The Very Old & Rare Whisky 24 Day Advent Calendar takes the traditional Christmas countdown to an extraordinary level, bringing together 24 exceptionally scarce whiskies from some of the world’s most important distilleries.
Each hand-waxed 3cl dram rests within its own compartment inside a bespoke black oak and walnut cabinet, handcrafted by British master craftsman Simon Jewell. A suede-lined drawer holds detailed tasting notes, while two Riedel whisky glasses complete the experience.
The whisky selection includes old and rare expressions from The Macallan, Glenfarclas, Highland Park, Yamazaki, Karuizawa and several lost distilleries, including Port Ellen and Ladyburn. Many of these whiskies are now extremely difficult to find as full bottles, even through specialist collectors and auctions.
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Whisky Countdown
Most whisky advent calendars provide an accessible introduction to different regions, distilleries and cask styles. The Very Old & Rare Whisky Advent Calendar has been created for a completely different purpose.
Its 24 drams have been selected from highly collectable bottles, mature single malts, historic releases and whiskies from distilleries that no longer produce spirit.
The calendar includes:
- 24 individually wax-sealed 3cl whisky samples
- Very old and highly collectable expressions
- Whiskies from Scotland and Japan
- Releases from silent and lost distilleries
- Mature single malts aged for up to 60 years
- Limited single-cask and special-edition bottlings
- A handcrafted black oak and walnut cabinet
- Two Riedel whisky glasses
- Detailed tasting notes
- Premium suede-lined presentation
This is not simply a selection of premium whisky miniatures. It is a curated journey through some of the most important names, releases and periods in modern whisky collecting.
24 Old and Rare Whiskies
The calendar features a remarkable collection of whiskies, many drawn from bottles that would be difficult for even an experienced collector to assemble individually.
The published selection includes:
- Highland Park 40 Year Old
- Glengoyne 35 Year Old in Decanter
- Talisker Bodega Series 40 Year Old
- The Half-Century Blend Batch 3
- Glenglassaugh 41 Year Old 1975, Cask 1227-1
- Bunnahabhain 40 Year Old
- Glenfarclas 1958 Family Cask, Cask 2061
- Ladyburn 40 Year Old 1974, Cask 74
- Balvenie 40 Year Old Batch 5
- The Macallan No.6 in Lalique
- Port Ellen 32 Year Old 1983, 15th Release
- Bowmore 43 Year Old 1973
- Auchentoshan 44 Year Old 1966
- The Glenrothes 1968, Cask 13504
- Karuizawa 32 Year Old 1976, Cask 6719
- Port Askaig 45 Year Old
- Port Ellen 37 Year Old 1979, 17th Release
- Glenfarclas 60 Year Old, Cask 1672
- Probably Speyside’s Finest Distillery 50 Year Old 1967
- Macallan 30 Year Old from That Boutique-y Whisky Company
- Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2012
- Glenfiddich 40 Year Old Rare Collection
- Nikka Taketsuru 25 Year Old
- Karuizawa Five Decades
Contents may occasionally change, but any replacement dram is selected to offer a comparable level of rarity, quality and value.
Whisky from Lost Distilleries
Some of the calendar’s most compelling drams come from distilleries that are no longer operating.
When a distillery closes, the remaining whisky continues to mature and enter the market through official releases, independent bottlings and private collections. As those casks and bottles are gradually consumed, surviving examples become increasingly scarce.
Port Ellen
Port Ellen Distillery closed in 1983, and its remaining whisky has become among the most sought-after Islay single malt in the world.
The calendar includes two official Port Ellen Special Releases:
- Port Ellen 32 Year Old 1983, released as part of the 2015 Special Releases
- Port Ellen 37 Year Old 1979, released as the 17th annual expression in 2017
These whiskies are known for combining mature peat smoke, coastal character, citrus, wax, oak and considerable complexity.
Tasting two different Port Ellen releases within the same collection provides a rare opportunity to compare how age, vintage and cask selection shaped this legendary Islay spirit.
Karuizawa
Karuizawa was a Japanese malt whisky distillery that closed in 2000. Its remaining stock developed a remarkable reputation through highly limited single-cask and vintage releases.
The calendar includes:
- Karuizawa 32 Year Old 1976, Cask 6719, Noh Whisky
- Karuizawa Five Decades
Karuizawa whisky is often associated with concentrated dried fruit, dark chocolate, incense, spice and powerful oak. Very limited supplies and strong international demand have made surviving bottles exceptionally collectable.
