Extravieuxguy

Hello there:

I'm looking for any discount retail liquor store in either the Barcelona or Madrid, Spain areas. I will be visiting soon and will be looking for cognacs; specifically, Remy Martin Vintage Premier Cru 1988 70cl, Bowen Extra 70cl, or Bowen X.O. Black n' Gold 70cl.

Thank you

Robert2533

Being a bit facetious, aren’t we? If this is your taste, and budget, then you'll know where to find them.

amer_can

Robert2533--you sure cut to the chase!! Good for you!!

lincasanova

I guess I don't get what is so strange about this question.

Christina

YOu can just go in the grocery store part of El Cortes Ingles, they had cheap booze, I bought several bottles of wine there for only a couple euro (in Madrid). I don't know about a discount store for expensive cognac, though.

I don't know much about that stuff but suspect you aren't going to find discount 1988 Remy Martin or these other things, that's what is so funny. Doesn't it sell for around 400 euro a bottle? The Bowen's are about half that.

Extravieuxguy

Thank you lincasanova and Christina for your comments. I am a collector of cognacs; but, do not wish to pay full retail prices. This will be my first visit to Spain to see this country and shop during that time. Normally, large discount liquor stores will still carry a few of the upper price ranges of liquor. This is why I am asking; since, traveling in different countries of Europe I have found many which were not locally obtainable. Yes, the Remy 1988 will sell for 250-400 Euro a bottle, as well as the Bowen Extra. The other Bowen XO should be about half this price. I wish to thank everyone in advance for their courtesy, consideration, and constructive comments for my endeavors.

Robert2533

There is only one major wine discount store in Spain, LAVINIA, located at Ortega & Gasset, 16, between Serrano and Claudio Coello. They carry some Spanish brandies (cognacs), but no French cognacs that I am aware of. You'd be better off searching Nicolas (www.nicolas.com) in Paris than trying to find something in Madrid.

amer_can

Be sure to get strong boxes for carrying the bottles home and even then wrap them in plastic..I know El Cortes Ingles( just off del sol) has the boxes in their gourmet section in MAD or did last year..

Extravieuxguy

Thank you Robert2533 and amer_can for your assistance and helpfulness. I was truely not trying to be facetious, just thrifty for my collections of cognacs and appreciate your recent reply.

Does anyone know if Spain still has an eBay website? I've tried connecting and my browser says it can not locate? Please provide a link, if they do have a website.

Thank you everyone.

BigAleinstein

I am a cognac ignoramous but 90% of the sheries made in Spain come from Jerez de la Frontera in the south, which maybe of interest to you. One would assume that there are traditional avenues to purchase expensive cognacs and have them delivered to your doorstep, but a visit to the bodegas might be of interest while in Spain.

ribeirasacra

I think you are getting this all wrong.
You are looking for products which are not from Spain and the country not so cheap.
For example this:
http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/re...ac+france/1988
The nearest location is Portugal and that is not the cheapest place to by.
If you wish to purchase collectors items than I am sorry to say you have to pay.
There is a Spanish ebay. Go you your own countries ebay site and at the bottom of the page you can change to the Spanish one.
Or you can do a world wide search from your own country.
El Corte Inglés is far from being a discount store. It is said to be the Spanish version of Harrods, but with more stores.

Extravieuxguy

BigAleinstein and ribeirasacra:

Thank you for your contructive and interesting inputs. I understand Spain produces their own alcohol products such as their wines. I was just hoping, there were big independent retailers who sell more than their country's wines; but, I will check out the bodegas while there to enjoy

Thank you

ribeirasacra

I hope you find what you are looking for. Enjoy Spain no matter if you find/do not find what you are looking for.

julianwill948

Did you try airport? normally I get from airport where is tax free.

latedaytraveler

Extravieuxguy,

Presumably you ship these bottles home rather than carry them around in your luggage, right? I assume that mailing would add considerably to the cost.

Just wondering….

ter2000

I think julianwill1948 is right - the airport duty-free will be your best bet. The selection will be good, plus you won't have to drag the bottles around with you while you tour the country.

I found that Spanish supermarkets offered excellent value when buying alcohol - especially wines and spirits. But that was all bog-standard stuff. If you're looking for something more specialised then it might be more difficult to locate. It is worth looking at your airport's website to see what's available - you can even email the dutyfree shops to check.

Alternatively, since you're travelling to Barcelona, why not go across the border to France to see if you can locate what you want there? It takes about 4 hours by bus to Perpignan, but if you hire a car or take a train it would take even less time.

Extravieuxguy

Thank you ribeirasacra, julianwill948, latedaytraveler, and ter2000. All of you have provided me things to think about and I appreciate your excellent inputs and insights.

If I find something, I was planning to ship them back to the USA. I would keep the duty free shop as my last option; since, US Custom will only allow 1 liter of alcohol to be brought back in during my return flight.

I've visited France in years back and will return there again someday; so, I probably pass on crossing the border. I'd like to see as much of Spain as possible during this trip to enjoy it's beauty and culure.

Also, I tried connecting to eBay Spain through the USA's website; but, it says there is no site? I'm wondering if Spain still has a eBay website? If anyone can connect to it, please provide me a their website address or a link.

I thank you again.

lincasanova

You can bring in more than 1 liter alcohol, you just pay duty on it, as you will when you ship IF your state allows you to receive it. A friend had to try to get an import license for a case of wine someone sent her. It was a huge fiasco.

It used to be you could only send yourself $100/day duty free

You may want to contact customs and see how much the duty would be on certain valued bottles before you go so you know what to expect and can make a decision on what to do.

I hope you find what you are looking for.. and that it arrives safely and.. that you save some money.

ribeirasacra

When you are on http://www.ebay.com/ you scroll down to the very bottom of the first page.
Click on the very small Legal and more on the left. This opens up a slider covering part of the front page. At the bottom right you will see a US lag and the words eBay sites. Click this and it will open up a small banner which gives you all the countries eBay operates in. In any case here is the website.
http://www.ebay.es/
But if you search from your own country you can extend your search to cover world wide.
As a side note I hope the rest of the world does not follow eBay's US layout for its front page. It is so windows 8 it is hard to use! It puts me off.

Extravieuxguy

Hello all:

I've been in the Asian countries these past two months; so, I have not looked at the Fodors postings. I want to thank all of you for your helpful advise and responses. I think at this point, I will just go to enjoy Spain, possibly cross the border into France as suggested by ter200 and look at the duty free shops by julianwill948.

Happy travels to you all