The alcohol extravaganza that is DFS Masters of Wines and Spirits 2017

If there’s one thing that luxury travel retailer DFS does well, it’s putting together one of the largest and most prestigious retail exhibition of carefully-curated fine wine, champagne, whiskies and other spirits you’ll ever find in Singapore with its annual DFS Masters of Wines and Spirits exhibition. Its sixth edition was launched on 25 March 2017 to much fanfare, turning Singapore’s Tras Street dining stretch into an outdoor party even as it showcased to its VIP customers some of the most desirable – or most ostentatious, depending on your leanings – bottles this side of the planet.

As was with previous editions, DFS scoured the globe and worked with wine and spirits producers to compile a jaw-dropping and bank-depleting rare collection that would be the envy of even the most well-off collectors. The 2017 collection includes some 27 different Cognacs and whiskies as well as over 25 vintage wines and Champagnes, most of which are exclusive to DFS.

Just how special is special, you may ask. If you’re a connoisseur of wine you probably would love to get your hands on a vertical 18-vintage set of Château Mouton Rothschild, assuming you can afford it. Otherwise there’s the Pyramid of Château Margaux 1990 Vintage, a collection of four bottles from that year’s vintage earning the coveted 100 points score from Robert Parker. And if you like your bubbly, how about the latest Dom Pérignon Malle Plénitude’ trunk, complete with a collection of 23 meticulously chosen bottles of vintage Dom Pérignon P2?

Cognac fans may be impressed by the CAMUS Rarissimes 65 Year Old, otherwise the Martell Grand Champagne 1920 or Louis XIII Le Mathusalem could tickle your fancy.

For whisky lovers, there’s the 38 Year Old Brora from the Highland distillery that closed down in the 1980s whose remaining stocks are now owned and managed by Diageo. Then there’s the Dalmore 50 Year Old that’s finished in Champagne casks, first unveiled in 2015’s edition of Masters of Wines and Spirits as part of the Five Decades Collection but now available separately. From the Suntory stable comes the ultra-rare Hibiki Arita 2016 and Kutani 2016, both 35-year old whiskies of which only 150 bottles each were produced.

We’re also particularly intrigued by the 32-year old Bruichladdich 1984 that’s been aged in bourbon and Jurançon casks, the latter of which is a white wine made with Petit Manseng, Gros Manseng, and Corbu grape varietals in southwest France. Also of interest is the Glenfiddich Rare Collection 1972, a 44-year old malt. But the Macallan Fine & Rare Treasury Collection, a rare collection of 30 vintages in a bespoke cabinet created exclusively for DFS, is most likely to remain out of reach even for the most avid and well-off collectors.

“Each piece in this year’s Masters of Wines and Spirits collection is a testament to the craftsmanship of the brands and our relationships with our customers,” declares Philippe Schaus, Chairman and CEO, DFS Group. “We’re thrilled to bring together this fantastic assortment of the world’s leading wines and spirits once again to Singapore and present an unmissable opportunity for connoisseurs to build their collection with DFS.”

The curated collection will be exhibited in store and available for sale at DFS, Singapore Changi Airport’s Wines and Spirits Duplexes at Terminal 2 and 3 for the rest of the year until sold.