Duty free scotch whisky

I often travel from Vancouver BC to Washington State, and often stop at a duty-free store on the way home. I have noticed that the quality of duty-free scotch is usually less than what I would purchase in liquor stores in BC and Washington. Usually such duty-free scotch has a more grain alcohol taste than the normal product. (Even discounting any difference in alcohol content.)

For example, several bottles of duty free Johnny Walker Black Label, and of Chivas Regal 12 year old. I currently have a bottle of duty-free Glenfiddich 12 year old and am fairly certain it is not of the quality of liquor store product.

Has anyone noticed such a difference between liquor store whisky and duty-free?

i thought that might be true, so i asked around. i was told that it is the same exact quality. for example, a johnny walker black label is the same whether you get it from the liquor store or the duty free shop. i also heard that there particular scotch expressions you'll only find in a duty free shop.

The store scotch is much much supreior then the Duty Free! Its a Global problem....

Really? i thought it should be the same??? the duty free ones are cheaper because tax is not included?? by right they should be of the same quality? is it of particular shop or all duty free shops give the same problem??


Regards

Yes, the "discount" is not a cut that the distiller is making, it's the lack of taxes. So while it is a reduced cost for the purchaser, it's not a discounted product.

I'm very skeptical about the idea that companies are providing different product under the same labels. There are some whiskys available from some distillers (Bowmore and Bunnahabain come to mind) which I've found are not available through retailers, but these are specific blends and are unique in name and labeling. I've also only had the opportunity to try the Bowmore's Duty-Free-Only whisky, but I thought it was quite good.

That said- and this may seem to discredit my first statement- I've had the liqueur "Irish Mist" which was actually purchased in Ireland and found it enjoyable, while I've never cared for the Irish Mist sold in the US. But that would be a distinction of bottles made for export vs. domestic sale, so maybe the Duty Free variety is either export or domestic? I sincerely doubt that a 3rd variety, specific to Duty Free sales, exists.