‘Interaction, engagement, experience’: DFS Group unveils second Singapore Changi Airport Wines and Spirits Duplex

SINGAPORE. DFS Group has unveiled its second Wines and Spirits Duplex store at Singapore Changi Airport.

The stunning Terminal 2 store features three DFS in-store concepts – the Wine Reserve, the Cigar Room and The Whiskey House. The two-storey 15,520sq ft duplex is designed to offer an interactive and engaging shopping experience. Customers can sample and explore DFS’ range of more than 900 products from over 240 wines, spirits and tobacco brands. DFS opened its first wines & spirits duplex store at Changi in T3 in May 2015.

“Here at DFS, we continually aspire to deliver the most engaging and exciting experiences for travellers, whether they are at the airport or downtown,” said DFS Group CEO and Chairman Philippe Schaus. “We’re confident that through this unique blend of high-end design, carefully curated assortment, exceptional service and interactive experiences we have created another wines and spirits store of a quality and richness that can only be found at DFS.”

Ribbon Cutting - Teo Chew Hoon, Senior Vice President, Airside Concessio...
Changi Airport Group Senior Vice President, Airside Concessions Teo Chew Hoon and DFS President, Store Operations Tim Delessio perform the traditional opening ceremony
Welcome Speech - Tim Delessio, President, Store Operations (DFS)
And that’s another storey: Tim Delessio proudly inaugurates the new duplex store

DFS T2 Duplex - Facade (2)

dfs changi
The Whiskey House at Changi Airport’s T2 Wines & Spirits Duplex store features complimentary tastings of over 100 different whiskies from across the globe

Changi Airport Group CEO Lee Seow Hiang commented: “The opening of the second Wines and Spirits Duplex at Terminal 2 marks the fruition of an ambitious and game changing transformation that Changi Airport had set out to achieve together with DFS.

“The new duplex represents the positively surprising retail experience which we endeavour to deliver to our passengers, one that allows shoppers to discover, interact and enjoy. We hope it is something for them to look forward to every time they are at Changi Airport.”

The Wine Reserve features over 350 wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Australia, the USA, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal and other wine-making countries. It is located on the first floor and features an enomatic machine offering 12 wines for tasting.

DFS T2 Duplex - Facade (1)DFS T2 Duplex - Interior (2)DFS T2 Duplex - Interior (1)The Cigar Room contains an assortment of cigars from Cuba, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Honduras. A range of limited-edition accessories is offered, including a collection in travel-friendly sizes, as well as cigar humidors and cases.

The duplex features 179 single malts, 68 blended Scotch whiskies, 30 American whiskies, Japanese whiskies Yamazaki, Hibiki and Suntory Chita, and Kavalan from Taiwan. DFS says it is the largest assortment of single malt whiskies offered by any travel retailer in the region.

Philippe Schaus 250
DFS Group CEO Philippe Schaus says the company focused on the range offered, customer service and interactive experiences in creating the store

The upper level of the duplex features the company’s new Whiskey House concept. DFS described it as an intuitive and experiential whiskey shopping experience where guests can enjoy complimentary tastings of over 100 different whiskies from around the globe. Based on flavour profiles, the Whiskey House’s staff can design individual sampling experiences for guests to demystify the selection process.

The same level houses seven individually branded boutiques from Glenfiddich, The Glenlivet, Hennessy, Johnnie Walker, Rémy Martin, The Dalmore and The Macallan. Master distillers, blenders and brand ambassadors will visit the duplex throughout the year to engage with consumers.

The Terminal 2 Wines and Spirits Duplex store was designed by renowned Japanese interior designer Masamichi Katayama, founder of WonderWall. The interior design firm is known for its unconstrained approach in actualising concepts while respecting conventional and traditional design philosophies.

To celebrate its launch, DFS is hosting a whiskey festival from today (27 July) to 10 September featuring a series of Friday and Saturday evening events. Each weekend, a different whiskey brand will host a programme, with guest appearances from their brand ambassadors, as well as master classes and food pairing sessions.