Ladyburn
Ladyburn was a Lowland malt distillery situated within the Girvan grain distillery complex. It operated for only a short period before closing in 1975.
The Ladyburn 40 Year Old 1974 from Cask 74 provides the opportunity to taste whisky from a distillery whose entire production history lasted little more than a decade.
This rarity makes surviving Ladyburn bottlings like this all the more compelling.
The Macallan and Glenfarclas Rarities
Speyside is represented by several old and highly collectable releases.
The Macallan No.6 in Lalique
The Macallan No.6 was created from whisky matured in first-fill sherry-seasoned oak casks and originally presented in a Lalique crystal decanter.
Its rich style is associated with raisins, dates, orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, dark chocolate and polished oak.
The calendar also includes a 30-year-old Macallan bottled by That Boutique-y Whisky Company, providing a second perspective on the distillery’s mature spirit.
Glenfarclas 1958 Family Cask
The Glenfarclas Family Casks series presents single-cask whiskies selected from different vintages held within the family-owned distillery’s warehouses.
The 1958 Cask 2061 release was bottled as part of the Spring 2015 collection, with only a very small number of bottles produced.
This dram offers access to Glenfarclas whisky distilled more than six decades ago.
Glenfarclas 60 Year Old
The Glenfarclas 60 Year Old from Cask 1672 is one of the oldest whiskies included in the calendar.
After six decades of maturation, the whisky offers a rare opportunity to explore the interaction between long-aged Speyside spirit, sherry-seasoned oak, dried fruit and mature wood.
Forty Years of Highland and Island Whisky
Several of the calendar’s whiskies have spent approximately four decades developing in oak.
Highland Park 40 Year Old combines mature Orkney single malt with dried fruit, dark chocolate, spice and the distillery’s characteristic aromatic peat smoke.
Talisker Bodega Series 40 Year Old was finished in historic Delgado Zuleta Amontillado sherry casks, bringing together maritime Island whisky with mature sherry, dried fruit and saline complexity.
Bunnahabhain 40 Year Old provides a more gently peated Islay experience, combining mature oak, fruit, nuts and coastal character.
Bowmore 43 Year Old 1973 offers another interpretation of long-aged Islay whisky, with smoke, tropical fruit, wax, oak and maritime notes.
These mature expressions demonstrate how peat smoke and coastal flavours can soften, integrate and evolve during extended maturation.
Old and Rare Japanese Whisky
The calendar’s Japanese selection reaches beyond Karuizawa.
Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2012
Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2012 is one of the most sought-after modern releases from Japan’s oldest malt whisky distillery.
Matured in sherry casks, it offers a concentrated profile of raisins, dark berries, chocolate, spice and oak.
Its limited release and the reputation of subsequent Yamazaki Sherry Cask editions have made surviving bottles highly desirable among collectors.
Nikka Taketsuru 25 Year Old
Nikka Taketsuru 25 Year Old is a mature Japanese pure malt created from malt whiskies associated with Nikka’s Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries.
It combines orchard fruit, dried fruit, rich malt, polished oak and gentle smoke in a whisky honouring Nikka founder Masataka Taketsuru.
Together, the Yamazaki, Nikka and Karuizawa drams offer a remarkable tasting journey through several different chapters of Japanese whisky history.
A Cabinet Handcrafted by Simon Jewell
The presentation is as exceptional as the whisky.
Drinks by the Dram commissioned British master craftsman Simon Jewell to create a bespoke cabinet inspired by antique apothecary chests.
The cabinet is handcrafted using black oak and walnut, with each calendar individually made rather than mass-produced.
Its details include:
- Black oak inlaid into walnut doors
- A distinctive tree-ring design
- Engraved stainless-steel detailing
- Push-button door catches
- Cream suede interior lining
- Individual shelving for every dram
- A strong leather carry handle
- A separate drawer for tasting notes
- A protective cover
- Two Riedel whisky glasses
The design turns the calendar into a lasting piece of furniture and whisky memorabilia rather than disposable seasonal packaging.
Once the final dram has been tasted, the cabinet can continue to be displayed or used to store whisky samples, tasting accessories or collectable miniatures.
A Complete Luxury Whisky Tasting Experience
Two Riedel glasses are included so the daily drams can be tasted properly or shared between two people.
Each 3cl sample can be enjoyed as one generous tasting measure or divided into two smaller pours.
The accompanying tasting notes provide information on the whisky, its age, distillery, cask and flavour profile, helping to place every dram within its historic context.
To explore each whisky:
- Pour the dram into a clean tasting glass.
- Allow it to rest for several minutes.
