Nice Scotch to buy, SYD - Return, Duty Free

[Oneworldplus2]

Hi All,
I will be able to purchase Duty Free on my return to Oz this upcoming week. (BUD-LHR-BKK-SYD sectors).

My budget is $200-$400
Was thinking of going for a JW Blue in SYD Airport, haven't looked at BKK if it's cheaper, anyone done Duty Free shopping at BKK airport? Is it possible, to buy and board?
SYD Duty FREE - JW BLUE - $175 - 750ml *2

I have tried JW Blue (nice drop), but have also heard other people comment on Chivas 18 y.o. which is cheaper, and just as good.

So, my question to all the drinkers on this forums, what would you recommend?

Thanks in advance, l might not be able to respond for a few days, due to travel here in Europe.

Oneworldplus2

 

[gumpy]

Hi All,
I will be able to purchase Duty Free on my return to Oz this upcoming week. (BUD-LHR-BKK-SYD sectors).

My budget is $200-$400
Was thinking of going for a JW Blue in SYD Airport, haven't looked at BKK if it's cheaper, anyone done Duty Free shopping at BKK airport? Is it possible, to buy and board?
SYD Duty FREE - JW BLUE - $175 - 750ml *2

I have tried JW Blue (nice drop), but have also heard other people comment on Chivas 18 y.o. which is cheaper, and just as good.

So, my question to all the drinkers on this forums, what would you recommend?

Thanks in advance, l might not be able to respond for a few days, due to travel here in Europe.

Oneworldplus2

I'd recommend JW Gold. My favourite duty free scotch.

Yes you can buy in BKK you just pick it up at the gate from memory... (90% sure you can from BKK my memory is a bit fuzzy because the last time I was there I got home via HKG so I did most of the buying in HKG)

Back to the scotch, if you drink JW Gold and Blue side by side you'll realise gold is very very good. Then when you take into account the fact that it is over 50% cheaper... yeah...

Not sure if the offer is available in BKK but if you buy over 200 of JW stuff in SYD you get a free cabin roller bag.

 

[serfty]

Be very careful about BKK. My last time though there bags were searched at the gate.

Unless they have implemented a gate delivery scheme it may not be possible.

Always ask before buying.

 

[Dyslexic traveler]

A good single malt is the only scotch you should ever drink it's what god drinks Glenfiddich 30 year old would be a good start Or for the cold highland nights a TalIsker 25 year old

 

[Sprucegoose]

A good single malt is the only scotch you should ever drink it's what god drinks Glenfiddich 30 year old would be a good start Or for the cold highland nights a TalIsker 25 year old

+ 1 there. Single Malt at the very least.

 

[bigjobs]

lol at JW being decent scotch.

as suggested, single malt is the only way to go. Speyside or Highland single malts are wonderful. as you are purchasing tax free get a good 20 or 30 yo bottle. Glenfiddich, Glenfarclas, Glenmorangie are all good places to start.

A'bundah is wonderful and if you like your scotch strong, try some Laphroaig 'Cask Strength' if you can find it - its labelled cask strength.

 

[Sifor]

I find JW to be suitable for a "casual" drink with friends. For a real tasting session I'd much rather spend $175 on an independent single malt. While Glenfiddich in my opinion is good, I have a soft spot for the independent distillers - Glenfarclas is superb and my favourite.

May I draw your attention to this youtube channel.Ralfy does excellent Scotch reviews, I highly recommend you seek out his review before purchasing any decent bottle over $100!

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Thank you for the replies.

 

[gumpy]

ah single malt snobs...

 

[medhead]

Blended whiskey will be more consistent in taste year to year whereas single malt will have good and bad years. blended whiskeys can change the blend to account for a bad year for a particular single malt.

Having said that I would buy either a blended Irish whiskey, ie jamiesons or bush mills over a blended Scottish one or one of the single malts already mentioned.

 

[Sifor]

ah single malt snobs...

I think everyone needs to keep in mind that it doesn't matter what whisky, be it Scotch, Canadian, Australian, American, Irish or whatever, blended, single malt, malt blend, water or no water, ice slushy or coke, as long as it tastes good and you enjoy it that's the main thing.