Roving Saxophinist
Who said duty free didn’t have sax appeal?
DFS T2 Duplex - House of Hennessy
The world’s most popular Cognac holds centre stage in the House of Hennessy

Three complimentary whiskey cocktails representing Scotland, the US and Japan will be available for sampling throughout the festival at the Whiskey House and The Long Bar by Raffles at DFS’ Terminal 3 duplex.

“As Asia Pacific’s largest assortment of single malt whiskies in travel retail, we wanted to bring an interactive experience that reflects our customers’ passion and fascination with whiskey to the Terminal 2 Wines and Spirits Duplex,” said DFS Group Senior Vice President Spirits, Wines and Tobacco Brooke Supernaw. “From the Whiskey House to the Whiskey Festival, we’re excited to unveil for our customers a space where they can build their knowledge, expand their palettes, discover new brands and fall in love again with the classics.”

DFS T2 Duplex - Jasmine House
The beautiful Jasmine House
DFS T2 Duplex - Johnnie Walker House
Giant strides in airport retailing: The latest execution of the Johnnie Walker House dazzles
DFS T2 Duplex - The Cigar Room
The Cigar Room contains an assortment of cigars from Cuba, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Honduras. A range of limited-edition accessories is offered, including a collection in special travel sizes, as well as cigar humidors and cases.

 

Champagne Toast - Tim Delessio, President of Store Operations (DFS)
DFS President, Store Operations Tim Delessio toasts the opening in traditional style while Changi Airport Group Senior Vice President, Airside Concessions Teo Chew Hoon looks on
Lion Dance (2)
A traditional Lion Dance marks the opening of The Whiskey Festival and the new store
DFS T2 Duplex - The Wine Reserve
DFS Group’s in-house concept The Wine Reserve offers everything from First-Growth Bordeaux to the best of the New World

The Wine Reserve

DFS T2 Duplex - The Dalmore Boutique DFS T2 Duplex - The Glenfiddich Gallery DFS T2 Duplex - The Glenlivet Space DFS T2 Duplex - The Remy Boutique DFS T2 Duplex - The Whiskey House

DFS T2 Duplex - The Macallan Boutique

Johnnie Walker House - Neil Skinner, Innovation Director, Johnnie Walker
Entering into the spirit of engagement: Johnnie Walker Innovation Director Neil Skinner welcomes guests to The Johnnie Walker House

Lion Dance (1)

The Remy Boutique - Ernest Tse, Regional Director, Asia Pacific, Remy
Rémy Cointreau Regional Director, Asia Pacific, welcomes VIPS to the Rémy boutique
The Dalmore Boutique - Stuart Bertram, Global Brand Ambasaddor, Dalmore
The Dalmore Global Brand Ambasaddor Stuart Bertram introduces an extraordinary 21-bottle line-up dubbed The Constellation Collection (see below), priced at S$437,490 (US$325,000)

The Dalmore - The Constellation Collection of 21 bottles (worth S$437,490)

The Whiskey House - DFS Bartender
Why Changi shoppers can expect to be both shaken and stirred: A DFS bartender mixes up a signature cocktail
The Whiskey House - Frederik Vanden Bulcke, Merchandise Manager, Spirts (DFS)
Delicious drams: DFS Merchandise Manager, Spirts Frederik Vanden Bulcke toasts the opening of The Whiskey House
The Glenfiddich Gallery - Matthew Fergusson, Asia Pacific Brand Ambassador, Glenfiddich
Matthew Fergusson, Asia Pacific Brand Ambassador for the world’s biggest-selling single malt whisky, Glenfiddich, talks guests through the brand’s heritage
The Glenlivet Space - Darren Hosie, International Brand Ambassador, Glenlivet
Darren Hosie, International Brand Ambassador for The Glenlivet
The Macallan Boutique - Randall Tan, Brand Ambassador, Asia Pacific, Macallan
The Macallan Brand Ambassador, Asia Pacific, Randall Tan shows off a selection of rare bottlings from the great Speyside malt
House of Hennessy - Ryan Gan, Education & Training Manager, Hennessy
Hennessy Education & Training Manager Ryan Gan highlights some of the curated display of rare spirits. Note the white gloves in the foreground.
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