Glasgow, the gateway to the Lowlands, narrowly pips Edinburgh as the busiest airport in Scotland and is rapidly expanding its route network to include long-haul destinations.
Owner BAAhas pumped a lot of money in recent years in trying to upgrade its retail and catering offer.
The whisky selection has benefited greatly from this investment and the airport’s main World Duty Free (WDF) store, which was refurbished completely in 2005, now boasts a well-stocked World of Whiskies corner, stocking some 250 whiskies.
There are currently quite a few top-end malt whiskies there to catch the eye of collectors, including a bottle of the world’s oldest whisky, Glenfiddich 1937, priced at £10,000. Other rarities include Glenfiddich 1955, which is exclusive to WDF at £5,000, Lagavulin 30 Year Old (£299) and Bowmore 30 Year Old (£100).
At the other end of the price spectrum, the top five sellers are the travel-retail exclusive Glenmorangie Cellar 13, Dewars 12 Years Old Special Reserve, The Macallan Elegancia, Dalwhinnie 15 Years Old and Balvenie Double Wood 12 Years Old. Also keep an eye out for Diageo’s new vatted malt The Singleton of Dufftown, which is currently exclusive to WDF.
As for promotions, WDF has three major offers running at Glasgow: two for£30 on Chivas Regal, buy two and save £10 on The Glenlivet, and finally two for £15 on The Famous Grouse, Johnnie Walker Red Label and Bell’s.
If you want to find out if a specific whisky is in stock before you travel, please ring on the BAAhelpline +44 (0)208 757 3525.
Best Buy
Very Rare 1973
If you are a connoisseur of Irish whiskey, it doesn’t get much better than the 30 years old pure pot still whiskey from the Midleton distillery.
The whiskey was laid down for maturation in both American bourbon barrels and Spanish sherry butts and then finished in port pipes.
The whiskey itself has plenty of spice, fruit, honey and sherry on the nose; a full-bodied taste, and a subtle finish.
Each bottle features handwritten cask and bottle numbers, a porcelain cap, and it is enclosed in a solid mahogany case.
Only 800 bottles of Midleton Very Rare 1973 were released and in travel-retail it is stocked at Dublin airport, where it is priced at E1,600 (£1,055).
RECOMMENDED
Rare Irish Whiskey
Look out for this much more affordable Irish whiskey, which takes its name from the soldiers of fortune, who were forced to leave Ireland by the English at the end of the 17th century.
The Wild Geese is produced by Cooley Distillery, Ireland’s only independent distillery, and is marketed by Protégé International.
It has picked up a couple of international awards since its launch in 2003 and boasts a high malt content.
The whiskey has a clean fresh nose with a rich malty aroma; the taste has a suggestion of a slight bite from the grain.
It is widely available in European airport stores, but has yet to gain access to the US duty-free market. It is priced at a premium to Jameson.
Owner BAAhas pumped a lot of money in recent years in trying to upgrade its retail and catering offer.
The whisky selection has benefited greatly from this investment and the airport’s main World Duty Free (WDF) store, which was refurbished completely in 2005, now boasts a well-stocked World of Whiskies corner, stocking some 250 whiskies.
There are currently quite a few top-end malt whiskies there to catch the eye of collectors, including a bottle of the world’s oldest whisky, Glenfiddich 1937, priced at £10,000. Other rarities include Glenfiddich 1955, which is exclusive to WDF at £5,000, Lagavulin 30 Year Old (£299) and Bowmore 30 Year Old (£100).
At the other end of the price spectrum, the top five sellers are the travel-retail exclusive Glenmorangie Cellar 13, Dewars 12 Years Old Special Reserve, The Macallan Elegancia, Dalwhinnie 15 Years Old and Balvenie Double Wood 12 Years Old. Also keep an eye out for Diageo’s new vatted malt The Singleton of Dufftown, which is currently exclusive to WDF.
As for promotions, WDF has three major offers running at Glasgow: two for£30 on Chivas Regal, buy two and save £10 on The Glenlivet, and finally two for £15 on The Famous Grouse, Johnnie Walker Red Label and Bell’s.
If you want to find out if a specific whisky is in stock before you travel, please ring on the BAAhelpline +44 (0)208 757 3525.
Best Buy
Midleton
Very Rare 1973
If you are a connoisseur of Irish whiskey, it doesn’t get much better than the 30 years old pure pot still whiskey from the Midleton distillery.
The whiskey was laid down for maturation in both American bourbon barrels and Spanish sherry butts and then finished in port pipes.
The whiskey itself has plenty of spice, fruit, honey and sherry on the nose; a full-bodied taste, and a subtle finish.
Each bottle features handwritten cask and bottle numbers, a porcelain cap, and it is enclosed in a solid mahogany case.
Only 800 bottles of Midleton Very Rare 1973 were released and in travel-retail it is stocked at Dublin airport, where it is priced at E1,600 (£1,055).
RECOMMENDED
The Wild Geese
Rare Irish Whiskey
Look out for this much more affordable Irish whiskey, which takes its name from the soldiers of fortune, who were forced to leave Ireland by the English at the end of the 17th century.
The Wild Geese is produced by Cooley Distillery, Ireland’s only independent distillery, and is marketed by Protégé International.
It has picked up a couple of international awards since its launch in 2003 and boasts a high malt content.
The whiskey has a clean fresh nose with a rich malty aroma; the taste has a suggestion of a slight bite from the grain.
It is widely available in European airport stores, but has yet to gain access to the US duty-free market. It is priced at a premium to Jameson.
