Shipping Alcohol From Canada to the U.S.

Isn't that like putting a file inside a birthday cake to sneak it OUT of jail?

@MadSingleMalt HAHA, too true. I suspect he's looking at a single cask bottling that Kensington Wine Market has exclusively.

Here's another question: does anybody know why Serge stopped having daily music links? For me, most of his reviews are irrelevant as they are for obscure whiskies I would never be able to buy. He did, however, turn me onto some equally obscure and very interesting music, mostly jazz.

@BlueNote Bingo

@InGreatSpirits They do some great stuff. I recently got a Tomatin 18 year old cask strength, finished for 5 years in a PX sherry butt. Really quite superb and a bargain at $128 Can.

They don't ship direct from the store. You place your order, they package it up really well, you call the UPS store across the street from them and UPS pick it up and deliver it to you. You only get a decent rate on the shipping and handling if you order several bottles. A few of us generally put a joint order of 8-10 bottles together and the S&H is usually around $13-$15 per bottle. 6 bottles or fewer will get the S&H up around $20 per bottle. Round up some fellow maltheads and give it a try. Call the store and UPS to see if it is possible. Remember, all this is in dollarettes, not real dollars.

@InGreatSpirits

I have ordered various bottles from Kensington Wine Market, and used the UPS store across the street to pick up the package. My last order was packaged and I had not yet been able to call the UPS store to arrange for pick up - however, the store manager was at KWM picking up a package for a different customer and noticed my package waiting, so he emailed me and asked if I wanted him to pick it up... KWM and UPS Store #260 both provide great customer service. As noted above, KWM packages in bubble wrap and inflated bottle shippers, but you pay for this packaging. Still worth the cost.

Shipping from Calgary to Canadian destinations is / has been without issue- so far. Not sure what the fallout will be with the recent Supreme Court of Canada decision (the "free-the-beer" action). This decision may impact KWM/UPS ability to ship product outside of Alberta... CBC article here: cbc.ca/news/canada/…

For cross-border shipments, Canada to the USA, I think you need to refer to the US Customs & Border Protection web site "Requirements for importing alcohol for personal use"

Link: help.cbp.gov/app/answers/…

Quick summary: Shipping by mail / postal service: prohibited. Shipping by courier: allowed; importer of record is must be 21 years of age or older; duty will be collected on value of entire shipment (i.e. no duty exemption); individual state laws regarding personal importation limits will also apply.

I recall listening to a Whiskycast podcast advising that certain couriers have stopped shipping alcohol to certain states... don't recall which states or the particular reason why, but most likely due to pressure from the affected states alcohol control bureau.

Suggest you make a phone call to US Border Services at the port of entry city, and your local state alcohol control bureau (if you live in a state that has one), as well as the courier you plan to use.

Slainte and bonne chance with your cross border shipping attempts!

What does Ups charge to ship to another province?

@Lars From Alberta to Quebec between $8 and $10.

@Lars, I recently revisited Talisker 18, from our World Cup exchange. Outstanding single malt. Thank you.

@Lars Our last few orders to BC from KWM in Calgary have cost $99 shipping whether it was 6 bottles or 10. KWM charges about $5 per bottle for packaging, which they do very well. So on a 10 bottle order about $15 S&H per bottle. I'm told that ZYN WIne Market ships via Canada Post and is cheaper for S&H. They don't have nearly the selection that KWM has, but their prices are considerably lower for things like Corryvreckan, Uigeadail, most Sprinbanks and many other OBs.

Hey guys, if anyone who like to do purchasing in Calgary, this is an outlet you should look into. Its Highlander Wine & Spirits, they have online deals every Tuesday at 1pm local time for 24 hrs and then on Thursday and sometime Friday as well. Very often they have ++++ attractive price on their sales. Last Tuesday, the Macallan 1824 Rare Cask was on sales for $200.00. I know other stores in Calgary cost more than $380. I've talk to the manager who look after the online sales, she told me they only shipped within Canada by Canada Post. The other good thing about this store is, we can earn points on our purchase, once we accumulate enough points we can redeem in the next purchase. All you have to do is set up anaccount before your first purchase. Cheers

@WtoW Thanks for that. I'll look into it right away.

@BlueNote ZYN can be very pricey for shipping. They charge $10 for each Styrofoam tube. Gets cheaper if you are getting multiple bottles.I am looking for another source out there. I am debating shipping all the tubes back to her for my personal shipping :)

@Astroke Yikes, that is expensive. KWM only charges $5 for the tube, the packing and the box.

Have you check on the international whisky day sales at KWM ? All whiskies sales started at 10%. Its end on Sunday. I picked up a bottle of Duncan Taylor Glen Spey 1991 23 YO for $148. Check their website. Good Luck.

@BlueNote @Astroke it is true that Zyn is charging around $10 by bottle (including box) but I checked KWM prices and even in sale products are between $3 and 15$ higher than Zyn’s prices. I have to admit though that KWM has an incredible selection.

@WtoW That Glen Spey sound very interesting. I will give abetter look at KWM sale.

@Robert99 It's an expensive little habit we've got any way you look at it.

Slainte!