L-1 PRICES BELOW DUTY-FREE STORE PRICES
L-1 Liquor vendors in Gurugram have decided to hike the prices of liquor by varying degrees to keep their costs marginally lower than those currently being charged by Delhi liquor vendors. This will allow them to remain in competition with the Delhi market. Delhi introduced their new excise policy allowing retailers to offer huge discounts, attracting people from Gurgaon, Noida and Faridabad. The shopkeepers of Gurgaon began to feel the heat as the local market was disrupted. Teetotallers stood buy silently, wondering what the frenzy was about.
Liquor shop owners are eyeing profits with this move
after they suffered huge losses over the past two years due to the Covid-19
pandemic. According to shopkeepers, since liquor in Haryana does not have a
maximum retail price (MRP), they can sell it at any price without offering
discounts to customers and still offer the best deals vis-a-vis the national
capital.
Currently, prices in the L-1 stores in Gurgaon are lower than the prices in the Duty-Free Stores at New Delhi airport, and in numerous instances, match, if not better DFS prices in Dubai and Singapore. The table below compares the prices of Scotch whisky across the nearest DFS at Singapore and Dubai, and, in certain cases, New York and Frankfurt. Macallan has too many expressions in the Gurgaon market for me to pin down four. I'll attend to that by and by.
From amongst the Blended Scotch whiskies, I would stay away from run-of-the-mill brands and certainly from Bottled in India Blended Scotch whiskies. The only brands worth buying are Johnnie Walker Black Label at its throwaway price of Rs 1,800; the Black Label 12 Islay Origin, the White Walker, the Double Black, the Gold, the Green blended malt, the Swing if ever available and the 18 YO. The price of these bottles in India is at a lifetime low. Next would be the Chivas Regal 12, 15, and 18-year-olds, at equally low prices. Just compare them to the prices in DFS overseas! The only Ballantine worth buying is the 17 YO. The Dewar’s 18 YO follows in alphabetical order, with the Dimple Pinch 15 YO right behind. The Islay Mist and the Six Isles blended malt are good blends to have on the list, followed by my personal favourite, the Highland Queen Majesty.
An entry in maroon indicates that the price of that expression is lower than at DFS at home and abroad. Please understand that these are my selections and recommendations. There is no compulsion that you accept my recommendations and/or advice, except to drink moderately and refrain from driving thereafter.
Note: All prices are compared at equalised volumes since most bottles at Duty-Free Shops at Ports are sold in bottles of 1.0 Litre capacity.
|
COMPARISON OF LIQUOR PRICES GURGAON L1 VS DFS AT
DUBAI, DELHI & SINGAPORE |
||||||||
|
BRAND NAME |
Rec |
Discovery |
GTown |
