Advent Calendar 2023
Advent Calendars
I bought a candy advent calendar for my wife and a whiskey advent calendar for me. I hope to write reviews for both every day, but I’ll give the over under at April for when I actually write it lol =P.
In previous years we got Advent calendars for the animals. Funny thing - dog Advent calendars are almost always treats, cat advent calendars are almost always toys, and horse Advent calendars… okay those don’t exist to my knowledge (or would be very expense). At the end of the day we were left with a bunch of cat toys that that the cats leave everywhere for the Roomba to eat
This year we got the Sugarfina Advent Calendar as well as the 2023 Flaviar Whiskey Advent Calendar . I was content to leave the candy to Barb and the Whiskey to me, but Barb decided she wants to try whiskey, so now I have to share. At least the calendar came with two glasses!
So anyway, hopefully soon there will be lots of links here to reviews of candy and whiskey, just because I want to do something with this site.
Day 1
Sagamore Spirit Rye
Sagamore isn’t my favorite but I certainly don’t hate it. 83 proof. It was too hot for Barb, but it seems like it was more the rye than the ethanol that she had a problem with
Chocolate Covered Cookie Dough Bites
These were pretty nice, although I would have liked more! Exactly what you would expect - tiny little chocolate balls with a cookie dough center
Day 2
J.J. Corry ‘The Hanson’
Also not my favorite, but definitely something new! 92 proof and fairly tasty. I wouldn’t say no if offered, but probably wouldn’t buy it on my own.
Cookies and Cream
Very yummy, tastes exactly what I expected them to taste like.
Day 3
Uncle Nearest 1856
I have a confession - I hate Uncle Nearest. I really, really don’t like it. I’m not a fan of those earthy flavors. Barb loved it =) 100 proof, tastes like dirt. Maybe that’s your thing, if so Uncle Nearest might be perfect for you!
Merry Berries
These are amazing so of course they’re sold out of them lol. Very similar to the raspberry candy you find in the candy store - hard outside and soft inside, except these are somehow better than what you usually get. Maybe they were just more fresh than what you usually get out of the big drum at the store.
Day 4
Starward Solera Single Malt Australian Whisky
Hoooooooollllyyyyy shiiit this is good. Aged in Apera (which apparently is Australian for sherry) casks. Very reminiscent of a sherry aged Scotch. 86 proof, which is a little lower than I usually like it, but man is this tasty and goes down very easy. The taste is very sweet and rich with lots of dark fruit flavors. This is the first bottle from the Advent calendar that I am 100% buying a bottle.
Penguin Presents
Straight up gummies in the shape of an adorable penguin holding a present. The gummies have a delightful fruity pomegranate/apricot flavor that I honestly think went quite well with the Starward.
Day 5
Black Button Pre-Prohibition Style Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Pretty good, but not as nice as the Starward. I wouldn’t turn it down, but wouldn’t seek it out either.
Raspberry Eiffel Towers
These are just adorable and taste pretty good as well (let’s be honest - kind of hard to fuck up gummies)
Day 6
Filey Bay Flagship Single Malt Whisky
This one was quite nice. I didn’t like it as much as the Starward, but overall a nice single malt. I definitely picked up on the orange peel (which is one of the flavors I like) and the sweeter fruits were very apparent.
Holiday Hearts
I’m not sure I linked the right ones here, but the ones we had smelled delightful and tasted quite nice. They are the softer, squishier type of gummy that I really like.
Day 7
Frey Ranch Bottled-in-bond Rye
Note that I couldn’t find a link for this exact bottle. This was pretty good, not my favorite rye but far from my least favorite (looking at you Balcones ). There were some caramel hints but overall very rye-ish, which Barb did not appreciate
Little Snowmen
These were adorable.
Day 8
Famous Grouse smoky Black
The first real smoky whisky. Feels like a smoky Monkey shoulder , which is to say - pretty standard entry level. Definitely had the phenols going on, which was funny because it reminded me of whatever chemical they put in the World Equestrian Center to keep the sand nice. Yay chemicals! Now where was I? Oh yeah - standard smokey scotch. Not going to smack you in the face with it, but it’s there. I thought it was okay, Barb was not a fan.
Sparkling Stars
Standard gummies. Pretty tasty.
Day 9
Stauning Rye
Another Rye! I smelled it, and didn’t even bother pouring Barb some, because I knew she’d hate it. This was an interesting experience, but I’m not sure I loved it. It was quite fun to taste a Danish rye though, not sure sure that I’ve had any whiskey from Denmark before.
Petite Strawberries
Pretty standard strawberry gummy candy
Day 10
Breckenridge Port Cask Finish Whiskey
We had a busy weekend and tried this one at the same time as the Stauning Rye, figured it was a safe bet for Barb. Nooooope! This was really intense, with lots of spicey rye notes. I thought it was okay, Barb hated it.
