As the New Year approaches, there's an unmistakable sense of excitement in the air. If you're travelling in or out of Australia during this festive time, you might be looking for the perfect spirits to mark your celebrations.

But with so many choices, the search can get a bit overwhelming. That's where Laneway—Melbourne Airport's online duty free shopping platform—comes in. Here, you can shop for top-shelf spirits at tax-free prices, making your New Year’s celebrations even more special.

To help you decide, we’ve gathered the best sellers and the ultimate crowd favourites. These picks are sure to make your New Year one to remember.

1. Johnnie Walker Blue King George V Blended Scotch Whisky

The Johnnie Walker Blue King George V Blended Scotch Whisky is truly one for connoisseurs. Made with some of the rarest whiskies, this luxurious blend offers smooth age and maturity with a distinctly regal flavour.

Its deep bouquet of roasted walnut, figs, and dates, followed by an intricate palate of honey-sweet notes, fruitcake, and subtle hints of dark chocolate, brings a distinctive richness. Encased in a crystal decanter, this limited edition whisky is a collector’s item, making it a great centrepiece for your New Year’s gathering.

2. Bushmills 21-Year-Old Marsala Cask Single Malt Irish Whiskey

The Bushmills 21-Year-Old Marsala Cask Single Malt is an Irish gem crafted for those who enjoy depth and complexity. Aged for 19 years in former bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks and then finished for an additional two years in Madeira casks, it delivers an exquisite combination of flavours.

This whiskey offers the warmth of dried fruit, a spicy maltiness, and a subtle nuttiness. The result is a rich, harmonious drink ideal for New Year’s Eve toasts. It's the perfect way to indulge in one of Ireland’s finest on a special night.

3. Dom Benedictine Liqueur

If you prefer something a little different, Dom Benedictine Liqueur is an exceptional choice. This liqueur, with its 27 different plants and spices, has a history of craftsmanship dating back centuries. Each ingredient is hand-selected from all over the world to create a liqueur that’s herbal, warm, and uniquely flavourful.

Dom Benedictine’s depth makes it ideal for celebratory cocktails or enjoying neat during New Year’s festivities. It’s a drink that can start conversations and adds a classic touch to any party, providing both flavour and history in each sip.

4. Absolut Elyx Vodka

Absolut Elyx Vodka is crafted for those who love luxurious spirits with exceptional smoothness. Distilled using a vintage copper still from 1921, Elyx embodies quality and craftsmanship. Made with winter wheat grown on a single estate in Sweden, this vodka is pure and characterful, providing a rich and silky mouthfeel—which is why it’s often described as “liquid silk”.

Whether you’re crafting a martini or enjoying it on the rocks, Absolut Elyx makes any New Year’s drink taste refined. Its versatility in cocktails or as a standalone sip will enhance your celebrations, bringing an element of luxury to your toast.

5. Ballantine’s 12yo Scotch Whisky

Ballantine’s 12-Year-Old Scotch Whisky is a perfect blend of single malt and grain whiskies, matured in American oak barrels. Its honey-sweet taste, complemented by oak and vanilla notes, makes it an approachable yet refined choice.

If you want a whisky that’s sophisticated yet easy-drinking, this one is ideal for sharing with friends on New Year’s Eve. Its balance of flavours—sweetness from honey and depth from oak—provides the right mood for welcoming the New Year, either on its own or as the base for a whisky-based cocktail.

6. Bundaberg Solera Dark Rum

This Australian favourite is all about complexity and craftsmanship. Bundaberg Solera Dark Rum is made using the solera process, bringing together aged reserves matured in port, bourbon, and sherry barrels. The result is a dark rum with notes of vanilla, fruitcake, butterscotch, and oak.

Perfect for sipping slowly over ice, Bundaberg Solera is an excellent addition to your New Year’s party. Its smooth, rich finish makes it a standout for rum lovers and adds a distinctly Australian flavour to your celebrations.

7. Canadian Club 20-Year-Old Whiskey

Canadian Club 20-Year-Old Whiskey elevates the renowned smoothness of Canadian Club to a new level. With a mix of soft oak, spiced rye, and a hint of heat, it provides a rich and balanced taste experience.

The whiskey’s smooth, peppery finish is a great companion for celebratory toasts. Sip it neat or in a classic cocktail for a touch of warmth during your New Year festivities, and appreciate the craftsmanship behind this aged Canadian spirit.

8. Chivas Regal Ultis Whisky

Chivas Regal Ultis is the first blended malt from Chivas, bringing together five signature single malts in celebration of five generations of Master Blenders. This is a whisky of character—rich, powerful, and complex.

Its golden hue and commanding aroma make it ideal for a special toast. Sharing Chivas Ultis with friends at a New Year gathering is a gesture of appreciation and taste, offering an unmistakable depth that leaves a lasting impression.

9. Tanqueray 10 London Gin 1L

Tanqueray No. TEN is celebrated for its full-bodied character and citrus undertones. Distilled using whole citrus fruits—like grapefruit, lime, and orange—as well as juniper and coriander, this gin is incredibly versatile.

