It's hard to believe this is only the second holiday season since Portland canned libation and liqueur makers Straightaway Cocktails launched their 12 Nights of Cocktails advent calendar; it has become such a staple of my gift giving. The secular countdown adapts well to any occasion—why should only Christians awaiting baby Jesus' birthaversary be able to enjoy the fun of cracking open a cardboard window for a fun surprise?Â
Furthermore, the calendar is a kind of a big, garish present that says "this is for all of you!" Yet it also fits pretty easily in a tote for travel and forthcoming grand reveal. It says: I brought a gift, and the gift is booze. There are different types for different tastes, and it's fun to open—let's drink it right now!
Straightaway's 2025 selection boasts some new flavors, three of which were initially calendar-only experiences, but all of which can now be bought on their own in four-packs. These little cans pack a punch, so I don't actually recommend drinking a four-pack of any of them in one sitting. But there are some flavors I recommend more than others, in case anyone was concerned that I was doing this company any favors. Here is a boozy advent calendar ranked and reviewed. Of course, I didn't do it all in one sitting—I did about half of it in one sitting.
1. Thai Gimlet
Imagine my rage, upon discovering that alcoholic drinks can be spicy too. Think of the nights wasted, drinking non-spicy cocktails, or worse: sipping the liquid headache that is mulled wine and thinking warming spices like cinnamon were as good as it gets. The last time I tasted something as nice as Straightaway's Thai Gimlet, was in a cocktail the downtown Vietnamese restaurant Luc Lac used to make. It involved scotch and notes of pineapple-chili, and now they act like I'm from a different dimension whenever I ask about it. Straightaway's spicy vodka gimlet doesn't have much in common with that lost drink, aside from bird's eye chili heat. The drink's flavors deepen with gingery galangal and a distinct citrus hint of tamarind. Allegedly there's coconut too, but it's so light I couldn't sense her buttery ways. Not only is this the star of the Straightaway calendar, but you can buy it in four-packs for summertime bike rides, picnics, river trips, wherever appropriate.
2. Paper Plane
Like the M.I.A. song, this one slaps. For a minute Paper Plane was an exclusive calendar cocktail, but she's already joined the Straightaway retail retinue. Made with the company's own Accompani Mari Gold Amaro, whiskey, and lemon juice there's a lot of flavors working, in company, to come to a simple, vigorous taste: appropriately bitter, pleasantly tangy, is that tea? Serve it up.
3. Last Word
Refreshing for all seasons, like the little illustrated person on its can, toasting the stars with a martini glass on some clandestine stairs. At first glance they're skiing, then I realize that might not even be snow. There's a message in a bottle? This drink holds a history, and I’m blown away by just how refreshing she lands without even a hint of mint. It's all the lime juice; in fact, I've noticed that all the Straightaway cocktails with lime juice excel. Straightaway's Accompani Flora Green Liqueur gives the gin of this drink an attractive green shade and herbaceous body. The maraschino liqueur ensures that while you could garnish with one, she brought her own.
4. Blanco Margarita
I can feel the warmth of this drink bringing me to summer days—when we could listen to neighbor gossip through the gentle breeze of open windows. There's no chili listed so it must all be coming from the blanco tequila, which connotes 100 percent agave and no added sugars. Sometimes there are pepper notes in blanco so that may be what I'm feeling. Again, the lime juice is lovely here.
5. Oregon Old Fashioned
The standard, the favorite child—Straightaway's Oregon Old Fashioned combines whiskey with filbert (the Oregonian word for hazelnut) and fir bitters, with a hint of smoke and a little simple syrup for a non-sweet, sweet finish.
6. Cosmos
Straightaway's version of a cosmopolitan tastes like dating up. She smells a little too good for me—the perfume of hibiscus syrup pushes me away, but notes of cardamom cajole me to stay. The lime juice and ginger keep me alert, and the vodka has all the tastes feeling heard. Maybe I can change her.
7. Negroni
There was a time when this peacemaker of a drink wouldn't have made my top six. She's perfectly fine; she's the parentified friend who handles it all in stride. Liked by everyone, pissing off no one—nothing is as smooth and uncomplicated as the gold negroni, and it feels almost unfair for her to be a 50 proof gin drink floating on the full, velvety flavor of amaro.
8. Nitro Espresso Martini
This espresso martini unfolds like a remix of Soap&Skin's "Me and the Devil." Wonderful starting point, will turn out differently depending on the user. Caffeine and alcohol are a tricky combination, but at the same time the actual vehicle Straightaway's Nitro Espresso Martini unfolds with a rich, chocolatey smell and tastes like a delicious sweet liqueur espresso shot. The vodka putters quietly under all, adding nothing more than perhaps a little bite. Don't threaten me with a good time.
9. Mai Tai
This candy-tasting blend of rums is another refreshing breeze, thanks to the lime juice found within. Like any drinker, I've ruined myself on a few things, but Straightaway's mai tai contains a mix of both Jamaican and West Indies rum and none of the taste that reminds me of the Halloween I fell down the stairs—over and over. Everything balances out nicely with just a hint of orange liqueur and orgeat almond.
10. ManhattanÂ
Sometimes when I've had too many old fashioneds, I get confused and order a Manhattan. It's a good thing, because I don't like them—and it shows up in a cocktail glass, confusing me—so it slows me down for a while. This whisky standard features Accompani Sweet Vermouth and bitters, yet I somehow taste the expected cherry garnish and flattering tones of lemon where there are none. In short, she's not to my tastes, but has my respect.
11. MargaritaÂ
Straightaway's marg is like its blanco, but saltier and not as hot. I'm not a margarita person so I'm a little like, why did I come?
12. Bee's Knees
Arriving with much fanfare, I am just not impressed by it-girl Bees Knees because while I don't want something too honey-sweet, this gin drink feels like it overcorrected into bitter, with too much lemon juice. I'm also not picking up on the floral notes promised from Straightaway's Accompani Blue Dorris.
Straightaway Cocktails Tasting Room, 901 SE Hawthorne, hours and more at straightawaycocktails.com, while generally closed on Mon-Tues the tasting room will be open special holiday hours this week and on Christmas Eve but closed on Christmas; Straightaway Cocktails Airport Kiosk located at PDX airport in Terminal C, daily, 8 am-8 pm.
