Imported Liquor Retail Shop

Hi All,

I want to purchase Non-Indian high quality liquors in Chennai to give as a gift to my guests. Please help me to find any place where I can just BUY them. Probably any supermarket which sells them or any counters. I do not want bars or hang-out places.

I am not a drinker myself, so I do not know much about it.

That's a very difficult question to provide a favourable solution to, even more so for you as you don't actually drink. The short answer is no-- period-- Tamil Nadu just does not do imported drink. If you are rich it is a lot easier to find.

Thanks mate for the reply. After a bit of research I am losing hope that I would be able to buy one here in Chennai.

That's not correct.

TASMAC shop at the Spencer Plaza, Phase I, first floor does have it.

Some respectable IMPORTED kinds of the whiskey and gin, priced around 2,500Rs/- per 0.75 bottle, and even some imported red and white wine (around 1,000Rs/- per bottle).

2 places where I've heard they sell:

-Amma Naana near Boat Club. Not sure if they sell directly, but you can request the manager and he might provide.
-Duty free shop in the Airport, you might need to ask the authorities.

I have often thought of playing "Tout" for a day or a week or, and hanging outside international arrivals at the airport, trying to buy a bottle or 10 from foreigners. If you can buy it from the airport then it wouldn't be duty free would it !!--so that's out of the question. I will have a go at playing secret agent at Amma Naana next time i'm in town.


Life is just an illusion from alcoholic deficiency.

@Yuri

Thanks for your suggestion, but I am afraid all the beautiful looking bottles in the spencer's tasmac shop is 100% Indian made. I am looking for Imported one's. Redninja is correct.

Wrong assumption.

I'm a foreigner, and I'm a drinker (occasionally). And I'm pretty much competent to know what is the difference between imported wine or whiskey and locally made one. And I'm pretty much familiar with illegal under-counter places in the Chennai.

I newer said about "all the beautiful looking bottles". I pointed out to SELECTED ones. And, in fact, they are exactly the same, like ones in the duty free shop at the Chennai airport - only difference is the price.

Perhaps those bottles are of equal quality as that of imported ones. I don't know. Anyway, please get in touch with me at ameenk@gmail.com or 9841478614, if you can share those under-counter places in Chennai.

If you go to http://tasmac.tn.gov.in/Mrp.htm , you can find all those brands price and manufacturers address.

Excellent news, this is ground breaking stuff, Yuri--could you PM me any more news--if you are back in Spencers could you tell us the brands ? that would be great

A trip to pondy just for the good liquor is worth the effort , plays out just fine at the cost angle as well , taking into account the premium topped up by the under-counter tasmac dudes here in chennai !

Your best bet is DFS or someone coming home from abroad who does not drink (you can bring in 2l of distilled spirits). Drinks are ridiculously expensive in India as I found out and even the crap local stuff they serve in bars cost an arm and a leg. Or ask around which shops sort fo secretly sell the stuff.

Excellent suggestion and that is what I am doing over the weekends after i got shifted from a reputable place for drinks. 'Vijaykant', a tamil cine actor being criticized by many for his alcoholic habits has been elected to the state assembly along with a large group of his men. So i am sincerely hoping that he will do something for his 'fellow drinkers' from the state(who are basically 'us' ) by allowing the private shops (foodworlds, bazaars ) to sell liquor.

Missed that one. Don't even argue with them about that. They're very harsh individuals supported by local goons. Foreigners may just miss the language but being someone who can understand Tamil cannot take that abuse from them.

wha? tasmac counter guys just round off to the nearest 5 or 0.

how can a trip to pondy be cost effective against that.

dad just picks up cases of lager from the club. chilled pints at 45 bucks a piece

I really wish chennai turns into mumbai wrt liquor. chilled beer home delivered for the MRP value. I miss the carlsberg in the evenings in mumbai :'(