Lake Forest |
REMARKS |
Dubai |
Delhi |
S’pore |
|
ABERFELDY
12 YO |
√ |
3000 |
3000 |
3000 |
MUST BUY |
4060 |
4960 |
4620 |
|
ABERFELDY 14
YO |
X |
|
|
|
12 YO GOOD ENOUGH |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
ABERLOUR
12 YO |
√ |
3200 |
3500 |
3500 |
GOOD
BUY |
NA |
5270 |
6340 |
|
ABERLOUR 15
YO |
? |
5200 |
5500 |
5400 |
OPTIONAL |
|
|
|
|
ABERLOUR 18
YO |
X |
10,000 |
NA |
NA |
NOT WORTH IT |
|
|
|
|
ABERLOUR ABUNADH |
X |
TOO STRONG 61% ABV, FLAVOURSOME BUT BURNS NOSE
& THROAT |
NA |
7360 |
NA |
|||
|
ARDBEG 10 YO |
√ |
5200 |
5000 |
5600 |
GOOD BUY |
NA |
4260 |
5835 |
|
ARDBEG WEE
BEASTIE 5YO |
X |
3900 |
3900 |
4500 |
SO SO |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
ARDMORE 12 YO |
X |
2300 |
2500 |
2500 |
DISAPPOINTING |
2210 |
2500 |
5655 |
|
AUCHENTOSHAN
12 YO |
√ |
3100 |
3200 |
3200 |
MILD DRAM; @
2900 JFK |
NA |
3200 |
3950 |
|
AUCHENTOSHAN 3
WOOD |
X |
NA |
NA |
4000 |
NO NEED |
NA |
4970 |
4940 |
|
AUCHROISK 12
YO |
√ |
NA |
NA |
5150 |
GOOD BUY |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
AULTMORE
12 YO |
√ |
4600 |
4900 |
NA |
MUST BUY |
4825 |
NA |
NA |
|
AULTMORE 14
YO |
√ |
5100 |
NA |
NA |
GOOD BUY |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
AULTMORE 18
YO |
√ |
7100 |
7100 |
8,000 |
EXCELLENT BUY |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
BALBLAIR 12
YO |
X |
4600 |
4900 |
NA |
VALUE FOR
MONEY VFM |
NA |
NA |
9525 |
|
BALVENIE D'BLEWOOD 12 |
X |
6200 |
6200 |
6200 |
NVFM |
6115 |
NA |
NA |
|
BALVENIE D'BLEWOOD 14 |
X |
8000 |
8000 |
8000 |
40% ABV TOO
LOW |
8020 |
NA |
NA |
|
BALVENIE D'BLEWOOD 17 |
X |
18,000 |
18,000 |
18,500 |
40% ABV AND
18,000? |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
BALVENIE
TRIPLE 12 1L |
X |
NA |
NA |
8750 |
TRAVEL EDITION 40% |
NA |
7290 |
NA |
|
BALVENIE 16
TRIPLE 1L |
X |
NA |
NA |
12,500 |
TRAVEL EDITION 40% |
NA |
11590 |
NA |
|
BENRIACH 12
YO |
X |
NA |
NA |
7,500 |
PRICEY |
7240 |
NA |
NA |
|
BOWMORE 12 YO 40% |
X |
2700 |
2700 |
2800 |
SUB-PAR ISLAY |
NA |
NA |
4200 |
|
BOWMORE 15 YO 43% |
? |
5500 |
5800 |
5500 |
FAIR BUY |
3875 |
4020 |
5835 |
|
BOWMORE 18 YO 43% |
√ |
10,000 |
NA |
9500 |
GOOD BUY |
13530 |
8440 |
7405 |
|
BUNNAHABHAIN
12 46.3% |
√ |
NA |
NA |
5200 |
MUST BUY |
4800 |
NA |
NA |
|
BRUICHLADDICH
PORT CHARLOTTE 10 50% |
√ |
NA |
NA |
9000 |
MUST BUY @6350 FKFT |
7175 |
NA |
7750 |
|
BRUICHLADDICH CLASSIC 50% |
√ |
8500 |
8500 |
8500 |
MUST BUY@ 4270 FKFT |
7175 |
NA |
6450 |
|
CAOL ILA 12 YO 70CL 40% |
√ |
3500 |
3400 |
4200 |
MUST BUY |
6420 |
6290 |
NA |
|
CARDHU 12 YO
70CL 40% |
√ |
4800 |
4500 |
4600 |
GOOD BUY |
NA |
4720 |
4500 |
|
CLYNELISH
14 YO 75CL 46% |
√ |
4600 |
4600 |
4600 |
MUST BUY |
6060 |
NA |
NA |
|
COPPER DOG 12
YO 70CL |
√ |
2100 |
2700 |
2700 |
MUST BUY |
NA |
2275 |
3650 |
|
CRAGGANMORE
12 43% |
√ |
2900 |
3100 |
3300 |
GOOD BUY |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
CRAIGELLACHIE
13 YO |
√ |
4000 |
4000 |
4000 |
MUST BUY |
5350 |
4715 |
6340 |
|
CRAIGELLACHIE
17 YO |
√ |
7100 |
NA |
7500 |
EXCELLENT VFM |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
DALMORE 12 YO |
? |
7100 |
7100 |
7100 |
NVFM |
NA |
7070 |
5900 |
|
DALMORE 15 YO |
? |
9000 |
9000 |
9000 |
GOOD BUY |
NA |
10,070 |
8415 |
|
DALWHINNIE
15 YO |
√ |
4000 |
3600 |
4000 |
MUST BUY |
5830 |
NA |
NA |
|
GLENALLACHIE
12 YO 46% |
√ |
NA |
NA |
7000 |
MUST BUY |
7800 |
NA |
NA |
|
GLENBURGIE BALLANTINE 15 |
X |
3500 |
NA |
3800 |
BALLANTINE SINGLE MALT WORTH A TRY |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
GLENDRONACH
10 YO |
X |
NA |
NA |
7500 |
PRICEY @ 3900 FKFT |
NA |
4200 |
6120 |
|
GLENDRONACH
12 |
√ |
NA |
NA |
10,300 |
GOOD BUT
PRICEY |
NA |
8900 |
NA |
|
GLENFIDDICH
12 YO |
√ |
2900 |
2900 |
2900 |
MUST BUY |
4770 |
NA |
NA |
|
GLENFIDDICH
15 YO |
√ |
4500 |
4500 |
4500 |
SOLERA MUST BUY |
NA |
4900 |
5600 |
|
GLENFIDDICH
18 YO |
X |
8500 |
8700 |
8700 |
NVFM |
6500 |
8490 |
NA |
|
GLENFIDDICH
XX |
√ |
5500 |
NA |
NA |
MUST BUY |
NA |
5420 |
NA |
|
GLENFIDDICH
IPA 43% |
X |
5000 |
NA |
5000 |
SKIP |
|
|
|
|
GLENGOYNE 12 70CL 43% |
√ |
4100 |
3900 |
4300 |
MUST BUY |
6600 |
5260 |
8000 |
|
GLENKINCHIE
12 43% |
√ |
3600 |
3500 |
4000 |
GOOD BUY |
|
|
|
|
GLENLIVET
12 70 CL 40% |
√ |
2900 |
2800 |
2900 |
MUST BUY |
3600 |
3380 |
6400 |
|
GLENLIVET 15 70 CL 40% |
X |
4500 |
4500 |
4500 |
GOOD BUY |
NA |
5295 |
7575 |
|
GLENLIVET FOUNDER’S |
√ |
4000 |
NA |
4200 |
GOOD BUY |
7350 |
3040 |
NA |
|
GLENLIVET
NADURRA |
X |
6300 |
NA |
6200 |
CASK
STRENGTH~60% |
NA |
5160 |
NA |
|
GLENLIVET 18
YO |
X |
NA |
8200 |
8500 |
NVFM |
7380 |
NA |
NA |
|
GLENMORANGIE
10 |
√ |
3200 |
3300 |
3800 |
MUST BUY; 3025 @ JFK |
3000 |
3640 |
4650 |
|
GLEN’GIE
LASANTA 12 |
X |
5700 |
5600 |
5700 |
SKIP |
NA |
NA |
5560 |
|
GLEN’GIE
NECTAR D’OR |
√ |
6000 |
5500 |
6300 |
46% MUST BUY |
NA |
NA |
6620 |
|
--DO-- QUINTA RUBAN 14 |
? |
6000 |
5700 |
NA |
GOOD BUY |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
GLENMORANGIE
SIGNET |
X |
18000 |
17500 |
17000 |
TOO PRICEY |
13,175 |
18,730 |
16,000 |
|
GLENMORANGIE
X |
X |
4500 |
NA |
4000 |
FOR MIXING;
AVOID |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
GLEN GRANT 10 |
X |
3000 |
3000 |
3000 |
UNDERDONE |
2300 |
2825 |
2960 |
|
GLEN GRANT 12
|
X |
3200 |
3200 |
3200 |
UNDERDONE |
2860 |
3400 |
3800 |
|
HIGHLAND
PARK 12 40% |
√ |
3900 |
4000 |
3900 |
MUST
BUY 3650 @JFK |
5500 |
NA |
NA |
|
HIGHLAND
QUEEN S MALT |
√ |
NA |
NA |
2800 |
MUST BUY IF
AV’BLE |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
JURA 10 |
X |
4500 |
4200 |
4800 |
GOOD BUY |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
JURA 12 |
√ |
5300 |
5300 |
5400 |
GOOD BUY |
NA |
4450 |
4200 |
|
KAVALAN CONCERTM'R |
X |
7000 |
7000 |
NA |
YOUR CALL |
NA |
NA |
4825 |
|
KAVALAN
CLASSIC |
X |
7000 |
NA |
7000 |
YOUR CALL |
NA |
7080 |
NA |
|
KAVALAN SOLIST
SHERRY |
√ |
11,000 |
NA |
NA |
SUPER BUT NVFM |
NA |
NA |
9550 |
|
KAVALAN DIST’RY
SELECT |
X |
8000 |
8000 |
NA |
NVFM |
NA |
NA |
5600 |
|
KILCHOMAN
SANAIG |
√ |
3500 |
9000 |
NA |
MUST BUY |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
LAPHROAIG
1815 |
X |
NA |
NA |
11,000 |
NVFM; 8850 AT FRKFT |
10,250 |
10,070 |
7830 |
|
LAPHROAIG
SELECT 40% |
X |
3500 |
3500 |
3500 |
~3350 IN THE
WEST |
NA |
NA |
4480 |
|
LAPH'G QTR CASK 48% |
√ |
4400 |
4600 |
4400 |
MUST BUY 6100 @ JFK |
NA |
NA |
5600 |
|
LAGAVULIN 16 |
√ |
8500 |
8700 |
9500 |
MUST BUY |
8740 |
NA |
7525 |
|
LAGAVULIN 8 |
? |
NA |
NA |
7200 |
OPTIONAL |
7000 |
NA |
6850 |
|
LONGMORN DIST EDN |
√ |
6300 |
6900 |
7900 |
GOOD
BUY |
7200 |
NA |
NA |
|
LOSSIT |
√ |
NA |
4800 |
NA |
MUST BUY |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
MACALLAN SHERRY OAK 12 |
X |
NA |
9800 |
NA |
OVERPRICED |
NA |
6200 |
6300 JFK |
|
MACALLAN TRIPLE 12 |
√ |
6500 |
6500 |
NA |
OPTIONAL |
NA |
|
9900 |
|
MACALLAN
DOUBLE 12 YO |
√ |
5500 |
5500 |
NA |
GOOD BUY |
NA |
|
7200 |
|
RAMPUR DOUBLE CASK |
√ |
5200 |
5600 |
NA |
MUST BUY |
NA |
7390 |
7200 |
|
MONKEY
SHOULDER |
√ |
2800 |
2800 |
3000 |
MUST BUY 2050@ JFK |
2400 |
2525 |
3100 |
|
OBAN LITTLE
BAY |
√ |
5800 |
6000 |
6000 |
FAIR BUY 5450@JFK |
NA |
5760 |
6900 |
|
OLD PULTENEY
12 YO |
√ |
4200 |
4250 |
4300 |
FAIR BUY |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
OLD PULTENEY
10 1.0L |
√ |
5500 |
5800 |
5800 |
FAIR BUY |
3950 |
NA |
NA |
|
SCAPA SKIREN |
X |
4500 |
4500 |
4500 |
HAVEN’T TRIED
YET |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
SINGLETON
GLEN'LAN 12 |
? |
3300 |
3200 |
3300 |
GOOD ENTRY
LEVEL |
NA |
3015 |
3500* |
|
SINGLETON
G'ULLAN 15 |
√ |
4500 |
4500 |
4500 |
GOOD BUY |
NA |
3915 |
5575* |
|
S'TON
GLENDULLAN 18 |
√ |
6000 |
6200 |
6200 |
MUST BUY |
NA |
5825 |
9060* |
|
SMOKEHEAD
HEAVY PEAT |
√ |
3600 |
4200 |
4000 |
MUST BUY - PEAT FANS |
2725 |
3500 |
3690 |
|
SPEYBURN
75 CL 43% |
√ |
3500 |
3800 |
4400 |
MUST BUY ; 2950
@FKFT |
NA |
3560 |
7200 |
|
SPEYBURN 1L 43% |
X |
NA |
5250 |
5200 |
SKIP |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
SPRINGBANK
70CL |
√ |
NA |
8000 |
NA |
MUST BUY RARE BRAND |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
TALISKER
10 45.8% |
√ |
3600 |
3800 |
3600 |
MUST BUY |
NA |
5290 |
5000 |
|
TALISKER
STORM 45.8% |
X |
4800 |
4900 |
4800 |
+VFM: YOUR CHOICE |
NA |
7300 |
6625 |
|
TAMDHU 12 |
√ |
5300 |
5300 |
NA |
OPTIONAL; 4600 JFK |
|
|
7300 |
|
TOWIEMORE |
X |
NA |
5200 |
NA |
SKIP |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY |
||||||||
|
JOHNNIE
WALKER RED |
X |
800 |
800 |
900 |
AVOID |
1205 |
1395 |
2525 |
|
JW
BLACK |
√ |
1800 |
1800 |
2000 |
MUST BUY |
2150 |
2450 |
NA |
|
JWBL 12 SPEYSIDE |
√ |
2000 |
2000 |
2100 |
GOOD BUY |
NA |
2650 |
NA |
|
JWBL 12 HIGHLANDS |
√ |
NA |
NA |
NA |
DUE ANY
MOMENT |
NA |
2650 |
NA |
|
JWBL 12 LOWLANDS |
√ |
2000 |
2000 |
2100 |
GOOD BUY |
NA |
2650 |
NA |
|
JWBL 12 ISLAY |
√ |
NA |
NA |
NA |
DUE ANY
MOMENT |
NA |
2650 |
NA |
|
JW WHITE
WALKER |
√ |
2400 |
2400 |
2400 |
INTERESTING |
|
|
|
|
JW
DBL BLACK |
√ |
2650 |
2600 |
2700 |
MUST BUY |
2525 |
3225 |
4200 |
|
JW GOLD |
√ |
3800 |
3600 |
3800 |
MUST BUY |
3650 |
3250 |
5600 |
|
JW GREEN |
? |
NA |
NA |
NA |
DUE ANY
MOMENT |
NA |
NA |
5350 |
|
JW ISLAND
GREEN |
? |
NA |
NA |
NA |
GOOD BUY |
NA |
5090 |
NA |
|
JW SWING |
√ |
NA |
NA |
5750 |
JUST GRAB |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
JW
18 YO |
√ |
6800 |
7000 |
6400 |
MUST BUY |
6000 |
6290 |
6900 |
|
CHIVAS
REGAL 12 |
√ |
1800 |
1800 |
2000 |
MUST BUY |
2200 |
2340 |
NA |
|
CHIVAS REGAL
15 |
√ |
3500 |
3600 |
3600 |
GOOD BUY |
3850 |
4065 |
NA |
|
CHIVAS
REGAL 18 |
√ |
4800 |
4900 |
5200 |
MUST BUY |
NA |
6090 |
NA |
|
BALLANTINE'S
FINEST |
X |
1000 |
NA |
1100 |
YOUR CHOICE |
NA |
1400 |
NA |
|
BALLANTINE'S
7 YO |
X |
1800 |
NA |
NA |
NVFM |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
BALLANTINE'S
12 YO |
X |
1900 |
NA |
NA |
YOUR CHOICE |
NA |
2220 |
NA |
|
BALLANTINES
15 YO |
X |
3600 |
3350 |
NA |
YOUR CHOICE |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
BALLANTINES
17 YO |
√ |
4800 |
5000 |
4800 |
MUST BUY |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
DEWAR'S 15 YO |
X |
3500 |
3500 |
3500 |
FAIR BUY VFM |
2700 |
3030 |
NA |
|
DEWAR'S 18 YO |
√ |
4800 |
5200 |
5000 |
MUST BUY |
5550 |
5800 |
5890 |
|
DIMPLE’S
15 YO |
√ |
4250 |
4500 |
4250 |
MUST BUY |
5535 |
4250 |
NA |
|
GRANTS
TRIPLEWOOD 12 |
? |
NA |
NA |
5200 |
GOOD BUY @1660 FKFT |
NA |
3230 |
4225 |
|
HIGHLAND
Q'N MAJESTY |
√ |
NA |
NA |
2375 |
MUST BUY 12 YO |
1925 |
NA |
NA |
|
ISLAY MIST |
√ |
2800 |
2800 |
2800 |
INTERESTING |
NA |
NA |
3750 |
|
SIX ISLES
BLENDED MALT |
√ |
3500 |
3600 |
NA |
VERY
INTERESTING |
NA |
3560 |
NA |
|
SOMETHING SPECIAL
NAS |
√ |
1350 |
1450 |
1450 |
MUST BUY |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
100 PIPERS
BLENDED MALT |
√ |
NA |
1300 |
1300 |
MUST BUY 8 YO |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
TEACHER’S
H’LAND CREAM |
? |
1300 |
NA |
1400 |
NO IDEA |
1050 |
1550 |
1450 |
|
TEACHER’S 50 |
? |
1400 |
1400 |
1400 |
FAIR BUY |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
WILLIAM
LAWSON’S 12 |
? |
1000 |
NA |
NA |
NO IDEA |
1015 |
1245 |
NA |
|
WILLIAM
LAWSON’S 13 |
? |
NA |
NA |
NA |
I LIKED IT, VFM |
NA |
1630 |
NA |
* The prices of Kilchoman Machir Bay and Sanaig have dropped to Rs 3,000 and 4,500 as of January 2023. Loch Gorm is not available yet.
* The price of Ardbeg 10 has dropped to Rs 4,800 as of January 2023.
* Singapore sells The Singleton of Dufftown
