Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International airport Terminal 3 puts pay to any ideas that India can’t do big infrastructure projects well. With an annual capacity of 34 million passengers, 173 check-in counters and more than 500,000 square metres of space, this giant building opened this summer without any major teething problems, catapulting Delhi airport up the rankings to become the sixth busiest in the world.
Traditionally Indian travellers have preferred to shop in duty-free away from home in airports such as Dubai and Singapore Changi so the 20,000 square metre retail offer at $2.7 billion Terminal 3 is attempting to woo them back. It is every bit as varied and luxurious as you would find at any other major international hub. Wines and spirits have been allocated a generous 1,000 square metres— more than any other product category, and malt whisky has been given its own store, Uisge Beatha.
The store name Uisge Beatha might sound familiar to readers. That is because the duty-free concessionaire Aer Rianta International jointly running the stores at Terminal 3 has already rolled out the concept successfully at Paphos and Larnaka airports in Cyprus. Think minimalist black decor, uniformed staff, a plasma TV screen and a relaxed lounge-style seating area. The range of whiskies stocked is reassuringly extensive with malts from all over Scotland such as Aberlour, Glenfiddich, Royal Lochnagar, Ardbeg, Scapa, Clynelish, and Laphroaig.
Specific examples of malt whiskies currently on sale range all the way from Caol Ila 12 Years Old at $43 and Glenkinchie 12 Years Old at $49 at the lower end of the price spectrum, all the way up to The Glenlivet 25 Years Old at $255 and The Macallan 1824 Limited Edition at $2,000. The retailer has created a free booklet for passengers to take away outlining the whole range— you can also see what is on offer by browsing online at their website.
In this part of the world high-profile promotions and prize draws are commonplace at big international airports and Terminal 3 is no exception. For instance, Chivas Regal has just run a competition at the terminal in which passengers could win a VW Beetle. Again, check out the website to see the latest promotional offers.
BEST BUY
15
Hot on the heels of last year’s ultra-premium The Royal Legacy of 1745 comes yet another Drambuie travel-retail exclusive.
The release of Drambuie 15, which as the name suggests is made from a blend of 15 Years Old Speyside malts, is an ideal choice for those wanting to trade up from standard Drambuie. Priced at around £36, Drambuie 15 has citrus spice, grass and butterscotch notes on the nose, a warming malty taste, and a long finish. In short, a drier, more refined Drambuie expression suited to drinking neat or with ice.
RECOMMENDED
14 Years Old Sherrywood
This whisky is one of three new additions to the Glencadam range—the other two being a 12 Years Old finished in port wood and 21 Years Old.
If you appreciate the sweet spicy fruitiness of sherry-influenced malt whisky balanced with some vanilla notes then the Glencadam 14 Years Old Sherrywood could be for you. It is non chill-filtered and bottled at 46% ABV.
It is already available in travel-retail shops in limited quantities priced at around £35.
Traditionally Indian travellers have preferred to shop in duty-free away from home in airports such as Dubai and Singapore Changi so the 20,000 square metre retail offer at $2.7 billion Terminal 3 is attempting to woo them back. It is every bit as varied and luxurious as you would find at any other major international hub. Wines and spirits have been allocated a generous 1,000 square metres— more than any other product category, and malt whisky has been given its own store, Uisge Beatha.
The store name Uisge Beatha might sound familiar to readers. That is because the duty-free concessionaire Aer Rianta International jointly running the stores at Terminal 3 has already rolled out the concept successfully at Paphos and Larnaka airports in Cyprus. Think minimalist black decor, uniformed staff, a plasma TV screen and a relaxed lounge-style seating area. The range of whiskies stocked is reassuringly extensive with malts from all over Scotland such as Aberlour, Glenfiddich, Royal Lochnagar, Ardbeg, Scapa, Clynelish, and Laphroaig.
Specific examples of malt whiskies currently on sale range all the way from Caol Ila 12 Years Old at $43 and Glenkinchie 12 Years Old at $49 at the lower end of the price spectrum, all the way up to The Glenlivet 25 Years Old at $255 and The Macallan 1824 Limited Edition at $2,000. The retailer has created a free booklet for passengers to take away outlining the whole range— you can also see what is on offer by browsing online at their website.
In this part of the world high-profile promotions and prize draws are commonplace at big international airports and Terminal 3 is no exception. For instance, Chivas Regal has just run a competition at the terminal in which passengers could win a VW Beetle. Again, check out the website to see the latest promotional offers.
BEST BUY
Drambuie
15
Hot on the heels of last year’s ultra-premium The Royal Legacy of 1745 comes yet another Drambuie travel-retail exclusive.
The release of Drambuie 15, which as the name suggests is made from a blend of 15 Years Old Speyside malts, is an ideal choice for those wanting to trade up from standard Drambuie. Priced at around £36, Drambuie 15 has citrus spice, grass and butterscotch notes on the nose, a warming malty taste, and a long finish. In short, a drier, more refined Drambuie expression suited to drinking neat or with ice.
RECOMMENDED
Glencadam
14 Years Old Sherrywood
This whisky is one of three new additions to the Glencadam range—the other two being a 12 Years Old finished in port wood and 21 Years Old.
If you appreciate the sweet spicy fruitiness of sherry-influenced malt whisky balanced with some vanilla notes then the Glencadam 14 Years Old Sherrywood could be for you. It is non chill-filtered and bottled at 46% ABV.
It is already available in travel-retail shops in limited quantities priced at around £35.
