Something I've always been fond of during the holiday season is a good old-fashioned advent calendar. There's one for just about anything nowadays, but us smokers don't have many options. There's a few cigar advent calendars, but for pipe smokers the concept is a pipe dream. Never fear, dear reader. I've assembled a 12-day advent this holiday season to give myself something to look forward to during the normal hustle-and-bustle of the season. There's some of my favorite pipe tobaccos, a few spots for cigars for variety, and some appropriately festive smokes to mark the occasion. Welcome to the 12-Day 2025 smoker's advent calendar.

12. Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation 4 Seasons Winter Mixture

Part of 4th Generation's 4 Seasons series, their Winter Mixture is perfect for the cold of December. It's a simple straight Virginia broken flake that offers a sweet profile of hay with bright citrus and a pleasant sweetness.

• Strength: 2/5
• Room Note: 2/5
• Taste: 2/5
• Components: Virginia
• Family: Virginia
• Cut: Broken Flake

11. Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust StillWell Star Holiday 2025

The annual StillWell Star Holiday cigar combines Steve Saka's cigar-blending prowess and Jeremy Reeves' pipe-tobacco mastery for a cigar that crosses the aisle for both cigar and pipe smokers. This year's release is a 5" x 48 Parejo with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, Mexican binder, and fillers of Nicaraguan leaf as well as pipe tobacco from Cornell & Diehl. The result offers flavors and aromas that are sweet and aromatic.

• Strength: 3/5
• Length: 5.00 in./127.00 mm.
• Ring Gauge: 48
• Country: Nicaragua
• Wrapper Type: Connecticut, Shadegrown
• Wrapper Country: Ecuador
• Filler Country: Other
• Binder Country: Undisclosed
• Make: Handmade

10. Drucquer & Sons The Merry Monk

It's the season of being merry, so why not enjoy The Merry Monk. This English-style flake is composed of Red and Bright Virginias seasoned with Cypriot Latakia, piquant St. James Perique, White Burley, and Black Cavendish. Once blended, the mixture is pressed and aged in cakes before being cut into flakes, marrying the flavors for a medium-to-full-bodied smoke that offers a tangy sweetness accented with notes of woodsmoke, cream, and nuts.

• Strength: 4/5
• Room Note: 3/5
• Taste: 3/5
• Components: Virginia, Latakia, Perique, Burley, Black Cavendish
• Family: English
• Cut: Flake

9. Lost & Found The Layover Cigar

Traveling is most likely, and perhaps unfortunately, in many of our plans this holiday season. Thankfully, we have this treasure from Robert Caldwell. Developed as Caldwell's ideal travel-friendly smoke, it features a Dominican Negrito Añejado wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. It's offered in a portable 4.25" x 54 vitola and delivers the flavor of a full-sized stick but in a condensed format.

• Strength: 3/5
• Length: 4.25 in./107.95 mm.
• Ring Gauge: 54
• Country: Dominican Republic
• Wrapper Type: Negrito
• Wrapper Country: Dominican Republic
• Filler Country: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua
• Binder Country: Nicaragua

8. Royal Comfort

The holidays can be a good time to enjoy a comforting classic by the fire, or space heater for us apartment dwellers, with a dram and a good holiday album. Royal Comfort comprises aged Red Virginias, softly toasted Cavendish, and a hint of spicy Perique gently blended with notes of crisp fruit, cask-aged whisky, and earthy vanilla.

• Strength: 2/5
• Room Note: 1/5
• Taste: 3/5
• Components: Virginia, Perique, Burley, Black Cavendish
• Family: Aromatic
• Cut: Ribbon

7. Two Friends Homeward Bound

If you're homesick this holiday season, perhaps Homeward Bound will offer some comfort. This bespoke Aromatic blend of heirloom Burleys, tangy Reds, and naturally sweet Bright Virginias offers a nostalgic, old-school tobacco flavor enhanced by notes of dark stone fruits, candied tree nuts, and subtle hints of booze.

