Booze

My girlfriend Helga Lilja had a birthday last Sunday and has invited me over tonight to help her celebrate. I decided to bring a nice bottle of wine, so I dropped by the Vínbúð, the state-run liquor store. I got a decent Hungarian number with a really pretty label (I'm guilty of falling for good marketing and pretty labels when it comes to wine!) that cost 1190 kronur ($17.65). That's just about as inexpensive as a bottle of wine goes here. Even Gallo.

So how much does a bottle of, say, Smirnoff cost? A liter bottle of basic rum, vodka or gin costs 2990 kronur ($44.36)!!!!!!!! Yes, you could buy the same bottle at Safeway for $12! If you're thinking of a nice whiskey or a bottle of Grey Goose you're talking a thousand kronur more, or sixty bucks! Hmmm.

So when you're on your way here, think about bringing a few nice bottles of something if you should happen to meet good people and get invited to dinner or a party, or simply if you'd like to have a cocktail or nightcap at your hotel. I think you are allowed to bring one liter of strong liquor plus one bottle of wine or a sixpack of half-liter beers. You can buy it at the duty-free in Keflavík, but it's not that much cheaper than in town. Best to bring your own from home and declare it on your way in.