Riptide Raspberries
Almost exactly the same as the strawberries, but raspberry. Can’t complain
Day 11
Silkie The Legendary Dark Silkie
I have never had a peated Irish whiskey and all I can say is hoooooly shit - buckle up butter cup cuz this is going to punch you right in the back of the tongue with smokey, peaty, char. It goes on and on and on and on. I could smell the smoke, but was not prepared for how much stronger it would be on the taste. Barb took one sip and handed the rest to me. Imagine my surprise when her glass (with ice) tasted even more smokey. How the fuck does that work? I swear to you it tastes like brimstone and fire with water added. Somehow the peat flavor is more obnoxious than my bottle of Octomore 12.1 . Don’t get me wrong - the Octomore is 100% more smokey, but somehow leaves more of a charred burning flavor in my mouth.
I do like some of those funky flavors in a peated whiskey, but this wasn’t my favorite. I might pick up a bottle just to torture my friends with though.
Sprinkle Donuts
These looked really cute, but I didn’t love the taste. It wasn’t terrible, just not for me.
Day 12
Sonoma Cherrywood Smoked Rye
This was surprisingly good for a rye, lots of vanilla and fruity flavors with less of the stereotypical rye flavors
Birthday Cake Cookies
These were pretty tasty and a nice diversion from gummies. They are sugar cookie bites wrapped in white chocolate and they tasted about exactly how you would expect.
Day 13
Lochlea Our Barley Single Malt
This was delightful. Very sweet and definitely could pick out the pear flavors. One of the reviews stated that “it doesn’t have much to say” which I tend to agree with, this isn’t going to grab you by the shoulders and shake you real hard. The flavors are more subtle than a lot of single malts. I liked this one and Barb really liked this one.
Candy Cane Caramels
I love caramel and these did not disappoint, they were fantastic!
Day 14
Yellowstone American Single Malt
Another malt! Less pear than yesterday, but still there. More fruity and sweet. I didn’t realize that Yellowstone was MGP ’s in-house brand or I would have tried it earlier. Barb liked this one as well, so it’s an all around winner.
Peach Bums
No idea why these are called “bums” but these are fantastic! Apparently they are made with real peach puree and it shows in both the smell and taste. The texture isn’t chewy at all, just the right resistance as you bight through. We really loved these, enough to want to get some more
Day 15
Bushmills 12 Year Single Malt
Another day, another single malt that Barb likes. I can’t complain. This isn’t the most complex but it was very smooth with lots of sweet flavors.
Peach Hearts
Sugarfina apparently loves them some peach. We definitely cannot complain because we love peach and these were pretty great yet again. Very peachy this time with a slightly harder chew to them than yesterday’s Peach Bums
Day 16
Ichiro Malt and Grain
Japanese whiskey can be a little sketchy a lot of it is quite nice and often is very similar in flavor to a Speyside malt and this isn’t any different. Not nearly as malty as you would expect but very fruity and sweet. Of course you know what’s coming - Barb liked this one (and I do too).
Island Pineapples
These were a very nice change of pace from all that peach! Lovely vegan pineapple gummies.
Day 17
Copper Fox Rye
Pretty standard rye. Not sure I would seek it out with all the fantastic ryes out there, but it was fun to try. Barb was indifferent because she has a head cold and couldn’t taste anything.
Banana Gummies
These were adorable banana shaped gummies with a fantastic banana flavor.
Day 18
Naked Malt
This was delightful surprise. The tasting notes list smoky but this is probably the smoothest “smoky” Scotch I’ve ever had. Even Barb liked this one. Not sure that I would go out of my way to get this, but if it was available locally it would be a great every day drinker at $40.
Apple Frogs
These were pretty adorable gummies with a great apple flavor in a cute little frog shape.
Day 19
Journeyman Fetherbond Cask Strength Bourbon
I’ll be the first to admit that my taste in whiskey is not totally rock solid. This is a pretty solid bourbon that does everything a bourbon should. Even Barb loved it!
Santa’s Trees
Another day, another gummy. These are red (raspberry) and green (apple) flavored Christmas trees. They were good, but we’re getting a little tired of gummies and wish there was more variety.
Day 20
Minor Case Rye
This was a nice, solid rye. Even Barb liked it, which is somewhat unusual for a rye.
Rainbow Bears
Another day, more gummies. The yellow ones were very intense. Not much else to say about them. Definitely burning out on gummies.
Day 21
Limavady Single Barrel Irish
Definitely not what I would think of as a typical Irish whiskey, which means I liked it. Nothing extraordinary but decent. Barb wasn’t a fan, but we couldn’t put our finger on what it was that she didn’t like.
Baby Whales
These were super cute but made me feel weird. Who would eat a baby whale? That’s just horrible!
Day 22
High Wire Distilling Jimmy Red Straight Bourbon
This was alright, but there are definitely better bourbons out there IMO
Heavenly Sours
More gummies. Didn’t make a huge impression
Day 23
Pōkeno Whisky Origin
I rather liked this one, but I don’t remember Barb being a big fan
I also forgot to save what the candy was, so all the people who don’t read this blog will be horribly disappointed with met =P
Day 24
Deer, Bear & Moose Highland 2007
We both liked this one quite a bit. Barb seems to like Highland single malts, so it wasn’t surprising that she liked this
Milk Chocolate Donuts
I couldn’t find a link for the exact ones so you get vampire donuts lol. These were pretty good and a nice change for all the goddamn gummies