Duty Free options - specifically Toronto, London

[bmajazz]

I will be traveling to both Toronto and London this fall, and am curious if anyone has the latest scoop on available exclusive/overseas items, like Wild Turkey 8yo, Blanton's barrel proof, etc.

I'd also be curious about Scotches worth picking up, or maybe even one of the 12-18 yr Canadian Whiskies in Toronto.

I've been digging around the Internet, but would welcome any current insights.

Thanks!

[paddockjudge]

Hello bmajazz,

this is my first post.

I reside in Northern Ontario and have been a longtime follower of StraightBourbon.com; however, today I'm responding, hoping that I can give you a 'leg up' for your trip to Toronto.

Forty years of enduring traditional Canadian whisky has positioned me well to embrace the current 'renaissance ' in Canadian whisky that is being led by John Hall of Forty Creek and Don Livermore of Corby/Wiser's.

I believe that you should look for super-premium expressions from the above mentioned distilleries.

Forty Creek has an annual 'Reserve' very limited release, two of which are now standard offerings: Double Barrel $60 and Confederation Oak $70....also available is a sipper/mixer, FC Copper Pot $40 for a quart.

Wiser's/Corby has Lot 40 Rye (10 Years), Red Letter (13 Years) $100, and Legacy (10 Years) $50.

There will be a limited release of Forty Creek Evolution ($70) in Ontario - late September. The 'best' Toronto LCBO store is located at Summerhill and Young. Also, you can't go wrong with Wiser's Legacy, 1 liter at duty free, or 750 ml at LCBO $50 - this expression is the benchmark for Canadian whisky. Legacy is a ten year-old blend of column and pot still corn, rye, and malted barley, all aged individually in new American Oak and blended masterfully by Dr. Livermore and his talented group - absolutely delicious at 90 proof...you might want to get two.

Below is the 'old' search engine web address for LCBO - simple usage by entering into "Quick Search" window the brand name or something generic such as whisky or canadian whisky and sort by 100/page etc.

http://foodanddrink.ca/lcbo-ear/jsp/ProductSearchNonVintages.jsp?language=EN

I hope this is helpful.

Mark

[The Black Tot]

I have family in Canada and have been up there a few times this year.

I second paddockjudge's post, although I think Lot 40 is HIGHLY overrated.

My fave of the bunch would be Wiser's 18, which wasn't mentioned above. Not impossible to get in the States, so look before you go - if your local liquor store has it, then why bother, you know? Try these at home instead. Odds are they may have the 18 and the Legacy. The legacy is drier and spicier with a slightly higher proof than the 18 (don't remember the numbers). The 18 is a REALLY nice sipper with a very nice round flavor. I never tried the Red Letter @$100. The 18 is about $65.

Everything that I have tried that has been double barreled has been too sweet for me, but that's me.

If you go to one of the premium stores in Toronto (sumerhill was mentioned. The other one is on King or Front St, not sure).

No matter what, don't expect to be blown away. You're used to better selection in the states, and that's that.

While you are there though, you will have your chance to try some Cuban rum or cigars. That's the only real area I can think of where Canada has an edge.

In London, whisky stores are easy to find. Just don't rely on duty-free stores. They rarely cut the mustard with offerings you can't get at home anyway.

tbt

[paddockjudge]

I have family in Canada and have been up there a few times this year.

I second paddockjudge's post, although I think Lot 40 is HIGHLY overrated.

My fave of the bunch would be Wiser's 18, which wasn't mentioned above. Not impossible to get in the States, so look before you go - if your local liquor store has it, then why bother, you know? Try these at home instead. Odds are they may have the 18 and the Legacy. The legacy is drier and spicier with a slightly higher proof than the 18 (don't remember the numbers). The 18 is a REALLY nice sipper with a very nice round flavor. I never tried the Red Letter @$100. The 18 is about $65.

Everything that I have tried that has been double barreled has been too sweet for me, but that's me.

If you go to one of the premium stores in Toronto (sumerhill was mentioned. The other one is on King or Front St, not sure).

