Shipping alcohol to the USA: FAQs
Everything you need to know about shipping whisky, spirits and wine from the UK to the United States — customs, FDA clearance, duties, packaging and delivery times.
What is Liquor Logistics?
Liquor Logistics provides a specialist international shipping service for private individuals, collectors and businesses looking to send whisky, whiskey, spirits and wine from the United Kingdom to the United States.
We take care of the logistics involved in moving alcoholic beverages internationally, including specialist packaging, export shipping, US customs clearance and delivery to your chosen US address.
See how the process works for a step-by-step walkthrough, or request a quote to get started.
Can I ship my own bottles of whisky or spirits to the USA?
Yes. Our service is specifically designed for customers who already own bottles in the United Kingdom and want to ship them to an address in the United States.
This might include:
- Whisky or spirits purchased while visiting the UK
- Bottles purchased from UK retailers or auction houses
- Personal whisky collections
- Gifts for friends, family or clients
- Rare or valuable bottles
- Wine and other alcoholic beverages
You can arrange for the bottles to be sent directly to us or arrange a drop-off by appointment.
How does the shipping process work?
It's straightforward:
- Request a quote – Tell us what you would like to ship, including the number of bottles, bottle sizes, ABV and destination ZIP code.
- Send us your bottles – Arrange delivery to our UK warehouse or contact us to arrange a drop-off.
- We prepare your shipment – Your bottles are packed in specialist packaging suitable for international glass and alcohol shipments.
- Export and US import – We arrange international transport and the required customs procedures.
- US clearance – Your shipment is processed through US Border Control and the appropriate alcohol import procedures.
- Final delivery – Once cleared, your shipment is passed to our US delivery network for delivery to your address.
How long does delivery to the USA take?
We normally recommend allowing up to 14 working days for delivery from the UK to the United States.
International alcohol shipments require additional customs and regulatory procedures, so delivery times can vary.
Customs inspections, carrier delays, severe weather, public holidays and other circumstances outside our control can occasionally extend the delivery time.
Does the service include US customs clearance?
Yes.
Our service includes the required US import and customs clearance procedures for your shipment. We handle the customs process when your consignment arrives in the United States, so you don't have to arrange your own customs broker.
Is FDA clearance included?
Yes. Where required, the necessary US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance is included as part of our shipping service.
Are US import duties and state taxes included?
Yes. Unless specifically stated otherwise in your quotation, applicable US liquor import duties and local state taxes are included in the shipping price.
Any applicable general US import tariff will be identified separately where relevant.
There should therefore be no unexpected customs or state tax bill to pay when your shipment is delivered.
Are there tariffs on Scotch whisky?
At present, the relevant US baseline import tariff does not apply to Scotch whisky.
Other products may be treated differently depending on their country of origin and classification. We will advise you of any applicable tariff when preparing your quotation.
Which US states can you deliver to?
We can deliver alcohol shipments to most US states.
Alcohol shipping regulations vary between states and can change at short notice. Certain destinations may therefore require us to confirm shipping arrangements before accepting your consignment.
If you are shipping to Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire or Utah, please contact us before sending your bottles.
If you're unsure, simply provide your destination state and ZIP code when requesting a quote and we'll confirm availability.
Can you deliver to a P.O. Box?
No. Alcohol shipments require a physical residential or business delivery address.
We cannot ship to P.O. Boxes or APO/FPO addresses.
Does someone need to be present for delivery?
Yes.
Alcohol cannot be left unattended. An adult aged 21 or over must be available to accept the shipment.
The carrier may request photographic identification or other proof of age before releasing the consignment.
Can I ship bottles I've bought from a UK whisky retailer?
Yes.
You can have bottles purchased from a UK retailer sent to our warehouse before onward shipment to the United States.
Please contact us before arranging delivery so that we can provide the correct warehouse details and ensure your consignment can be identified when it arrives.
Can I ship bottles purchased at a whisky auction?
Yes.
Auction purchases are one of the common reasons customers use our service.
If you've purchased bottles from a UK whisky or wine auction, you can usually arrange for the auction house to deliver your bottles directly to our warehouse.
Please contact us before arranging delivery and provide details of the bottles you have purchased.
Can I ship bottles I bought while visiting Scotland or the UK?
Absolutely.
If you've bought more whisky than you want to carry home – or simply don't want to travel through the airport with valuable bottles in your luggage – you can send them through our specialist service instead.
Bottles can be shipped to our warehouse or dropped off by prior appointment.
Can I drop my bottles off?
Yes, by appointment only.
Please contact us in advance to arrange a suitable date and time. Do not arrive at the warehouse without an appointment.
How should I send my bottles to you?
Contact us before sending anything to our warehouse.
We will provide delivery instructions and any reference information that should be included with your shipment.
We strongly recommend using an appropriate tracked service when sending valuable bottles to us.
How are my bottles packaged for international shipping?
We use specialist packaging designed for shipping glass bottles internationally. This is step two of our shipping process.
Where necessary, bottles may be repacked from their original transit packaging to ensure they are suitably protected for the international journey.
If your bottles have particularly large, unusual or valuable presentation boxes, please tell us when requesting your quote.
Can you ship bottles with their original presentation boxes?
Usually, yes.
