Taipei airport

[Pilsner14]

Anyone pass through this airport........humidor or habanos to be found?

Thanks,

Joel

[merc]

There definitely are Cuban cigars available. The focus is mainly on duty free cigarettes though. Walk through the shop to the back wall and you see see the cigars in glass cabinets. The selection seemed small, with a focus on Cohiba - and the prices weren't that cheap either.

That being said, maybe there there is another shop with more cigars that I didn't see.

Personally, I didnt pick up anything there so can't attest to quality. Let us know your experience, as I will most likely be back there in a few months.

[Lotusguy]

Not worth it for price nor selection.

[Pilsner14]

Thanks guys. I will advise.

[PapaDisco]

In most Asian airports the DFS stores have a proper stock of CC's. Just take El Pres' prices and double them and you'll be in the right ballpark. I've found some gems here and there, but mostly it's window shopping and a good way to kill time between flights.

[jacksfull]

I haven't been through Taipei in several years, but used to find okay deals at Duty Free there. Certainly better prices than I found in town. That was maybe 10 years ago, so no current help.

I have been on the mainland quite a bit lately, though, and that was a no-go at airports. I didn't bother with cigars 'cause the prices in China are so much higher than online (like 3x-5x). But, I did try to buy a bottle of Havana Club 7 at the Beijing airport and was told they could not sell me anything Cuban with my US passport. Never used to concern them, and obviously no problem for Canadians still.

[Lotusguy]

If you do want to buy something at TPE airport, get the Kavalan Solist series Single Malt - they are a fantastic deal there.

[TiminBC]

http://livepricedutyfree.net/taipei-airport-duty-free.html

Not cheap

[Pilsner14]

See the solist scotch.....interesting. 3 pack of RyJ short churchies is $1950 NT........like maybe around 60 U.S......ouch. I packed a good stock as I transfer enroute to Bali. Always good to hear or see member input on what could be decent airports to shop for gems.

JD

[PapaDisco]

Where you sometimes get lucky with the DFS shops is when there's forgotten stock on the shelves. "Benign neglect" so to speak. Occasionally you can get lucky with 4 or 5 year old stock. It's still damn expensive, but if you're killing time between connections it can be a fun treasure hunt.

[Blackham]

+1 for the Kavalan

I got the sherry cask last time (not sure if it's the solist), and it is a fantastic drink at good value (75$ cad for the bottle, plus 2 samplers, plus a scotch glass)

[sengjc]

Kavalan for sure.

[Pilsner14]

Just to reconvene........ Smoked a couple of Tambo coronas .... Indonesian cigars......like I'm sure many of Aussie brethren have.......I gotta say they were no too bad......enjoyable really. Nice smooth tabacco flavour. Too be quite honest the four or five I've had made some of my aged Cubans look like pretty rough. Small sample size but good change.

JD

[Hoepssa]

Both Terminal 1 & 2 are bad stocked, they have different DFS system, in T2, Taiwan Tabac company opened some wine/cigars shop, 4-5 units in T2. Famous brands like Romeo/Monte/Cohiba is what they only have, even without Siglo VI

If you're traveling to Taipei, buy some cheap cigarette, they are cheaper than most cities in this planet, and very nice price of Dom Perignon/Krug NV/ XO