USA TODAY International Edition
Duty- free spirits: Not free but exclusive
Some of the best deals to be found on spirits are in duty- free stores. This is not necessarily because of the lack of duty – in fact, you can often find cheaper bottles of popular products at local liquor stores or online. But spirits brands often release travel retail exclusive offerings, and for aficionados of fine whiskey, vodka, cognac, tequila or gin, that’s where the value lies.
“Global travel retail is a $ 65 billion industry, with some 1.1 billion customers,” says John Kilmartin, vice president, Global Travel Retail at Patrón Spirits International. The duty- free shopping concept was born in 1947 in Ireland, when the first kiosk opened at Shannon Airport. The industry has grown so large that if global travel retail were a country, it would be Patrón’s secondbiggest market, according to Kilmartin.
“Travel retail provides a unique opportunity for brands to engage with consumers from across the globe,” he says. That’s where the travel retail exclusive concept comes in. Yes, it’s a marketing ploy, but it’s also a chance to try that particular 12- year- old whiskey aged in two different casks with just a hint of peat that you’ve been dreaming about. Plus, the packaging often looks impressive, which means travel retail exclusive spirits make great gifts for whomever it is you are going to visit.
Here are some of the travel retail exclusive spirits that are available around the world.
The ever- popular Jameson Irish Whiskey launched a travel retail exclusive last year called the Deconstructed Series ($ 42). This trio of whiskeys focuses on the elements that go into classic Jameson: Bold, Lively and Round.
Craigellachie’s 19 Year Old expression ($ 154) is available only in travel retail. This Speyside single malt is light in color but bold in flavor, with hints of pineapple and spice.
Tullamore D. E. W.’ s Cider Cask whiskey ($ 25) is infused with flavors of apple and toasted oak and is a travel retail exclusive.
The Balvenie has a Triple Cask series of single malts that are available only in travel retail. It is available as a 12 Year ($ 75), 16 Year ($ 105), and a 25 Year ($ 450).
Jack Daniel’s, one of the best- selling whiskeys in the world, has its own travel retail exclusive. Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel 100 proof ($ 54.99) has a higher ABV than regular Jack.
uBelvedere Intense comes as a one- liter bottle ($ 59), instead of the usual 750 ml. It also is higher proof than regular Belvedere, at 50% ABV, which is said to enhance the flavor of the Dankowskie rye from which it’s distilled.
uMuch of the single malt scotch you’ll find in liquor stores is chill- filtered, purely for cosmetic reasons — this prevents it from becoming cloudy when cold. But this 12- year- old Glen Grant travel retail exclusive ($ 40) is not. That means that the fatty acids that provide the whisky with some of its flavor remain.
uHibiki Japanese Harmony is a blend made with whisky from Suntory’s Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita distilleries. The Master’s Select expression from Hibiki ($ 85) is made from at least 10 whiskies, with a focus on sherry flavors and a spice on the finish.
uThe Laddie Eight ($ 68) from