Business traffic drives whisky business at Frankfurt
Joe Bates reports from one of Europe’s largest airports
The size and quality of the whisky offered at a duty-free shop often depends on how many business travellers the airport serves. The more suits and laptops seen on the concourse, the better the range of malts on the shelf. It’s not surprising really, duty-free buyers have found that no other passenger group shows more interest in buying quality whisky.
A case in point is Frankfurt airport, Europe’s third largest international hub after London Heathrow and Paris Charles de Gaulle, where business travellers accounted for 54 per cent of the 53 million passengers, who used the airport last year. Whisky is sold in no fewer than 15 shops spread across the airport’s two terminals and the main Travel Value outlets stock a good range of more than 100 brands, including seven Irish whiskeys, eight bourbons and two Canadian whiskies.
For the single malt enthusiast, there are 58 varieties to choose from, including a number of high-end offerings such as Balvenie 30 Years Old (@380/£255), Glenmorangie Single Cask Vintage 1989 (@194/£130), The Macallan 1851 Inspiration (@79/£53), and Highland Park 30 Years Old (@195/£131). More affordable choices include Aberfeldy 12 Years Old (@36.50/£24.50), An Cnoc 12 Years Old (@28.50/£19.15), Bowmore Enigma 12 Years Old (@32/£21.50) and Glenfiddich Special Reserve (@27.50/£18.50).
As at most other duty-free stores blends top the sales rankings. The top five places are dominated by just two well-known brands, Johnnie Walker and Chivas Re.....
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By Joe Bates
Section : Travel retail
Page number : 57
