Suggestions for an export only bourbon request?

[angelshare]

I have a friend who is travelling to Paris in about three weeks. To my knowledge, he is leaving the US at Dulles. I can certainly request one, possibly two, export only bourbons for him to bag for me during his travels. I will probably give him a list of five to ten bourbons ranked in terms of desirability with the request to bring back one to two bottles from the list.

I was hoping that those of you with much more export only bourbon knowledge and international travel experience might help me with my requests. If you are so inclined, what would your list look like? Are there any bourbons for which you would say, "If you find this, just get two of those and forget the rest of the list!"?

Also, other than DFS, are there any places you would recommend that he look?

Thanks!

[Paradox]

I really don't know what's available in Paris (I know other shere have been there but I tend to travel within the U.S.) but I'd look for Blanton's Barrel Proof, Evan Williams 23yo, Wild Turkey Freedom in DFS, and I think there was some funky Wild Turkey 12yo done for France that had a different style 12yo label on it. Maybe Four Roses Single Barrel can also be found there, thats a nice thing and cheap to boot. Good luck!

[camduncan]

Well, after the disapointment of my partners trip to Bangkok over the weekend, I certainly hope Paris is more yielding in its duty free bourbons. All she could find was Jim Beam White, Jack Daniels, Gentleman Jack and Wild Turkey Rare Breed

I honestly thought Bangkok airport would have more than that....heck, Nandi Airport in Fiji had more - and I would have thought it much smaller than Bangkok?

As someone who will also be in Paris in October, I look forward to hearing what can be found

[doubleblank]

Dave....In earlier posts I gave an update on Paris Duty Free in June. Nothing worth bringing home there. I also searched many liquor stores in Paris and found nothing. I was told there are several mega grocery stores with large wine and liquor departments that would have something....but I wasn't in the mood to spend half a day looking for that special bottle. Call Duty Free at Dulles and ask them what they have. Now if you're looking for a good source of Cuban cigars in Paris, I'm your man.

PS When I met my daughter in Paris, she brought me Blantons Gold for Fathers Day...so it wasn't a complete waste.

Randy

[angelshare]

Dave....In earlier posts I gave an update on Paris Duty Free in June. Nothing worth bringing home there.

I thought I had seen something about this recently, but I must not have searched well. Thanks for re-posting. I certainly don't want my friend to go on a wild goose (turkey?) chase for non-existent bourbon.

Call Duty Free at Dulles and ask them what they have.

Thanks again, that's a great idea.

PS When I met my daughter in Paris, she brought me Blantons Gold for Fathers Day...so it wasn't a complete waste.

Did she find that somewhere in Paris? It might be worth including on my list, just in case.

[doubleblank]

Unfortunately.....she found the "gold" in London before meeting me in Paris. It's definitely worth including with the WT exports.

Randy

[kitzg]

I flew through Dulles to Europe nearly two months ago and I think Dulles had something I considered. The problem was that I was to be gone about three weeks and knew I did not want to carry it along. Having said that, I don't think it was anything spectacular. Just one that I could not easily find at home.

[Gillman]

Dave, as Randy said, the very large supermarkets (les hypermarches) offer superb selections, however, they are hard to find. Depending how good a friend you have who is going, if he is willing to ask his hotel for the nearest large "hypermarche" he may find some interesting bourbons there.

My other suggestion is to go to La Maison du Whisky, 20 rue d'Anjou, 75008, Paris (i.e., the 8th arrondissement). This is a well-known scotch whisky house and I have never been to one that didn't have an excellent bourbon selection. Check out www.whisky.fr.

"Bonne chance"!

Gary

[Gillman]

Dave I checked the site, Maison du Whisky has the 10 year old Rittenhouse rye, 100 proof!! Now we know where that special version went to in Europe. I know what I'd ask my friend for!

Gary

[angelshare]

Gary, thank you so much for the link, and thank all of you for your suggestions! I think I could ask my friend to ask for the nearest hypermarche, although it is GREAT to have an actual address to give him already.

Here is the list as it is shaping up so far:

1) WT Freedom

2) Rittenhouse Rye 10 year

3) Blanton's "Straight from the Barrel"

4) Four Roses SB

EW 23yo looks kind of pricey - 130 Euros? Isn't that about $100? Not sure I would lay out that much cash for it, as cool as it would be to have.

To display my ignorance: is the Elmer T. Lee shown here an export only item?

[doubleblank]

Right now the Euro is worth much MORE than a $ ...... it was worth 80 cents a couple of years ago. That makes those prices look extremely high! Also, the export bottlings are often in those tall 70 cl bottles like the ETL you have pictured. Many of the unique bottle shapes don't come in the 70 cl size..... so they go with a standard bottle.

Randy

[Barrel_Proof]

1) WT Freedom

This is only available at DFS Galleria shops. Dulles does not have a DFS Galleria shop.

2) Rittenhouse Rye 10 year

Hunt away!

3) Blanton's "Straight from the Barrel"

In Paris, only Maison du Whisky is known to have it (actually, they have several barrels) -- at 59 Euros ($71).

4) Four Roses SB

Old stock of FRSB can occasionally be found in Paris grocery stores for as low as 21 Euros, but new stock is priced at about 28 Euros. Try Franc Prix and Monoprix stores EVERYWHERE. Look for the dusty shelf. You will sometimes walk into a surprise stash of old FRSB.

EW 23yo looks kind of pricey - 130 Euros? Isn't that about $100? Not sure I would lay out that much cash for it, as cool as it would be to have.

$157 US is what you'll need at today's exchange rate!

To display my ignorance: is the Elmer T. Lee shown here an export only item?

There is nothing export-only about this bottle. It is the original bottling of the eponymous Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel, the detailing of which has been described by many (including Mr. Lee, himself, by some accounts) as "butt ugly." A few of us, myself included, are happy that a bottle of this butt ugly bottling is in their bunker!!!

[bobbyc]

A few of us, myself included, are happy that a bottle of this butt ugly bottling is in their bunker!!!

Indeed, very much so! Also a happy few have an early version of AAA in the same " Trade Dress".

[OneCubeOnly]

Indeed, very much so! Also a happy few have an early version of AAA in the same " Trade Dress".

Do you have a digital camera Bobby?? I'd love to see that bottle!

[rpartin]

How about the same question for Nassau, St. Thomas and St. Marten? I'm leaving for a cruise in three weeks.

Thanks, Rob