Store focus
Amsterdam Schiphol airport
Holland’s main international gateway has developed a well-earned reputation for offering customers excellent value.The Dutch airport has recently expanded its whisky offer with the opening of a new specialist 88sq m whisky and cigar store. The shop is located in Schiphol’s Schengen lounge and about 35 per cent of its floor space has been dedicated to whisky.Unusually for an airport store it boasts some high-tech features such as touch-control plasma screens, which offer customers extra information about whiskies and cigars and even short video clips on promoted brands.The line-up of whiskies includes some rare items such as Girvan 1964 single grain, Ladyburn 1973, Balvenie Cask 191 50 Years Old, and Glenfiddich 50 Years Old.Top-selling whiskies include Balvenie 12 Years Old, The Famous Grouse, Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Glenfiddich Tube and Talisker 18 Years Old.The main drawback to the new outlet is that Dutch licensing laws forbid tasting promotions forcing concessionaire KLM Tax Free Services to rely on straightforward price discounts.Promotions do offer good value, however.Current duty-free deals offer savings of 40-50 per cent on Dutch prices and include 1-litre of Johnnie Walker Black Label for 23.50 (£16.10), 1-litre of Glenmorangie 10 Years Old at 24 (£16.45), and1- litre of Jim Beam Black bourbon at 16.25 (£11.15).Best Buy
The Glenrothes 30 Years Old
The Glenrothes 30 Years Old is a one-off release and not to be missed. Since the 1980s the company has traditionally produced vintage-only whiskies, but a happy accident saw three casks originally distilled in the 1970s vatted together and then forgotten about until last year.The resulting whisky, which has been matured in both sherry and bourbon casks, exudes spices such as sandalwood and nutmeg on the nose. On the palate it is rich, dry and spicy with a medium, dry finish. It has a recommended duty-free retail price in the UK of £245. It will also be available at airports in Switzerland, Holland and Germany.Recommended
Wild Turkey Heritage Single Barrel
Wild Turkey has a track record of launching exclusive products with DFS Group, Asia/Pacific’s largest travel-retailer.Its target with exclusive products such as Wild Turkey Stampede and Freedom was the Japanese, the most important consumer group for the brand outside the United States.The new exclusive is Wild Turkey Heritage Single Barrel: a 50.5% abv bourbon which has a rich, amber colour; a rounded palate with notes of vanilla, caramel, almond and honey; and a long finish.Heritage Single Barrel will be available from DFS’ stores in Guam, New Zealand, Okinawa, Saipan, Singapore, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Hawaii.A 750ml bottle will be priced at $45 (£25.60).
Amsterdam Schiphol airport
Holland’s main international gateway has developed a well-earned reputation for offering customers excellent value.The Dutch airport has recently expanded its whisky offer with the opening of a new specialist 88sq m whisky and cigar store. The shop is located in Schiphol’s Schengen lounge and about 35 per cent of its floor space has been dedicated to whisky.Unusually for an airport store it boasts some high-tech features such as touch-control plasma screens, which offer customers extra information about whiskies and cigars and even short video clips on promoted brands.The line-up of whiskies includes some rare items such as Girvan 1964 single grain, Ladyburn 1973, Balvenie Cask 191 50 Years Old, and Glenfiddich 50 Years Old.Top-selling whiskies include Balvenie 12 Years Old, The Famous Grouse, Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Glenfiddich Tube and Talisker 18 Years Old.The main drawback to the new outlet is that Dutch licensing laws forbid tasting promotions forcing concessionaire KLM Tax Free Services to rely on straightforward price discounts.Promotions do offer good value, however.Current duty-free deals offer savings of 40-50 per cent on Dutch prices and include 1-litre of Johnnie Walker Black Label for 23.50 (£16.10), 1-litre of Glenmorangie 10 Years Old at 24 (£16.45), and1- litre of Jim Beam Black bourbon at 16.25 (£11.15).Best Buy
The Glenrothes 30 Years Old
The Glenrothes 30 Years Old is a one-off release and not to be missed. Since the 1980s the company has traditionally produced vintage-only whiskies, but a happy accident saw three casks originally distilled in the 1970s vatted together and then forgotten about until last year.The resulting whisky, which has been matured in both sherry and bourbon casks, exudes spices such as sandalwood and nutmeg on the nose. On the palate it is rich, dry and spicy with a medium, dry finish. It has a recommended duty-free retail price in the UK of £245. It will also be available at airports in Switzerland, Holland and Germany.Recommended
Wild Turkey Heritage Single Barrel
Wild Turkey has a track record of launching exclusive products with DFS Group, Asia/Pacific’s largest travel-retailer.Its target with exclusive products such as Wild Turkey Stampede and Freedom was the Japanese, the most important consumer group for the brand outside the United States.The new exclusive is Wild Turkey Heritage Single Barrel: a 50.5% abv bourbon which has a rich, amber colour; a rounded palate with notes of vanilla, caramel, almond and honey; and a long finish.Heritage Single Barrel will be available from DFS’ stores in Guam, New Zealand, Okinawa, Saipan, Singapore, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Hawaii.A 750ml bottle will be priced at $45 (£25.60).
