Went to the Post Office today...

[flintlock]

...to pick up a package. 'Twas a bottle of red whiskey...(for the Grateful Dead fans in the audience) that I'd scored off of ebay. I got a bottle of ORVW 10/107 at a great price so I bit. Anyway, after a few days too long, it arrived. I went to the Post Office, a bit nervous, and go through the process of signing for the box. Inside, the bottle is rolling back and forth, very loosely. You can hear the whiskey gurgling back and forth. I get to the car, open the tape and the bottle is wrapped in two flimsy layers of cheap bubble wrap with some scotch tape. Also in the box are some of the giant bubble wrap stuff (with bubbles 2" x 4" or there abouts) and they're all completely flat. :hot:

I can't believe it didn't get inspected, and I also can't believe it didn't break. That neck was just begging to snap off if dropped. It would have spilled whiskey everywhere and might have gotten difficult to explain. :bigeyes:

[unclebunk]

...to pick up a package. 'Twas a bottle of red whiskey...(for the Grateful Dead fans in the audience) that I'd scored off of ebay. I got a bottle of ORVW 10/107 at a great price so I bit. Anyway, after a few days too long, it arrived. I went to the Post Office, a bit nervous, and go through the process of signing for the box. Inside, the bottle is rolling back and forth, very loosely. You can hear the whiskey gurgling back and forth. I get to the car, open the tape and the bottle is wrapped in two flimsy layers of cheap bubble wrap with some scotch tape. Also in the box are some of the giant bubble wrap stuff (with bubbles 2" x 4" or there abouts) and they're all completely flat. :hot:

I can't believe it didn't get inspected, and I also can't believe it didn't break. That neck was just begging to snap off if dropped. It would have spilled whiskey everywhere and might have gotten difficult to explain. :bigeyes:

Sounds like the seller was a real dope, judging by the way he packed it for shipping. Congrats though on a nice bottle of whiskey.

[p_elliott]

Do not ship alcohol though the US mail it's a felony! Ship it by fed ex or UPS it just against their rules they can't do any thing to you but refuse to replace it if it breaks.

[SMOWK]

Do not ship alcohol though the US mail it's a felony! Ship it by fed ex or UPS it just against their rules they can't do any thing to you but refuse to replace it if it breaks.

[barturtle]

It just seems so much easier to use a flat rate box and throw it in one of the blue "drop boxes". I need to setup an account with UPS or FedEx so I can use their "drop boxes" instead.

[p_elliott]

I didn't know you weren't suposed to ship alcohol UPS the first time I shipped a bottle of bourbon. They asked me what was in the box I said Bourbon they shipped it no problem.

[flintlock]

And I wonder...could I as the recipient get in trouble? I didn't send it, but I was receiving. Probably not, but it makes you think. I don't plan on ever shipping bourbon - I'll deliver the goods in person. :cool:

[squire]

Ryan hand delivery is the best way.

[buckey48]

Never tried shipping UPS. Have shipped fedex. Never been ask about contents. Ship it ground.

I hope I get what my brother shipped. He did not know you can't send bourbon by mail. He packed it with bubble wrap and a box then put it in a large priority mail box with some other goodies.

[darkluna]

I used to look forward to a time when it would become easier and more transparent to ship spirits, but I'm afraid it's moving further and further in the other direction. I have absolutely no facts to back this up, just my general impression.

[Josh]

I have a friend who shall remain nameless who received a package from another member here who also shall remain nameless that was labeled "Contains Alcohol" in big bold letters on the front, even though he had been warned that shipping alcohol is illegal into my friend's state.

The package arrived with no trouble.

[ILLfarmboy]

I didn't know you weren't suposed to ship alcohol UPS the first time I shipped a bottle of bourbon. They asked me what was in the box I said Bourbon they shipped it no problem.

[Dramiel McHinson]

I always transport bourbon safely packed in my liver and brain. I use public conveyance on those occasions. When I arrive at my destination, I empty the filtered remains and refill. During long journeys, I might have to repeat the drain and refill cycle a few times but this keeps the bourbon fresh. Although you can't share under these circumstances, I've never lost a drop.

