Singapore’s famed Changi Airport has a reputation for being one of the best airports in the world. It is known for various art installations, shopping and dining establishments, and world-class facilities, but for us, Changi is a haven for drink lovers!
Each of Changi’s terminals has a Duty-Free Store (DFS) that showcases an extensive collection of spirits from all over the world that would make any drink enthusiast swoon. You can unwind during a layover or head over early before your flight out to explore the vast selection of spirits and drinking experiences that Changi Airport has to offer. And maybe even take home a few from a list of the rarest and exclusive bottles available in Asia.
We went around the terminals to see what the fuss is about, and we were blown away by the selection they had. Here are the highlights of our visit.
Terminal 1
The DFS at the departure area of Terminal 1 is the most compact of the stores, and it features The Cloud Bar, which offers samples of carefully selected spirits, cocktails, and promotions that change every two months or so. Here, you can try the cocktails available on their tasting menu, chat up the bartenders and learn about the featured spirits.
The bar also features an interactive display activated through a jigger that you can move around the screen. It allows you to access more information about the brands with just a few taps.
They have a pretty good selection of whiskies from different parts of the globe, and most of the known commercial brands are available from whisky, gin, vodka, tequila, cognac, and even wines. You can ask the staff if they have a bottle for tasting, so you know the taste of what you are buying, especially if the bottle is a new release. Most of the new bottle releases come out at Changi DFS before any parts of Asia.
Terminal 2
At the center of the vast DFS at Terminal Two is the towering trunk-like column that looks like it’s holding the ceiling in place. The Central Mix-It Bar is located at the base of the column at the first level of this DFS duplex. Samples of different kinds of liquor are on display as a feast for the eyes of an eager buyer. Bartenders are on standby to walk you through the brands on display and assist you in picking the right spirit for you. If you’re up for the challenge you can try all of the featured samples, we won’t judge, as long as you drink water in between to make sure you’re still ok to catch your flight.
Level 1 also houses a Wine Reserve, where you can choose to try any of the 12 wines from their Enomatic machine (wine dispensary). You can ask for complimentary samples to make a more informed decision of which wine you’d like to get. Since the wine reserve has over 350 kinds of wine, it could be daunting to choose one. Thankfully, the helpful staff has got your back and will walk you through the different types and regions of wine.
Make your way up to Level 2, where you’ll find The Whiskey House. Here they feature over 100 single malts, 68 blended Scotch whiskies, 30 American whiskies, and Japanese whiskies that are hard to come by these days.
In the tasting area, guests are allowed to sample over 100 whiskies from all over the world. This area is a destination for those who want to experience the world of whiskies, ranging from classics, special editions, single casks, and exclusive bottles. If the ‘water of life’ gets you excited, The Whiskey House should be on your list of places to visit. Different brands have ‘houses’ that feature their bottle selections in tastefully-designed areas. These houses also conduct Masterclasses for those who are lucky enough to time their visit when new whiskies are launched and brand ambassadors drop by. If you would like to see the schedules of their brand events, check out this link.
Known brands like Hennessy, Johnnie Walker, Glenfiddich, The Glenlivet, The Macallan, Rémy Martin, and The Dalmore, have their own houses that feature interactive learning experiences that play with aromas and other senses, they also showcase collectible bottles and DFS exclusives, and some brands even offer gifting and personalization services. Here they have the limited edition Hennessy Particulière housed in Baccarat crystal bottles with a special seal handcrafted by Guerlain, Johnnie Walker House Exclusives, and a complete set of the 21 bottles of The Dalmore Constellation Collection.
There is also a display of the top ten whiskies voted on by travelers that gives you a glimpse of the taste and preference of whiskey lovers from all over the world.
The Skytrain that connects Terminals 2 and 3 passes through Jewel, so if you decide to drop by both shops, you’ll get a great view of the famous HSBC Rain Vortex.
Terminal 3
Terminal 3 is one of the biggest DFS Wines and Spirits stores with over 1,400 products and over 440 spirits. Here they also have the Central Mix-it Bar that showcases a variety of spirits for you to taste and savor, with master blenders and distillers often visiting for product launches and tasting sessions.
The unique feature of Terminal 3’s DFS is on the second floor, where Long Bar is located. The only branch outside of Raffles, Long Bar at DFS Terminal 3 is a refuge in the airport. They offer each customer a free cocktail, not a sample tasting but a whole order serving, that they can enjoy while waiting for their flight. Here you can enjoy the original recipe of the Singapore Sling from the bar that created it or try any of the classic cocktails they have on their short drinks menu. They also offer the iconic Singapore Sling in special branded Raffles bottles that you can take home and enjoy with your friends, giving you a taste of Singapore cocktail history wherever you go.
They have nine brands with their own signature booth displays—Absolut, Dom Pérignon, Glenfiddich, Hendrick’s, Hennessy, Johnnie Walker, The Macallan, Martell, and Penfolds. They usually hold masterclasses and various events during product launches so make sure to drop by before flying out or check-in when you just arrived in SG to catch these events.
The houses showcase a huge collection of rare and exclusive bottles. Some of the bottles worthy of mention are Martell Millésimes and Martell Cordon 300 Year Anniversary, Glenfiddich Singapore Residence Cask (a rare 1992 vintage exclusive to DFS and limited to 186 bottles), John Walker & Sons Master Blenders Collection, the Johnnie Walker Epic Dates Collection, and the John Walker & Sons Zodiac Collection. After your trip to the whisky gallery, you can step-in a colder room of Wine Reserve to try some wines and check out the rare bottles they have on display.
Outside of DFS at Terminal 3, there are scattered pop-up bars like the Game of Thrones booth (that’s only up until May 28, after the show’s final episode), and their current Whisky Festival Pop-up booth, open until June 2019, where singers and musicians perform live for the travelers in the vicinity. Watch out for the next pop-ups on Terminal 3 by DFS.
Terminal 4
We were unable to pass by Terminal 4’s DFS during our visit because you have to take a bus to go to the newest terminal and we were already rushing to board the plane. But, our editor Tatum Ancheta was already able to visit the shop this early part of the year, and she came home with a few bottles after trying out multiple brands in T4’s The Whiskey House. Sometimes, the server by the tasting booths are Filipinos and they’ll gladly chat you up, and you’ll end up tasting most of the variants on display. You should drop by here with a full stomach if you want to try several bottles.
T4 features a Cocktail Bar where you can try your hand at mixing a cocktail with the help of a seasoned bartender. Terminal 4’s DFS is the only DFS with The Craft Collection, where you can try out craft gins, craft beers, and ciders on tap that changes every so often.
There you have it, a rundown of what to expect and drink at the DFS at Changi Airport. Explore the vast worlds of spirits in one airport, and get to taste a range of drinks for free! All those spirits on display could encourage you to take your wallet out and shop, but keep in mind that each person can hand carry only two bottles on their way out of Singapore, so choose carefully. Always carry your passport and boarding pass, as you will need these to purchase products. So, check in early and visit the DFS in your terminal (and maybe move on to the others if you have time), to enjoy some tipples before your flight out. Now, that’s a perfect way to leave Singapore.
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