However, presentation boxes can substantially increase the size and weight of a shipment. This is particularly relevant for large wooden boxes, luxury packaging and unusually shaped presentations.
Please provide photographs and dimensions where possible so that we can quote accurately.
Can you ship rare or valuable whisky?
Yes. We regularly handle rare, collectible and high-value bottles.
Please provide an accurate description and value for each bottle when requesting your quote.
For particularly valuable consignments, we strongly recommend discussing insurance with us before shipping.
Is my shipment insured?
Insurance may be available at an additional cost.
Insurance is not automatically included unless specifically stated in your quotation.
If you require cover for loss or damage, please tell us the replacement or market value of the bottles when requesting your quote so that we can advise on available insurance.
Without approved insurance, compensation for bottles lost or damaged in transit may not be available.
What happens if a bottle is damaged?
If an insured consignment arrives damaged, please contact us immediately.
You should:
- Photograph the damaged bottle and packaging
- Retain all packaging materials
- Photograph the outside of the shipping carton
- Where possible, record the damage with the delivery driver
This information may be required to submit an insurance claim.
Leakage caused by a bottle, cork, closure or other product failure is not normally considered transit damage.
Can you ship old bottles with fragile corks?
Yes, but customers should be aware that older bottles can present additional risks.
Corks, capsules and closures may deteriorate over time, particularly with vintage spirits and wines. International transportation can expose bottles to movement and changes in environmental conditions.
We cannot guarantee the integrity of an existing cork or closure during transit.
Are shipments temperature controlled?
No.
Our standard international shipping service does not provide temperature-controlled transportation.
Bottles may experience changes in temperature while travelling through the international carrier network or while awaiting customs clearance.
If you have particular concerns regarding a rare or temperature-sensitive product, please discuss them with us before shipping.
When will I receive tracking information?
Tracking information will normally become available once your consignment has completed the appropriate US customs and border clearance procedures and enters the domestic delivery network.
Don't worry if you don't receive conventional courier tracking immediately after your shipment leaves the UK.
What happens if nobody is available to accept delivery?
Because alcohol requires an adult signature, the carrier cannot simply leave the shipment unattended.
If delivery is unsuccessful, the carrier may make further delivery attempts or provide instructions for rearranging delivery.
Additional redelivery or storage charges may apply if a consignment cannot be delivered within the carrier's prescribed delivery attempts.
What happens if my shipment is returned?
If your shipment cannot be delivered and is returned, additional shipping, storage, customs or administrative charges may apply.
International alcohol shipments returned to the United Kingdom can incur substantial costs, so please ensure that the recipient's name, address, telephone number and ZIP code are correct before shipping.
What information do you need for a quote?
To provide an accurate quotation, please send us:
- Destination US state
- Destination ZIP code
- Number of bottles
- Bottle size – for example 700ml, 750ml or 1 litre
- Alcohol strength (ABV)
- Approximate bottle value
- Description of the bottle or product
- Whether original presentation boxes are included
For unusual bottles or packaging, photographs are very helpful.
Request your quote with these details and we will come back to you with a price.
Can I send you photographs of my bottles?
Yes. In fact, photographs are particularly useful for rare bottles, unusual bottle sizes and large presentation boxes.
They allow us to better understand the size and nature of your consignment before providing a quotation.
Can you ship wine as well as whisky?
Yes. Our service is not limited to Scotch whisky.
Depending on the destination and individual shipment, we can arrange shipping for:
- Scotch whisky
- American and world whiskey
- Rum
- Cognac and brandy
- Gin
- Tequila and agave spirits
- Liqueurs
- Wine
- Champagne and sparkling wine
- Other alcoholic beverages
Contact us with the details and we'll confirm whether we can handle your particular shipment.
Do you ship commercially as well as for private customers?
Yes. We can assist private individuals, collectors and businesses.
If you require regular shipments or have a larger commercial consignment, contact us with your requirements and we can discuss the most appropriate logistics solution.
Do I need to arrange my own customs broker?
Normally, no.
Our service is designed to manage the international alcohol shipping process for you, including the required US customs procedures and final delivery.
If your particular shipment requires anything outside our standard service, we'll let you know before it is dispatched.
How much does shipping cost?
The cost depends on several factors, including:
- Number and size of bottles
- Destination state and ZIP code
- Alcohol strength
- Shipment weight and dimensions
- Presentation boxes or unusual packaging
- Product type and country of origin
- Insurance requirements
Because private alcohol shipments can vary considerably, we provide an individual quotation based on your consignment.
Request a quote and we will give you an exact price.
Will I have anything else to pay when the shipment arrives?
Normally, no.
Your quotation is designed to include the applicable shipping, customs clearance, US liquor duties and state taxes associated with your shipment unless we specifically tell you otherwise.
Any exceptional or additional charges will be explained before your shipment is accepted wherever possible.
Why use Liquor Logistics instead of taking bottles in my luggage?
Travelling with bottles can mean additional baggage weight, the risk of breakage and the inconvenience of carrying valuable alcohol through airports and border controls.
Our service allows you to leave your bottles in the UK and have them professionally packed, processed through the appropriate export and import procedures and delivered to your US address.
This can be particularly useful after a whisky tour, distillery visit, auction purchase or extended trip around Scotland.