JFK/Ben Gurion Duty Free?

[Ruby K]

Hey all,

anyone been through JFK or David Ben Gurion (TLV) lately? I have a few friends going to and fro and can probably pick up something, but not big bourbon folks so i'd need to get fairly specific.

The other side of this is what would people who've seen it in the duty free say is a good price for stuff like WT8 or Blanton's From the Barrel? My bourbon budget is still frozen, though I may have at least stumbled on some temp work to get me one bottle.

thanks!

[bonneamie]

I've been through Ben Gurion and as I recall there wasn't much of a bourbon selection. Lots of JB and a decent price on a WT.However the problem is if your friends are connecting to another flight at JFK they'll have carry-on liquid in bottles.

[Ruby K]

They won't be connecting, they're on a round trip direct from JFK to Ben Gurion.

[bonneamie]

I'm at work now but I'll check when I get home to see if I still have my notes about what was available and post later. I didn't get anything because I did have a connecting flight. In Israel at the one shop I went into that had bourbon it was extremely overpriced. Good local wine, tho

[Ruby K]

thanks bonneamie! looking forward to it. And yeah, Israel's definitely got some solid local wine. And also, I know bourbon's pretty tough to come by in general in the country... i'm thinkingo f sending my friends back with some.

anyone else? got any thoughts on JFK or how much a bottle of WT8 should be (if they're still around)?

[OscarV]

Getting liquids thru customs is no problem.

Just hide it in the middle of about 20 kilos of cocaine and you are home free.

[GOCOUGS2002]

Getting liquids thru customs is no problem.

Just hide it in the middle of about 20 kilos of cocaine and you are home free.

Word on the street is black tar heroin works better than cocaine...

[bonneamie]

I found my notes!! I flew out of Newark where there was, accordiing to my notes, too much JD, JBW for $14, JBB for $22. Bulleit 90 proof for $28, WT8yo for $21, and Woodford Reserve, no price noted (these are all litre bottles). At Ben Gurion (at 3 am) I noted JBW no price and WT8yo for $38. That same WT8yo was available in the little store in Jerusalem for 289 NIS or about $70. So, moral of the story, buy it here. Hope this helps.

[Avi]

I flew out of Ben Gurion Airport in December back to JFK. There was some new idiotic rule posted declaring that you can't bring any spirits into airports there and so they wouldn't permit me to purchase any whiskey or wine at the duty-free. The wines there are really good and so I was disappointed that I couldn't bring any back. The bourbon selection is very limited, though the Scotch offerings weren't bad (eg. two bottles of Glenfiddich 12 for $80 if you consider that good.)

I just got back from Ireland late last week...left from Shannon Airport...and they did allow me to purchase whiskey. They make the purchased bottles available to you just as you get to security. I assume the same is now the case at Ben Gurion Airport as it's insane not to follow that policy.

[Ruby K]

Thanks for the helpful info, folks!

Avi, where in westchester are you?

[Avi]

I'm in Somers...up in the north of the County.