No matter what, don't expect to be blown away. You're used to better selection in the states, and that's that.

While you are there though, you will have your chance to try some Cuban rum or cigars. That's the only real area I can think of where Canada has an edge.

In London, whisky stores are easy to find. Just don't rely on duty-free stores. They rarely cut the mustard with offerings you can't get at home anyway.

tbt

[The Black Tot]

I'll keep my eye out for the Gibson's Rare 18. I would have bought it if I saw it when I was up there in May.

Roger on the rye forwardness of the Legacy. At the duty free in Windsor I saw liter bottles cheap.

I like liter bottles because that's usually the universal personal limit on bringing spirits into a country. I hate bringing a nice 750ml home and thinking "agh, I could have brought another 250!" 1Ls are not always an option, but I love it when they are.

I got to Texas only to find both the Legacy and the 18 on the shelf at our local Goody Goody store, a few blocks from where I was staying, and at about the same price. I also found about 4 dusty bottles of Wiser's 18 for about $30-35 each. Score.

[paddockjudge]

I'll keep my eye out for the Gibson's Rare 18. I would have bought it if I saw it when I was up there in May.

Roger on the rye forwardness of the Legacy. At the duty free in Windsor I saw liter bottles cheap.

I like liter bottles because that's usually the universal personal limit on bringing spirits into a country. I hate bringing a nice 750ml home and thinking "agh, I could have brought another 250!" 1Ls are not always an option, but I love it when they are.

I got to Texas only to find both the Legacy and the 18 on the shelf at our local Goody Goody store, a few blocks from where I was staying, and at about the same price. I also found about 4 dusty bottles of Wiser's 18 for about $30-35 each. Score.

Duty free is attractive and usually a bargain, but with regulations so tight these days it is often difficult to bring back the airport purchases unless they are purchased on the way into a visiting country and then packed with regular luggage for the return trip. The bring back limit into Canada is 1.14L (one quart) - this allows for a bottle (750) and a mickey/half-pint (375).

Definitely makes sense to buy what is not obtainable at home when abroad. On a recent visit to Houston brought back from Spec's (approx. 2 miles from Minute Maid) a bottle of Bushmill's Rare 21 Years; you just can't get this stuff in Ontario. I was hoping to get some Balcone's but passed when I saw the BM21....btw, nice score on the Wiser's 18, that's half the price we pay in the jurisdiction where it is produced.

I hope this is helping bmajazz:)

Nice chatting with you tbt.

Mark

[Mr. Bourbon]

Check out a Rye Whiskey called Wisers Small Batch...Good Canadian stuff!

[soad]

Just spent some time in Pearson and Heathrow a few weeks ago, they did have a lot of Canadian and Scotches (of which I know nothing about), the bourbon selection was very disappointing....limited to JD, Woodford and others that I can find locally.

I told my wife that if we found WT 8, we were going to be carrying a bottle or two across Europe.....she was quite happy I struck out.....

[bmajazz]

Wow, this is exactly the info I was hoping for. All the threads I had seen were several years old. This will be a great help. If I have the time, I will try to visit one of those premium stores in Toronto. Unfortunately I won't have a car, and am part of a performing show, so my options may be limited.

tbt, I was well aware of the cigar availability up north! I hadn't recalled the rum option though. I may explore that as well.

I imagine we need a duty free thread on here. I think that might be good, keeping up to date with what people are seeing. Thanks again for the options!

[paddockjudge]

Wow, this is exactly the info I was hoping for. All the threads I had seen were several years old. This will be a great help. If I have the time, I will try to visit one of those premium stores in Toronto. Unfortunately I won't have a car, and am part of a performing show, so my options may be limited.

tbt, I was well aware of the cigar availability up north! I hadn't recalled the rum option though. I may explore that as well.

I imagine we need a duty free thread on here. I think that might be good, keeping up to date with what people are seeing. Thanks again for the options!

[Smithford]

If I have the time, I will try to visit one of those premium stores in Toronto. Unfortunately I won't have a car, and am part of a performing show, so my options may be limited.

