UK Trip - St Henri - Do I take it, or buy it there!!!

[FlyboyAl]

I'm off to the UK on QF1 in 3 weeks and staying with a mate I haven't seen for 35 years. I want to give him a bottle of St Henri (it's a long story!) and I'm trying to figure do I buy local and pack in suitcase, buy duty free (if its available) or buy in the UK.
I'm not fussed with saving $10 here or there, its getting it that matters.
Anyone have any good ideas?
IF I can buy duty free, is the Dubai transit any issue with liquid?
HELP!

 

[opusman]

Wine generally isn't a great bargain duty free, and going price in the UK seems to be around £60-£70. I'd just get it from Dan's for $90 and take it with you

 

[drron]

But 60 GBP now is a little under $100.Plus the GBP could fall further.
Back in the day I got it at a bottle shop in NYC for virtually the same price as here.
But if it is to be really special and you have a past vintage then take it but pack very carefully.

 

[drron]

OK you can get older vintages cheaper-
Penfolds St Henri Shiraz.

At those prices-50 GBP for 2003 and 56 GBP for 2004 I would be buying 6 and bringing a couple home.

Tasting notes from Penfolds-
https://www.penfolds.com/~/media/Fi...Patience-Tasting-Notes-St-Henri-1953-2010.pdf

Dans has the 2003 at $162.99 and 2004 at $159.99.

 

[FlyboyAl]

I've found it duty free at syd airport and as I'm not out to save money, I am thinking this is a good option and I know I've got it and it won't get broken.
The vintage is not important, it's the wine that matters!!!!

Am I safe to assume that I will be taking it off the plane and then back on again without any issues at Dubai?

 

[TheRealTMA]

I'm off to the UK on QF1 in 3 weeks and staying with a mate I haven't seen for 35 years. I want to give him a bottle of St Henri (it's a long story!) and I'm trying to figure do I buy local and pack in suitcase, buy duty free (if its available) or buy in the UK.
I'm not fussed with saving $10 here or there, its getting it that matters.
Anyone have any good ideas?
IF I can buy duty free, is the Dubai transit any issue with liquid?
HELP!

Duty free wines are a joke these days. Penfolds wines are significantly cheaper in the U.K. compared with here. Finding back vintages will mean a bit of running around. GIYF.

 

[Dalescott]

Cote de Rhone off the shelf in UK is of reasonable quality, and not that expensive. I would consider something like fortified, say Muscat or similar. We have done this in the past and it gets a very warm reception with Family and friends.
I have found over the years that quality fortified are hard to find, specialist shops have them. But anywhere else they are hard to find, ports are of course plentiful, but I believe ours is of a superior quality.
My opinion for what it's worth.

 

[jrod]

I've found it duty free at syd airport and as I'm not out to save money, I am thinking this is a good option and I know I've got it and it won't get broken.
The vintage is not important, it's the wine that matters!!!!

Am I safe to assume that I will be taking it off the plane and then back on again without any issues at Dubai?

No, you may run into trouble if it's not checked in. I know people who have tried to bring back duty free via hong kong layover, and before boarding, they do a bag search at the gate and confiscate any liquid over 100ml.

 

[Buzzard]

FlyboyAl, I would duck into the local Post Office and buy a wine pack for $3.85 and load the bottle into your checked in luggage.
I've even just used the inner* of the wine pack, wrapped some clothing around it and to date never had a bottle break. YMMV.

*If you ask, the PO might even have a spare inner that they could give you.

 

[FlyboyAl]

I wasn't going to put it in the baggage, but I think I'll now do it that way.
There are too many variables in carrying it, and transiting in Dubai.
A Bottle pack, and a few plastic bags and wrapped in clothes will be the go.
Like I saod previously, I'm not worried one way or another about the price - it's the "getting it there" that I was concerned about.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Buy in Australia. Package well and place in your suit case is what I would do.

 

[FlyboyAl]

Yep, that is now the plan.

 

[Canny man]

I've never had one break. Wine pack's are good, but another tip is to put a running shoe at each end of the bottle and cushion the body with clothes. Bottles are really strong against compressive forces, but glancing blows to the neck or heel can do a lot of damage. Works for me.