Shipping bourbon

[bjhowell]

Going on a trip to Louisville and planning on hitting some distilleries. Planning on picking up a few bottles and would rather not have to check them considering the cost of an extra bag these days. Have any of you folks shipped your purchases back home after visiting bourbon country? Any issues with it?

[HighInTheMtns]

You are allowed to take 5 L of alcohol in a suitcase. The fee for an extra checked bag and the cost for shipping that much alcohol are pretty comparable. I wouldn't rule out flying with it. Well-packed box inside a duffel bag for the second bag, so you don't have to check it on the way out?

[Balcones Winston]

Doesn't a bag cost like $25? Depending on how many bottles you're thinking about picking up, could potentially be cheaper than shipping.

You can always put a small suitcase in a large one on the way there, then you have an extra case to pack with whiskey on your way home yet only 1 way cost for that extra bag.

[Balcones Winston]

Also these are really handy for shipping in a suitcase

[Tico]

go pick up a styrofoam wine shipper and pack your bottles in there on the way home

can take up to 5L and nothing over 140 proof (no stagg!)

[bjhowell]

I'll be leaving Louisville and going to NYC before heading home, so was thinking it would just be easier to ship that drag it around. Also was thinking maybe I'll find more than 5 or 6 bottles I want to bring home

[Balcones Winston]

I'll be leaving Louisville and going to NYC before heading home, so was thinking it would just be easier to ship that drag it around. Also was thinking maybe I'll find more than 5 or 6 bottles I want to bring home

[DBM]

If you are really only wanting to transport "a few bottles" just put them in the bag with your clothes. Clothes are good padding, just wrap the bottles in them with 3M painters tape to prevent any sticky residue, and use a larger suitcase than you need to have extra room on the return.

The most important advice I have is to tighen down all screw cap bottles. I hade a bottle of Old Charter 10 leak because the cap was on but ever so slightly loose, and the air pressure difference at altitude pushed some out.

[mark fleetwood]

go pick up a styrofoam wine shipper and pack your bottles in there on the way home

can take up to 5L and nothing over 140 proof (no stagg!)

Am taking a trip to Cinti for a graduation and will drop by TPS.

TSA rule is 5Litre per person, will that mean 6 750ml will be accepted or will a TSA agent axe a bottle without bothering to do the math?

[HighInTheMtns]

Am taking a trip to Cinti for a graduation and will drop by TPS.

TSA rule is 5Litre per person, will that mean 6 750ml will be accepted or will a TSA agent axe a bottle without bothering to do the math?

I flew with 7 and was left alone. Others have flown with more. I assume that at the very least the TSA is well aware that most booze is in 750ml bottles.

[tanstaafl2]

I flew with 7 and was left alone. Others have flown with more. I assume that at the very least the TSA is well aware that most booze is in 750ml bottles.

I brought about 14 bottles home scattered among 2 bags from a trip to England last year (some of it was 750 ml bottles of beer which they seem to care even less about) and nobody bothered it. If it isn't likely to blow up they don't seem to check that often. Unless maybe the screener gets thirsty...

[HighInTheMtns]

I brought about 14 bottles home scattered among 2 bags from a trip to England last year (some of it was 750 ml bottles of beer which they seem to care even less about) and nobody bothered it. If it isn't likely to blow up they don't seem to check that often. Unless maybe the screener gets thirsty...

[Trey Manthey]

I had 6 bottles flying home with me after my trip last year and my checked bag went missing for a week and a half because it was "flagged" by TSA. I eventually got everything back (including 3 bottles of 17 year Four Roses), but it's made me wary of trying it again...or asking others to mule for me.

[HighInTheMtns]

I had 6 bottles flying home with me after my trip last year and my checked bag went missing for a week and a half because it was "flagged" by TSA. I eventually got everything back (including 3 bottles of 17 year Four Roses), but it's made me wary of trying it again...or asking others to mule for me.

That's ridiculous! 6 bottles is under the limit. Glad you got them back, at least.

[DBM]

Wow, I guess I was lucky. I had no idea about the TSA 5 liter maximum. I flew home with 13 750ml bottles in one box last month. Oops.

Fyi, wine shippers are mostly worthless when whisky bottles come in all shapes and sizes. Rotund VOB doesn't fit, squared Larceny doesn't fit, wide JPS17/18 doesn't fit... Skip the styrofoam and use a box or suitcase with clothes or bubble wrap.

Edited May 31, 2013 by DBM

[scubadoo97]

Southwest still allows 2 checked bags free

Bubble wrap and wrapping in cloths work fine. Wine sleeves for narrow bottles works well too. 4 17 yr old FRSB went home in wine sleeves

[WhiskyRI]

I came home from Scotland with 9 bottles packed in a double-box with peanuts in between the two boxes and had no issues - but it was a direct London to Boston flight. I declared it all at customs and was waived through with no extra duty to pay - ymmv.

[bontrager]

go pick up a styrofoam wine shipper and pack your bottles in there on the way home

can take up to 5L and nothing over 140 proof (no stagg!)

I was determined to take a bottle of Stagg home over Christmas to share with my family and didn't realize the proof restriction until I already checked my bags (mine was 142 proof I believe). Fortunately, I was lucky and got to introduce my family to one of my favorite bourbons.

[Meruck]

The real answer to your question is that KY law prohibits the shipment of spirits in or out of the state. Period

That said, my "favorite Whiskey mule" lives in KY and lets just say not all formalities are always observed.