The only one you really need to visit is Summerhill, and it's right next to a subway station. Subways in Toronto are clean and safe.

I would echo pretty much everything paddockjudge wrote, except to say that IMO, Forty Creek is overrated. But hopefully you will have opportunities to taste before you buy. If you let me know where you'll be staying, I can point you toward some of our better whisky bars.

Prepare to be disappointed by our bourbon selection and shocked by our prices. There are no overseas/exclusive items to be found in Toronto, with the sole exception of Blantons Special Reserve (green label). This is just a watered down (80 proof) version of regular Blantons, and it's inexplicably $15 more expensive than the regular version.

And yes, skip Duty Free at Pearson. Nothing to see there.

London is a different story altogether. It's very Scotch focused (obviously), but if you have time to look around, you can find some pretty great bottles. Duty Free at Heathrow is amazing. Not so much for bourbon though. I think Europe and Japan get all the good stuff.

[Vosgar]

Just spent some time in Pearson and Heathrow a few weeks ago, they did have a lot of Canadian and Scotches (of which I know nothing about), the bourbon selection was very disappointing....limited to JD, Woodford and others that I can find locally.

Unfortunately I have to second Jim's comment regarding Heathrow. I was just there last month and the bourbon selection was very disappointing.

[paddockjudge]

bmajazz, I hope you aren't going all the way to the UK to purchase bourbon. Dude, when in Rome...buy some malt whisky my man.

One more for Toronto - absolutely the closest nose in a canadian whisky to a fine bourbon...that "meat" note or "supressata" as some call it, can be found in Canadian Club 20 year-old. I am not a CC fan, never have been, but the 20 yr is top shelf, especially if you allow it to open up....and only C$50!!

[tanstaafl2]

In my limited duty free experience bourbon options have almost always sucked. If you aren't able to explore shops out in the town you are in your choices are severely limited and often that is true for all categories, not just for bourbon.

I am passing through Amsterdam next month so I would be curious to hear if anyone has any recent experience there. Not really expecting anything exciting in bourbon or American whiskey in general but I am more than happy to browse through pretty much all spirits categories (other than vodka which doesn't interest me at all) if there is something interesting to be had. My expectations are pretty low. Just passing through though so no time to explore outside the airport.

[The Black Tot]

In my limited duty free experience bourbon options have almost always sucked. If you aren't able to explore shops out in the town you are in your choices are severely limited and often that is true for all categories, not just for bourbon.

There is one duty free concept that I should mention to SB members.

For Americans flying out of country, if you can work it so that your point of international departure is Chicago ORD, they have a duty free there which (at least a year ago) sells Blanton's Gold and Silver in USD at prices that are lower than you're going to get outside the US.

If you have control over your flights, this is a consideration. I always look to see if I can layover in Chicago on my way out of the country, but it hasn't worked out for me just yet.

[bin31z]

Best bourbon I've seen at a duty free is just Jack Daniel's Silver. The duty free market is targeted more towards name recognition and gift giving. You'll find a ton of Johnnie Walker and scotches.

[bmajazz]

Best bourbon I've seen at a duty free is just Jack Daniel's Silver. The duty free market is targeted more towards name recognition and gift giving. You'll find a ton of Johnnie Walker and scotches.

That's actually on my list of things to consider in London, especially if I get a direct flight, which simplifies things.

So, [a la Ralfy] all you single malt maltheads, what single malts should this American Whiskey guy look for in London that are not available in the U.S.? I know this is a bourbon forum, so....

I'm going to do my Canadian Whiskey research for Toronto... mostly here! I have some 1984 vintage Canadian Club Classic 12 which I have always enjoyed drinking. I appreciate the suggestions, and if I have the time will check out a shop or two.