[PaulO]

Ok, here's my best mail story. It's true, and happened recently. I got my mail from the mailbox and noticed an odd letter. It was a wrinkled up copy of a financial periodical, sealed in plastic. It had a note of apology from the post office on the back side. The note said something to the effect of we're sorry your mail got all wrinkled, we hanldle a lot of mail, we're really sorry. Then when I turned it over, I noticed that it wasn't my mail, and had been delivered to the wrong address. :slappin:

[SMOWK]

I've gotten a box via FedEx that had "contains alcohol: verify age 21" written in big letters on the side of it which was delivered without a problem. I have had nothing but bad luck with FedEx since. It seems as though anything shipped to me goes through Pennsylvania now. They have opened a few packages, realized it was bourbon, and returned it to the sender. I blame Pennsylvania, not FedEx.

UPS has never been a problem, but I've never seen a package come via UPS and go through Pennsylvania either. I've had bottles leak when shipped via UPS where they reboxed it for me and delivered half full bottles.

I've also had bottles leak via USPS, but they have never gotten the box wet due to extremely well packaged samples by a fellow member.

[p_elliott]

UPS and FED EX will ship alcohol from retail stores to individuals just not from individuals to individuals.

[cowdery]

If it is illegal to ship alcohol that can only affect the shipper, not the recipient. You can't control what someone ships to you.

[rocky480]

UPS and FED EX will ship alcohol from retail stores to individuals just not from individuals to individuals.

I found out about this stupid rule when I was out in California attending a conference. One of the gifts to the people at the conference was a bottle of wine. I ended up with two of them and didn't want to check them on the light back since I was traveling lightly and was worried about the bottles breaking. When I attempted to ship them to myself, I was informed that I'd need to have a retailed handle the shipping because an individual can't ship alcohol, even if it's to themself. Luckily the liquor store I went to was kind enough to include my free wine with all the items I purchased from them.

[bvscfanatic]

...to pick up a package. 'Twas a bottle of red whiskey...(for the Grateful Dead fans in the audience) that I'd scored off of ebay. I got a bottle of ORVW 10/107 at a great price so I bit. Anyway, after a few days too long, it arrived. I went to the Post Office, a bit nervous, and go through the process of signing for the box. Inside, the bottle is rolling back and forth, very loosely. You can hear the whiskey gurgling back and forth. I get to the car, open the tape and the bottle is wrapped in two flimsy layers of cheap bubble wrap with some scotch tape. Also in the box are some of the giant bubble wrap stuff (with bubbles 2" x 4" or there abouts) and they're all completely flat. :hot:

I can't believe it didn't get inspected, and I also can't believe it didn't break. That neck was just begging to snap off if dropped. It would have spilled whiskey everywhere and might have gotten difficult to explain. :bigeyes:

That is NOT a pretty story, Ryan. Not at all. Next year you should make a trip up here to Kentucky when the Antique Collection is released.

Living here in Lexington has very few advantages outside of bourbon (which I drink more and more the longer I'm here). The place is a colossal bore, to be honest. But I WAS able to pick up FIVE bottles of ORVW 10/107 just 4 miles away at the Liquor Barn. :grin: Still have four of 'em. I must qualify this as the most pleasing bourbon that my taste buds have ever experienced. Even the 15 year PVW doesn't impress me as much as the ORVW 10/107 that cost me $30/fifth.

[flintlock]

That is NOT a pretty story, Ryan. Not at all. Next year you should make a trip up here to Kentucky when the Antique Collection is released.

Living here in Lexington has very few advantages outside of bourbon (which I drink more and more the longer I'm here). The place is a colossal bore, to be honest. But I WAS able to pick up FIVE bottles of ORVW 10/107 just 4 miles away at the Liquor Barn. :grin: Still have four of 'em. I must qualify this as the most pleasing bourbon that my taste buds have ever experienced. Even the 15 year PVW doesn't impress me as much as the ORVW 10/107 that cost me $30/fifth.

Believe me, monthly trips to KY are starting to loom large in my planning. Lexington is only 6 hours away. I wouldn't have bought off ebay had it not been cheaper than I could buy it off the shelf locally. I don't expect that to ever happen again, either...

[CaptainQ]

"Lexington is only 6 hours away."

Dude, if I was that close I would have to visit about once every other month!! You are lucky to live so close to bourbon mecca.