DFS opens Whiskey House at HK airport

In time for Chinese New Year, the Duty Free Store has launched a Whiskey House at Hong Kong International Airport, in collaboration with William Grant & Sons.

Over 250 expressions from 50 international brands will be on offer for passengers travelling through Hong Kong’s airport, including the opportunity to sample more than 40 different whiskies every day.

The Whiskey House has been created by DFS in partnership with William Grant & Sons, whose whisky brands include Balvenie, Tullamore Dew, Grant’s Glenfiddich and Monkey Shoulder as well as rum brand, Sailor Jerry and Hendrick’s gin.

For whisky enthusiasts there’ll be blind tasting and tasting sessions every weekend from 4-7pm, as well as the chance to have 10% off every purchase when spirits are bought at departure and then collected at arrivals on the return leg of the trip.

DFS already has its T Galleria retail stores across Hong Kong in Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui as well as its DFS store at Hong Kong airport.

Brooke Supernaw, DFS group’s senior vice president of spirits, wine, tobacco, food and gifts, said, “DFS’ The Whiskey House is inspired by our customers and their love of discovery. At The Whiskey House, the discerning traveler can explore and indulge themselves in a world of whiskies from across the globe, enjoy tailored tastings and embark upon a unique travel experience from the moment they enter the airport.”

Hong Kong has witnessed a boom in interest in whisky over recent years as more consumers explore different expressions and more brands have become available. MHD, LVMH, Edrington and William Grant remain as some of the biggest whisky distributors in Hong Kong, but a number of smaller, specialist ventures have appeared, such as single malt retailers, Caskells in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Speaking to dbHK at the time of Caskells’ opening last year, owner John Rhodes said:

“Although Hong Kong has a growing curiosity towards single malts – there is still a lot that can be done to inform people of the very wide scope of whisky there is not only in Scotch but worldwide.

“Hong Kong – as with any market – is dominated by some big players with some excellent products but there are also a lot of smaller companies that have similar high quality products, and it is these that we want to bring to the general market.”

The advent of the consumer-focused Whisky Festival and Malt Masters events in Hong Kong has also helped introduce the diversity of the whisky category to Hong Kong’s spirits lovers.