[bin31z]

If you are going to London, I believe the Whiskey Exchange has a brick and mortar store there. The bottles that I would get from them are: Blanton's straight from the barrel, Blanton's gold, Nikka from the barrel, Wild Turkey 8 year, Wild Turkey 12 year, Four Roses 2013 LE small batch, ECBP. The four roses and ECBP are overpriced but at least they have it in stock. And I would pick up any reasonably priced bottle of Karuizawa if they have it. I honestly think you can get most scotches that you can find there in the US, it might even be cheaper here.

That's actually on my list of things to consider in London, especially if I get a direct flight, which simplifies things.

So, [a la Ralfy] all you single malt maltheads, what single malts should this American Whiskey guy look for in London that are not available in the U.S.? I know this is a bourbon forum, so....

I'm going to do my Canadian Whiskey research for Toronto... mostly here! I have some 1984 vintage Canadian Club Classic 12 which I have always enjoyed drinking. I appreciate the suggestions, and if I have the time will check out a shop or two.

[tanstaafl2]

If you are going to London, I believe the Whiskey Exchange has a brick and mortar store there. The bottles that I would get from them are: Blanton's straight from the barrel, Blanton's gold, Nikka from the barrel, Wild Turkey 8 year, Wild Turkey 12 year, Four Roses 2013 LE small batch, ECBP. The four roses and ECBP are overpriced but at least they have it in stock. And I would pick up any reasonably priced bottle of Karuizawa if they have it. I honestly think you can get most scotches that you can find there in the US, it might even be cheaper here.

It does really pay to know your prices for things that are at least theoretically available here. If they aren't available here than it doesn't matter so much. I can absolutely second Nikka from the Barrel. And I would get the Blanton's Straight from the Barrel if I saw it. The Whisky Exchange appears to list only the 103 proof Gold at the moment. If you buy it outside of Duty Free you have to pay the VAT but at least in London you can get that back at the airport if you leave time. That often makes the bottle cheaper than the Duty Free store prices. But it means you have to be prepared to put it in your checked luggage. Not likely to be able to carry it on the plane!

The Nikka Miyagikyo 15yo and Nikka Coffey Malt would interest me as well. The Nikka Coffey Grain has been available in the US in the past but not the Malt to my knowledge. But the grain is good to!

The scotch options will be so vast it would be too hard to decide!

[joboyd]

I was at the Whisky Exchange store a few weeks ago. They had the Blanton's Gold and Silver editions as well as the green label. However, due to the horrid exchange rate right now, be prepared to shell out a lot of money for them. Approximately $200 for the Silver edition. That was also the price for EH Taylor. However, if you shop there, make sure to ask about VAT which will allow you to get your sales tax refunded at the airport.

My advice would be to bring back Scotch or Irish whisk(e)y that you can't get here, like Yellow Spot or Nikka from the Barrel. Affordable and unique!

[joboyd]

Also I can't say enough good things about the people at the Whisky Exchange. They're incredibly friendly and helpful and might even share a special glass with you if you're lucky.

[tanstaafl2]

I was at the Whisky Exchange store a few weeks ago. They had the Blanton's Gold and Silver editions as well as the green label. However, due to the horrid exchange rate right now, be prepared to shell out a lot of money for them. Approximately $200 for the Silver edition. That was also the price for EH Taylor. However, if you shop there, make sure to ask about VAT which will allow you to get your sales tax refunded at the airport.

My advice would be to bring back Scotch or Irish whisk(e)y that you can't get here, like Yellow Spot or Nikka from the Barrel. Affordable and unique!

Ah yes, Yellow Spot would be near the top of my list as well. And I agree the folks at Whisky Exchange were great to work with. I knew what I wanted and emailed ahead to make sure those bottles were available at the store in Vinopolis which is probably the closest to downtown but doesn't always have everything on the shelf due to limited space. Very convenient!

[No_Reception]

Try to get the Calgary Airport, they had Blanton's gold and green when I was there. In abundance.

[bin31z]

Last I saw the Blanton's silver was priced much higher than from the barrel and gold, which were both in the 50-60 pound range ex VAT. That translates to about $100 dollars, which I believe is fair for either bottle.

[The Black Tot]

Good tip on the Calgary airport, No_Reception. Thanks