sized lip gloss and eyeshadow.
Drinks by the Dram have unleashed one of the most wonderfully decadent whisky-based advent calendars we've ever seen. Compiling 24 different whiskies from all over the globe in 30ml measures, the calendar brings you the rarest imports from Japan, the smoothest bourbons from the US and single malt scotches dating back 60 years. If your only request for the Christmas period is "I wish I had a hand-crafted box containing the finest whiskies known to mankind", Drinks by the Dram have you covered – but the calendar does come with a hefty price tag.
The Very Old and Rare Whisky Advent Calendar, £9,999.95; from Amazon
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