- Smell gently before taking the first sip.
- Taste the whisky neat.
- Add a few drops of water where appropriate.
- Compare the flavours with the accompanying notes.
- Allow older whiskies time to develop in the glass.
Whiskies matured for several decades can change considerably after pouring, revealing additional fruit, wax, spice, leather, smoke or oak as they are exposed to air.
What Flavours Can You Expect?
The calendar covers several decades, countries, distilleries and production styles, creating an exceptionally broad range of flavours.
Across the 24 drams, drinkers may discover:
- Maritime peat smoke and brine
- Orchard and tropical fruit
- Raisins, figs and dates
- Dark chocolate and coffee
- Vanilla and toffee
- Orange peel and citrus oil
- Rich sherry-cask fruit
- Leather and tobacco
- Cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg
- Sandalwood and incense
- Wax and polished oak
- Roasted nuts
- Long, complex finishes
The whisky ranges from smoky Islay single malt to rich Speyside sherry casks and mature Japanese releases.
A Gift for the Serious Whisky Collector
The Very Old & Rare Whisky Advent Calendar has been created for experienced enthusiasts, collectors and luxury gift buyers.
It is particularly suitable for:
- Serious whisky collectors
- Old and rare whisky enthusiasts
- Collectors of Japanese whisky
- Fans of silent distilleries
- Milestone Christmas gifts
- Luxury corporate gifting
- Major birthdays and anniversaries
- Shared tastings between experienced whisky drinkers
- Anyone seeking access to exceptionally scarce whisky
Purchasing full bottles of all 24 whiskies would require a vast budget, considerable time and access to specialist auctions or private collections.
The calendar provides measured access to each one within a single curated tasting experience.
Explore More Whisky Advent Calendars at HTFW
HTFW offers a range of whisky calendars covering different styles, experience levels and budgets.
The Old & Rare Whisky 2025 Edition 25 Day Advent Calendar provides a more accessible old and rare selection, with 25 x 3cl drams from mature, limited and collectable whiskies.
The Premium Whisky 25 Day Advent Calendar contains 25 wax-sealed 3cl samples from leading whisky producers and distilleries.
For independently bottled Scotch, the Premium Whisky Secret Spirits 25 Day Advent Calendar includes 25 full 5cl bottles, a tasting glass and a premium wooden presentation box.
The A Whisky Tour of the World 2nd Edition combines 24 x 5cl international whiskies with two tasting glasses and an illustrated guide inside a handcrafted wooden bookcase.
The Scotch Whisky 24 Day Advent Calendar offers a varied journey through Scotland’s whisky regions, while the Japanese Whisky 24 Day Advent Calendar focuses on single malts, blends and grain whiskies from Japan.
Customers can also browse the complete whisky and spirits advent calendar collection at HTFW.
Why the Very Old & Rare Whisky Calendar Stands Out
This exceptional collection offers:
- 24 individually wax-sealed 3cl drams
- Whiskies aged for up to 60 years
- Expressions from closed distilleries
- Rare Japanese whisky from Karuizawa and Yamazaki
- Two official Port Ellen Special Releases
- Mature Macallan, Glenfarclas and Highland Park
- Highly limited single-cask releases
- A handcrafted black oak and walnut cabinet
- Cream suede interior lining
- Two Riedel whisky glasses
- Detailed tasting notes
- A lasting collectable presentation piece
- A tasting line-up few collectors could assemble independently
It represents the highest level of whisky advent calendar currently available at HTFW.
Final Thoughts
The Very Old & Rare Whisky 24 Day Advent Calendar is far more than a festive countdown.
Its 24 drams tell the story of whisky through mature single malts, historic casks, lost distilleries and some of the most collectable releases from Scotland and Japan.
Port Ellen, Karuizawa and Ladyburn provide access to distilleries whose whisky can no longer be produced. The Macallan, Glenfarclas, Highland Park and Glenfiddich demonstrate the depth achieved through decades of maturation, while Yamazaki and Nikka represent the continuing global importance of Japanese whisky.
Every dram is presented within a cabinet that matches the rarity of its contents. Handcrafted from black oak and walnut, lined with suede and supplied with tasting notes and Riedel glasses, it has been designed as a lasting work of craftsmanship.
For the serious whisky collector, this is an opportunity to taste bottles that might otherwise remain sealed in private collections or appear only occasionally at auction.
Ready to experience one of the world’s most extraordinary whisky countdowns?
Shop the Very Old & Rare Whisky 24 Day Advent Calendar now at HTFW.