• Strength: 3/5
• Room Note: 1/5
• Taste: 3/5
• Components: Virginia, Burley, Black Cavendish
• Family: Aromatic
• Cut: Broken Flake

6. Cornell & Diehl Comfort

Another smoke for relaxing after holiday shopping, C&D's Comfort is a soothing mixture of Perique and Bright Virginias, with a touch of cube-cut Burley and Black Cavendish for a smooth, slow burning smoke.

• Strength: 3/5
• Room Note: 2/5
• Taste: 3/5
• Components: Virginia, Perique, Burley, Black Cavendish
• Family: Virginia
• Cut: Ribbon

5. Blackbird Superb Lancero

Think of warmer weather with Blackbird's Superb cigar representing the first blend with a Habano wrapper to join the brand's core lineup. It features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper draped over filler and binder tobaccos that boast a medium body, rich with flavor.

• Strength: 3/5
• Length: 7.00 in./177.80 mm.
• Ring Gauge: 38
• Country: Dominican Republic
• Wrapper Type: Habano
• Wrapper Country: Ecuador
• Filler Country: Undisclosed
• Binder Country: Undisclosed

4. HU Nashville County

I'm not sure if it's true for anyone else but I find licorice sort of nostalgic this time of year; something about its aroma is just comforting. Nashville County scratches that licorice itch with a ready-rubbed blend that combines Burley, Perique, Black Cavendish, and rich Red Virginias with subtle roasted and licorice aromas.

• Strength: 3/5
• Room Note: 3/5
• Taste: 3/5
• Components: Virginia, Perique, Burley, Black Cavendish
• Family: Burley
• Cut: Broken Flake

3. Erik Stokkebye 4th Generation Twilight Mixture

If you've got youngins in your life, then you're bound to be woken up bright and early. Twilight Mixture is the perfect start to Christmas morning. A combination of matured Virginias, vibrant Orientals, and Louisiana Perique from St. James Parish, Twilight Mixture stays true to its name by offering a complex and contemplative mixture of flavors both pleasantly sweet and provocatively dark. It's lightly pressed before being sliced and rubbed out into a convenient cut.

• Strength: 3/5
• Room Note: 4/5
• Taste: 4/5
• Components: Virginia, Perique, Orientals
• Family: Virginia
• Cut: Broken Flake

2. Peterson Nightcap

My night before Christmas is when I'm made to play Ms. Claus filling in for Santa. I'm running around dropping gifts and food off, so the niece and nephew can wake up to a bounty in the morning. Nightcap has kept me company many winter nights since its time as a Dunhill blend, and I think it's perfect for the night before Christmas. The torch is carried on by Peterson now for the same iconic blend of Virginia, Oriental, and Latakia tobaccos, presenting a smoky, delightfully satisfying mixture, with a hint of Perique added to enhance the bouquet.

• Strength: 4/5
• Room Note: 4/5
• Taste: 3/5
• Components: Virginia, Latakia, Perique, Orientals
• Family: English
• Cut: Ribbon

1. Cornell & Diehl We Three Kings

Perfect for Christmas day, We Three Kings is a lightly topped Virginia/Oriental blend, with notes of baked goods enhancing the flue-cured and sun-cured leaves' inherent sweetness and spice. A dark, confectionary tanginess mixes with richer brown sugar tones on the palate, elevated further by a slightly earthy and floral note — reminiscent of freshly baked cookies and other holiday treats.

• Strength: 3/5
• Room Note: 2/5
• Taste: 3/5
• Components: Virginia, Orientals, Black Cavendish
• Family: Aromatic
• Cut: Ribbon

There you have it, my 12-Day 2025 smoker's advent calendar. Let me know in the comments if you'll be giving my advent a try or if you'd make any substitutes. I'd also like to hear about your favorite holiday traditions in your family. Regardless, I wish you a happy holiday season full of joy and love. Happy smokes!