Duty Free Question

[mythrenegade]

This summer I am going to be flying from Guam to Hawaii via Tokyo. As such, I will be in Narita for all of about two hours. Can I shop at the duty free store there? If I can, what should I look for?

Joel

[ggilbertva]

There are a number of export only bourbons available in Japan. Four Roses, Wild Turkey and Blanton's come to mind. You should be able to shop duty free in Japan. I know that you cannot shop duty free in the US unless you have an international ticket. Coming from Japan, you shouldn't have a problem.

[Barrel_Proof]

This summer I am going to be flying from Guam to Hawaii via Tokyo. As such, I will be in Narita for all of about two hours. Can I shop at the duty free store there? If I can, what should I look for?

Joel

There are four different duty free companies with shops in Narita: Empire DFS, Japan DFS, Fa-So-La, and JAL/DFS. Here is a link to the Narita duty free shop map and listings. You can identify which shops are located in your terminal:

http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/guide/dutyfree/index.html#01

The shops will occasionally have different products, but where they overlap the prices will almost certainly be identical. Check them all, however, because one may have a promotion that includes a free bag or 200ml bottle with a particular purchase. The last of the group has an exclusive with Wild Turkey, so this is the only place to get the latest WT export only product. The first three stores are likely to have two specialty Four Roses products not available in the U.S. that are must buys -- Four Roses Super Premium and Four Roses Black. Blanton's Silver and Blanton's Gold may be available as well, but remember that the only difference between these and the standard issue of Blanton's is proof. All Blanton's whiskey comes from the same stock of barrels.

[TNbourbon]

I'm wondering (as I think you are:skep:) whether you can shop duty-free as an in-transit passenger who possesses a through-ticket from U.S. possession (Guam) to the U.S. (Hawaii). Anyone?

[mythrenegade]

I'm wondering (as I think you are:skep:) whether you can shop duty-free as an in-transit passenger who possesses a through-ticket from U.S. possession (Guam) to the U.S. (Hawaii). Anyone?

You got it Tim!

I don't know all the rules of Duty Free. I will be in another country, but I won't be able to leave the airport as I don't have a visa, nor will I have time. Since in the US airports you have to have a ticket to an international airport, I assume I will be able to buy duty free in Japan, but I'm not sure... I was hoping someone here would know :-)

The second part of my post had to do with what to look for. So far I've heard exclusive WT products, higher proof blantons, and four roses. Isn't the four roses a woodford reserve brand? If so I'm not interested...

Joel

[TNbourbon]

...Isn't the four roses a woodford reserve brand? If so I'm not interested...

Joel

Four Roses is a distillery independent of Woodford or any of the other Kentucky/U.S. distilleries. It's outside Lawrenceburg, and is owned by Japan's Kirin -- but produces Diageo's Bulleit bourbon as well as its own labels. They are distinctive and generally very good bourbons, unavailable in the U.S. outside Kentucky. Several you would find in duty free are unavailable even IN Kentucky.

[lar03]

I have never had any problem with buying duty free when passing through anywhere other than the US. For instance, I frequently pass through Dubai, Germany, Amsterdam, etc. on flights to and from the US, and I can always shop there with little or no hassle. However, once I get into the US on my way home I lose that privilege, and don't get it back until I am on my way out of the country.

One thing I have noticed recently in other countries is WT Sherry Signature. Has anyone had this before? I can't say I drink much sherry, but I am tempted to try this out. The only thing that makes me pause, is that they say on the bottle that they add sherry to some of the batches, so they get more sherry flavor. If this is the case, can't I just buy a bottle of WT and a bottle of sherry and get the same results at home?

[TNbourbon]

I have never had any problem with buying duty free when passing through anywhere other than the US. For instance, I frequently pass through Dubai, Germany, Amsterdam, etc. on flights to and from the US, and I can always shop there with little or no hassle...

Again, I think Joel's question/problem is that both ends of his trip are IN the U.S. (Guam is a U.S. territory). Thus, he really doesn't have an international ticket -- he's just spending time in an international airport.

Although I don't often fly internationally anymore, I'm interested to learn the answer, just as a curiosity and for possible future reference.

[doubleblank]

I'm quite certain the concept of "duty free" is that the product is leaving the country and won't be consumed/used there......so it is sold "duty free". Therefor, when at Narita Airport, Japan, all they need to know is that the product is leaving Japan for a foreign country.

Now the interesting question that Tim may be asking is "Could you shop at your US departure airport Duty Free Shop when your ultimate destination is a US territory even when transiting thru a foreign country?" I suspect not because the product will end up being consumed in the US (in theory anyway).

Each country has its own set of regulations for duty free. For example.....go into Club Habano (sp) cigar shop on Grand Cayman and purchase a Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona cigar and it costs $25. Ask for a box of them, and they will sell the box to you duty free and let you carry it out of the store (works out to be $15 each duty free)! Why......because they assume a box won't be consumed during your stay, so it is sold under the presumption that a whole box is leaving the country. But go into their DF liquor store and you can't leave with your purchase.....it goes onto the cruise ship/airport for you to pick up when you leave.

Randy

[xzjn9p]

Just as a word of advice. The duty free at Narita is not very good and not really a bargain. I used to fly through there all the time and never found outstanding bargains. The Yen exchange rate just kills it. I wasn't looking for bourbon at the time, but I don't really remember a great selection either. I don't think they even check to see if you have an intl ticket. The entire terminal is international.

[nickynick]

I have a friend going to Japan in a month or so. Would EW 12 YO be in the Duty Free Shop or would she have to go to a store? WT 8 YO and 12 YO are at the duty free correct? I'm just trying to get a list together.

[HighTower]

If your friend doesn't mind going to a few stores, she may be able to find Wild Turkey Master Distillers Selection. It sells for about US$80 or thereabouts. 14yo 107 proof in very fancy packaging.

Scott

[jspero]

I have a friend going to Japan in a month or so. Would EW 12 YO be in the Duty Free Shop or would she have to go to a store? WT 8 YO and 12 YO are at the duty free correct? I'm just trying to get a list together.

I'm going over in 2 days (Yippy!). I've never seen any EW in the duty free stores, at least at Narita. I have seen it in plenty of "street" stores, though. EW 12yo was running about 1700 yen (~$16USD) around Christmas.

Both WTs are sold in the duty frees.

Jay

[mythrenegade]

I'm going over in 2 days (Yippy!). I've never seen any EW in the duty free stores, at least at Narita. I have seen it in plenty of "street" stores, though. EW 12yo was running about 1700 yen (~$16USD) around Christmas.

Both WTs are sold in the duty frees.

Jay

Hey,

If you think about it, make a quick list of what's available in the duty free stores! I want to know if I even need to worry about it...

Joel

[StraightBoston]

Just got back from Asia via Tokyo. Duty-free bourbon selection at Narita is not that great these days -- no more Four Roses Superpremium nor Maker's Mark Select (black wax). Usually you'll find Wild Turkey 8yo and sometimes 12yo and Jack Daniels Silver Select and Monogram. Everything else is what you can find in the states.

In town, you can find Evan Williams 12yo (actually there are about 9 or 10 EW expressions, ranging all the way to the 23yo blue label!) There are also many variations of Blanton's (white, black, green, silver, gold, straight-from-the-barrel.) I'm partial to the selection at Kawachiya in Shibuya (around the corner from the Udagawacho "robot" police box.)