Originally intended to document my experience of DeLorean ownership, focus is often radical and strange, boring and obtuse.

Thursday, May 03, 2012

La Maison du Whisky, Paris

Inside La Maison du Whisky, Paris, France.

The LCBO's Whisky Shop is a valiant effort to duplicate what France's La Maison du Whisky perfected decades earlier. The Paris shop opened in 1956 and sells extremely limited, special and rare bottlings of whisky along with many regulars.

After an hour or so of walking in the rain, I found LMDW tucked down a little street north of the Champs d'Elysees, just west of La Madeleine. 20 Rue d'Anjou to be exact. It's a beautiful corner store filled with beautiful rare bottles, with a beautiful custom "MW" push to open the door.

Dorking it up outside La Maison du Whisky.When I entered I spun around, a la Julie Andrews, to take in the views of all that was on offer. I guess my excitement was apparent. Despite being dressed in my laziest pair of jeans and grungy old running shoes the amazing staff seemed genuinely happy I was there. Like I was an old friend.

I realize how cliche that sounds but it's difficult to explain the feeling when I was allowed into their private collection room to take photos. It's a small room with bottles to the ceiling, so I used my wide angle lens to capture a few that meant something to me. I can only assume they were for sale, but I didn't ask.

Although a small store by North American standards, La Maison du Whisky is full of incredible bottles. How incredible? What do they have? How about a Glenfarclas Family Cask 1965 just shy of 500 Euros? Or the 1957 Auchentoshan 50 year old? Or Glenmorangie Pride?

If you want it, La Maison du Whisky (probably) has it. Unless you happen to be looking for the 1975 Auchentoshan 35 year old.

Sorry. I bought the very last one - the display bottle.

Labels: , , , , , , , ,

10 Comments:

Anonymous Dan said...

Glad to hear the Paris trip went well and that you were able to get your hands on the last bottle of the Auchentoshan 1975/2010...hope it is worth it! Seems like we both had a 'whisky journey' in the last week or so. I was out in Calgary and was able to pick up a bottle of the English Whisky Co. Chapter 6, which isn't carried at the LCBO.

12:26:00 PM

 
Blogger Martini said...

Very cool Dan! Does Calgary have a liquor control board that runs their stores? Seems like they have a better selection.

I wish I was able to bring back more bottles. LMDW had so many amazing bottles that the LCBO would never carry.

6:27:00 PM

 
Anonymous Dan said...

The sale of liquour, beer, and wine in Alberta has been privatized (although as far as I can tell a store still requires a license to sell alcohol), so there is no central liquor control board like there is in Ontario, Quebec, and BC. I'll write a bit more on this in the next couple of days (I hope!), as it is something that has been on my mind since my trip out west (selection, price, etc., private vs. public).

7:26:00 PM

 
Blogger Martini said...

That should be interesting. It's something I've wondered about.

9:20:00 PM

 
Blogger Unknown said...

Sounds like an amazing adventure! I like that the staff was kind and welcoming. That makes the trip all the more memorable.

11:27:00 PM

 
Blogger Martini said...

Absolutely Michael. La Maison du Whisky was the highlight of my trip.

8:12:00 AM

 
Anonymous Ryan said...

So when are you going to open your awesome new bottle of whisky? Don't let it sit around too long on the shelf or you'll never open it and enjoy it.

I would not trust myself in LMDW with a credit card. If I ever get to go, I will need to hand over my wallet first :-P

1:35:00 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How do places like that stay in business? It's gorgeous! And very expensive to say the least! They must do a lot of online dealing.
When you open it, you MUST do a review!

9:04:00 AM

 
Blogger Martini said...

Ryan - I am saving the '75 until my 50th birthday. Turning 50 isn't fun, but now I have something to look forward to. Yes, LMDW was very exciting! (and dangerous!)

3:44:00 PM

 
Blogger Martini said...

Ryoko... they do sell quite a lot of "regular" whiskies too. The types you'd find at most ordinary liquor stores. But I'm guessing it's not about the money for them. The online portion of their business does not offer nearly as much as the store did.

3:46:00 PM

 

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home

 

This many people accidentally stumbled upon my site
...while searching for porn.