Travel Retail Whisky: The Ultimate Guide for Smart Shopping at the Airport (How to Whisky)

Sunday, 17 August 2025 at 15:03

The Macallan Harmony Collection JING whisky presented with box

At the end of the holiday, there’s one final treat that whisky enthusiasts eagerly anticipate. It’s the spirit-boosting excursion through the shelves of travel retail. How can you take full advantage of this shopping spree?

FAQ

What actually is Travel Retail?
Travel Retail is also known as Duty Free. These are the stores you find in airports, on cruise ships, selling products like perfume, electronics, and beverages.

Are Travel Retail exclusive whiskies really unique?
Yes and no. They are specially bottled for travelers, but that doesn’t automatically mean they are better or rarer. Moreover, sometimes they also end up online or in specialty stores.

Is it always cheaper than back home?
Unfortunately, not. Marketing plays a major role and sometimes you might even end up paying more.

A wonderland beyond customs

An airport can sometimes be a veritable trove of unique and luxury items. You enter with your suitcase, check-in, pass through customs, and suddenly, a kind of wonderland comes into view.

There are large stores with bright colors, lights, and the friendliest assistants who are eager to help you make a purchase. They are like the Oompa Loompas from Charlie's Chocolate Factory, but with all Travel Exclusive products.

Think of watches, sunglasses, the latest technological gem, or the lushest perfume. Naturally, a fine bottle of whisky cannot be missing. And they are there in all shapes and sizes. You can even find bottles of multiple liters!

Not everything that sparkles is liquid gold

However grandiose the whisky shops may appear, the selection isn't always as splendid. In fact, the stands are often marketing traps. The stands look fantastic, but the bottles on the shelves are not always as special as they appear.

Many whiskies you'll find at airports can also be found at your local liquor store, so they aren't necessarily extraordinary. Sometimes, whisky offerings are only temporarily exclusive and will soon become available worldwide in online stores like Whisky Echange. The knack is, of course, to spot the real gems. But how do you spot those?

Knowledge is everything

It's not insignificant to know a thing or two about the whisky world when shopping in Travel Retail stores. Still, even if you don't know much, you can go home with a special bottle. A tip here is to recall what's usually on the shelves of your local liquor store.

Choose something that wouldn't quickly appear back home, like a whisky from a local distillery. Don't hesitate to ask for a store assistant's help. They often know where the local whiskies are located and which bottles are truly travel exclusives.

Under all circumstances, however, do a little extra check. It's not that you'll be conned at the airport, but a check never hurts. Sometimes, that deal isn't as sweet as it seems, and you might even pay less back home.

If you have internet access in the airport, it pays to do a quick check before you checkout.

Taste the whisky if you can

Some stores allow you to taste (temporarily) a new travel exclusive whisky. If you get that chance, then go for it. Especially if a whisky in the travel exclusive has an exotic finish. This way, you can instantly find out if the whisky on the shelf really is your cup of tea.

If it's not quite to your taste, it might be wiser to leave the bottle behind. Even exclusive whisky doesn't always have to be 'exceptionally good.'

Heed the rules

It can sometimes be tempting to take home more than one bottle of whisky, but do keep an eye on the customs regulations. You can't just walk through checks with a few bottles of whisky in your hand luggage everywhere.

A single bottle will likely not be a problem, but from about 1 liter, which is multiple bottles or larger packages, it could be a different story. Also, if you're checking your luggage there are rules. Check them too before taking whisky in your suitcase.

For instance, you are never allowed to carry a ceramic bottle because it cannot be inspected. Always ask for a sealed bag as well. This guarantees that nothing strange has happened to the bottle after it was purchased and often prevents you from having to turn in your whisky at a layover.

With these tips, you can with all confidence navigate through airport customs and dive into the shops.