Column: For Whisky Enthusiasts, How Sacred Is It to Nab a Travel Exclusive?

What images does the word 'airport' conjure up for you? Planes, flying, and for the shoppers among us, duty-free shopping. If that's not exciting enough, consider the following thrill: travel exclusive whisky! However, sometimes scoring that one-of-a-kind whisky can be a bit of a pain in the ass.

If you didn't already know, now you do: every airport has a shop that sells exclusive whisky only available to international travellers. If there's something that gets our hearts pounding, it's the thought of securing a unique whisky that's not on sale anywhere else.

There's something special about savoring something unique, isn't there? Just imagining the delighted expressions your friends will have when you bring out an exceptional dram next time is mouthwatering.

It's precisely that experience that I set out to achieve. Recently, I travelled to South Korea with a layover in China. I had done some preliminary research, and my mission was clear: to score an exclusive Asian whisky at Incheon airport in South Korea!

Luckily, the saleswoman spoke decent English, and when that wasn't enough to communicate the message, there was always a translation app. Much to my disappointment, there were no exclusive Asian whiskies in stock, so I settled for what was available.

My choice ended up being a Scottish whisky that apparently was not in production anymore. It wasn't quite what I had in mind and slightly less exotic, yet it would still be a special dram to bring home.

As I handed over my boarding pass and passport, there was an unexpected silence, followed by a metaphorical slap in my face. 'You have a layover in Beijing and since you need to pass through security, you won't be able to take this bottle of whisky with you, even if it is a duty-free purchase.'

So, there you are: literally empty-handed. Due to a layover, my entire plan was dashed. Heading home, without any 'water of life', utterly empty-handed. And then it hits you: is duty-free shopping for a travel exclusive really all it's cracked up to be?