Its freshness and complexity make it a bartender’s favourite for classic cocktails such as a Martini or a Negroni. Tanqueray 10 is a fantastic choice for New Year’s Eve, perfect for crafting refreshing cocktails to kick off the night or enjoy as the clock strikes midnight.

10. Glenlivet Triple Cask Matured White Oak

Exclusively available in travel retail, Glenlivet Triple Cask Matured White Oak offers an exceptional single malt experience. It is matured in American white oak, traditional oak, and sherry casks, bringing a velvety sweetness that lingers on the palate.

Its light amber colour and creamy coconut and vanilla notes make it a crowd-pleaser for New Year’s gatherings. If you’re passing through Melbourne International Airport, picking up this Glenlivet whiskey will certainly enhance your celebrations.

11. Suntory Whiskey Chita

Suntory Chita is Japan’s first single-grain whisky, offering milder and smoother characteristics compared to typical grain whiskies. Aged in wine, Spanish oak, and American white oak casks, it provides complexity, subtlety, and a clear finish.

This Japanese whisky is an ideal addition to New Year’s Eve—its subtlety can be appreciated by all, even those less familiar with whisky. It’s the type of spirit that embodies sophistication without overwhelming, making it perfect for shared moments.

12. Botanist Islay Dry Gin

The Botanist Islay Dry Gin is made with 22 hand-foraged botanicals from the Isle of Islay, alongside nine berries, barks, and seeds. This meticulous blend creates a gin that is layered and rich in botanical flavours.

A refreshing addition to any celebration, Botanist Gin is perfect for creative cocktails that embrace herbal notes and complexity. It’s versatile, which makes it a great choice to prepare cocktails that bring a unique twist to your New Year’s party.

13. Macallan Enigma

The Macallan Enigma is a sherry-cask-aged single malt with rich, intense notes. Created using exceptional oak casks from Jerez de la Frontera in Spain, it delivers a classic Macallan experience—a full-bodied whiskey that finishes with richness and warmth.

The deep character of Macallan Enigma makes it perfect for ringing in the New Year with a touch of luxury. Its strong, complex profile is perfect for whiskey lovers who appreciate a deeper flavour experience.

14. Jose Cuervo Reserva De La Familia Extra Anejo Tequila

For tequila lovers, the Jose Cuervo Reserva De La Familia Extra Anejo Tequila is a must-have. Aged in oak barrels, it features a complex blend of oak, almonds, vanilla, and cinnamon.

This extra-añejo tequila is best enjoyed in a tequila flute to appreciate the full range of aromas and flavours. It’s a unique and exquisite choice for celebrating with friends as you enter the new year, and its award-winning status makes it all the more special.

15. Jim Beam Devils Cut American Bourbon

Jim Beam Devils Cut Bourbon is for those who enjoy a robust flavour. This bourbon is extracted from the barrels after aging, blending a rich, deep taste with a smooth finish.

Devils Cut is an excellent choice for a celebratory drink, especially if you love classic American bourbon. Its bold flavour adds character to New Year’s Eve, either neat, over ice or as part of a whiskey cocktail.

Found the perfect drink to celebrate the New Year? Here's how to buy it conveniently (and tax-free) on Laneway:

1. Browse the Laneway website and select your favourite spirits.
2. Add the items to your cart.
3. Enter your departure or arrival date at Melbourne International Airport.
4. Click “Proceed to checkout” and enter your payment details.
5. Collect your order at the designated pick-up point at Melbourne International Airport Terminal 2.

Aside from the duty free prices and online shopping convenience, one of the best things about shopping for spirits on Laneway is that we’ve gathered all the best-selling spirits from airport duty free stores like Lotte Duty Free. That means your options are just like those found in-store. Plus, you can pick up your purchases 24/7, perfect if you’re flying late at night or early in the morning.

Every country has different duty free limits for alcohol. So, if you’re flying out of Australia, make sure to check the limits in your destination country. If you exceed the limit in that particular country, you may need to pay additional taxes. Also, some countries prohibit alcohol altogether, and you may face steep fines for bringing in alcohol, albeit unknowingly.

For those flying into Australia, you can pick up your purchases on Laneway once you’ve landed and cleared security. This means you don’t have to worry about alcohol duty free limits since you’re collecting after customs, making your New Year celebrations stress-free.

Get ready to make your New Year’s celebrations truly memorable with Laneway. Shop for your favourite spirits now and enjoy the tax-free prices, travel retail exclusive offerings, and the ease of pick-up that make Laneway the best choice for duty free shopping this season. Cheers to a fantastic New Year!

Disclaimer: Only passengers travelling internationally from/to Melbourne Airport can purchase goods via the Laneway. Please note that some goods may have minimum age requirements (for example alcohol/tobacco) and ID will need to be provided at the time you collect the goods from the relevant collection point. Purchases of alcohol and tobacco via the Laneway must not be made by any person who is under 18 years of age.