Sometimes I have fun and blend some of my single malts together - bit of Glenfarclas, Talisker, Aberlour and Arbeg, interesting what you can come up with!

 

[Dyslexic traveler]

That's no how you make Scotch or porridge Sifor

 

[YQY]

lol at JW being decent scotch.as suggested, single malt is the only way to go. Speyside or Highland single malts are wonderful. as you are purchasing tax free get a good 20 or 30 yo bottle. Glenfiddich, Glenfarclas, Glenmorangie are all good places to start.A'bundah is wonderful and if you like your scotch strong, try some Laphroaig 'Cask Strength' if you can find it - its labelled cask strength.

+1 Glenfarclas 21YO whisky - yum, you can't get it at SYD however, cheapest is at BIC Camera in Ginza.

 

[Scozzie]

lol at JW being decent scotch.

as suggested, single malt is the only way to go. Speyside or Highland single malts are wonderful. as you are purchasing tax free get a good 20 or 30 yo bottle. Glenfiddich, Glenfarclas, Glenmorangie are all good places to start.

A'bundah is wonderful and if you like your scotch strong, try some Laphroaig 'Cask Strength' if you can find it - its labelled cask strength.

JW is cooking quality IMHO...
+1 for the Laphroaig Cask Strength...an excellent drop but a bit overpowering if you are not used to Islay malts.
Another 1st class malt, reasonably priced and available duty free in Singapore, which I am currently working through at the moment is a 16 yr old Glenlivet 'Nadurra', again cask strength and at 56.2% you dont need too much!!
I also have a limited edition Port Ellen 24 yr old but at 59.4% I will have to be very canny with the measures when I eventually get around to uncorking it.

 

[NM]

It all comes down to what type of scotch do you like? There are so many different styles that its impossible to say one distillery is better than another. For me, it depends what type of mood I am in at the time. There are times when I head for a nice smooth blended whiskey, such as a JW Gold (Blue is nice but way over-priced), Chavas 18yo or a smooth mallt The Glenlivet 18yo or 21yo. But if wanting to sit and sip on a cold evening, then its got to be an Islay or maybe a Speyside (eg Talisker).

If I had that sort of money to "invest", I would heading for a Laphroaig 21yo. Or more like I would by 2 x Laphroaig 18yo .

And to all the JW-knockers, have you tried their Double Black? I was very pleasantly surprised and now rate this as a very good value whiskey. Its an interesting blend with a strong influence of smoky sources from Islay and Speyside. in my opinion, a good buy for around $60/l.

 

[TonyHancock]

+1 to the Laphroaig. Not to everyone's taste though. At the moment I'm loving the 15 year old Dalwhinnie which is so inexpensive (I paid $70 for a litre at MEL Duty Free so it has to be less elsewhere.) you might call it cheap.

[Potential life saving moment]

Whiskey = US, and Irish

Whisky = Scotch, and Canadian

[/potential life saving moment]

Personally I couldn't give a fig, and have no idea about the addition or subtraction of the e but I did once spell out Irish Whisky to an Irishman who took great offence and practically threatened to beat me to death!!! :shock:

I couldn't believe how serious he was!

 

[YQY]

Irish Whisky

is a Oxymoron.....


/ducks for cover

 

[Princess Fiona]

Personal faves are Highland Park and Isle of Jura, I usually avoid duty free and bubble wrap my bottles on the way back from GLA

 

[serfty]

Really, as a whisky sipper from way back I find it fascinating to see the brands/blends/distillers discussed.

There is no doubt a good industrial chemist could effectively produce (saleable in commercial quantities) an alcoholic liquor tasting similar to any of the aforementioned products.

 

[TonyHancock]

There is no doubt a good industrial chemist could effectively produce (saleable in commercial quantities) an alcoholic liquor tasting similar to any of the aforementioned products.

I'm sooooo pleased I didn't say that to the Irishman referred to in my previous post. I don't think I would have got out of the room alive!!!! :shock: