Duty free stores worldwide.

[Siberian Bear]

Traveling to Calgary in a month, then to Barcelona (maybe Zurich and Istanbul as well) next summer. Should I be excited in terms of duty free CCs in those airports? Any experience with those or any other worldwide airports? Cancun didn't impress me to be honest.

[canadianbeaver]

Just returned from Madrid and Barcelona yesterday. Duty Free was nice but too small. On the way, stopover in Frankfurt was of course much better.

But here's the thing. Like liquor and wine, most Duty Free's are not a great bargain anymore IMO. And the sellers have absolutely no idea what they are selling except name or price at the Barcelona and Madrid ones that I could tell.

In Barcelona, the TABAC stores are the cigar shops, no LCDH. If you look up "best cigar shops Barcelona", you will find what appeals to you and where.

Their hours are strange, best late in the day. 

Here is a box found of 2008 Siglo 6, investment!

 

[Siberian Bear]

Thanks for the info Beaver! I agree that price wise it's no longer a bargain when dealing with Duty free. The only reason could be a nice find of somewhat aged box but I think it's rare with a ton of people going through them daily and buying cigars for gifts and such. I still managed to get a bottle of Dalmore SM in Cancun but cigars were so so.

That's a nice box with very appealing throat's beehive. I had a similar image but with rotting gums on one of the Partagas boxes. Smoked the whole box but nothing so far 

[jcorona]

Haven't been to Istanbul yet, but was in Antalya, Turkey in the summer. The duty free walk in humidor was small, but had a selection of the major brands - hoyo, trinidad, cohiba, upmann, punch, bolivar and monte, while the nc's were represented by the ubiquitous davidoff. Prices were very competitive, so I picked up an slb of hdm epicure especial, and some 3 packs. I have heard that the walk in humidor in Istanbul is larger, so it's worth a visit.

[canadianbeaver]

I also found that the place of travel can have an item available nowhere else. Price may be something to think about, but I bought no boots or jewelry. This was on my trip list.

By the way, sold here. Inspected and graded. In US dollars! There you go. 

 

[ebhead]

Istanbul has two Duty Free walk in humidors in international arrivals and they're pretty well stocked - RA, Bolivar, Partagas, H Upmann, Cohiba, Monte, LGC and a bunch of NC (have no clue what they are as I don't really smoke them). Note that you are only allowed to bring in 50 cigars per person. Prices are all in Euros and cheaper than most Duty Frees in Europe, maybe a tad high but I don't have a real gauge as I haven't flown out of Europe in a bit. I got a box of RASSC and a Party Mille Fleurs for about $400 euros total (don't have the receipt with me). The thing that stuck out for me was the German QA paper (as in inspected in Germany for the German market) in the boxes when I opened them.

International Departures has three Walk in Humidors, next to the spirits sections (which is pretty well stocked too). Don't expect any help or advice as the employees there were just there to keep an eye on things. I didn't end up getting anything on my way out as that airport is a hot mess of humanity and it was just a chore trying to move 50 feet when I flew out of there in early October. Based on a cursory glace the departure prices appeared to be slightly higher than arrivals prices.

Also, don't expect to find any of the Turkish Regionals there...completely non-existent in the airport and the country...but if you're looking for $30 (USD) 2001 Cohiba Pyramid faker I suggest you head on into the city, there are plenty of those.

Hope this helps

[ebhead]

Minor Correction:

It wasn't 400 Euro. The conversion was about $400 Canadian. My bad.

e

[oliverdst]

10 minutes ago, ebhead said:

Minor Correction:

It wasn't 400 Euro. The conversion was about $400 Canadian. My bad.

e

Much better now! 

[BarryNY]

And I believe that he gets to bring back 100 cigars pp...not 50 without paying any duty...

[ebhead]

4 minutes ago, BarryNY said:

And I believe that he gets to bring back 100 cigars pp...not 50 without paying any duty...

I was actually referring to 50 that can be brought into Turkey from the arrivals duty free. I tried to bring in more but the sales person mentioned that only 50 can be brought in duty free from the store there (something about their system would not allow more with the passport being scanned).

I should have been clearer

[Siberian Bear]

Well, Calgary duty free cigar selection was pretty much non-existent, except for some pharmacy store brands I've never heard of which were sitting on a shelf behind some screen due to Canadian laws regarding selling tobacco to minors, so no cigar porn  When I asked if they have Cubans, the response was "maybe some day". Really?

Let's hope Istanbul will be better.

Meanwhile, onto the next 24:72!

[BEVOSREVENGE]

On 12/20/2016 at 1:43 AM, canadianbeaver said:

Just returned from Madrid and Barcelona yesterday. Duty Free was nice but too small. On the way, stopover in Frankfurt was of course much better.

But here's the thing. Like liquor and wine, most Duty Free's are not a great bargain anymore IMO. And the sellers have absolutely no idea what they are selling except name or price at the Barcelona and Madrid ones that I could tell.

In Barcelona, the TABAC stores are the cigar shops, no LCDH. If you look up "best cigar shops Barcelona", you will find what appeals to you and where.

Their hours are strange, best late in the day. 

Here is a box found of 2008 Siglo 6, investment!

 

TEB 2008, now that is quite the find!!

[LandCruiser]

Most places I have been have fairly awful selection, and typically neglect their stock. I suspect mainland Europe has a bit better stock than some of the places I have been. 

Istanbul - Tel Aviv - Amsterdam - Oslo - Stockholm - Helsinki - Moscow - St Petersburg - Amman - and a few others, none had anything noteworthy, have been in all over the past year. 

Bottom line, if you are looking for cigars, find a B&M at your destination, or order online. Better selection, better prices, and better storage conditions.