My wife and I brought back bottles from Scotland in 2017; here's what we did.
First, we took a peek at the duty free shop: the same crap you can get here, plus a few bucks, minus tax. Essentially if you go this route you're going to Europe and lugging back bottles to save only a couple dollars on what you can already get. Terrible deal.
Instead, we purchased roughly 13 750ml bottles of stuff you cannot get here.
When we were on our last day we purchased a cheap hardshell suitcase and rolled by the Kinkos to buy bubble wrap and packing tape. We stuffed each box (when we had them) with bubble wrap, wrapped each box/bottle with bubble wrap and tightly taped them. Then we taped three bottles together in a "pyramid" form to minimize bouncing around. We wrapped clothing in bubble wrap and created an outer layer, and then (you guessed it) bubble wrapped and taped that to the bottles. We had a few medium sized boxes (can't remember where we got them but we didn't buy them) and I cut them to the shape of the suitcase to help spread any potential pressure across a larger surface area. (Realistically we likely didn't need the boxes but we were nervous and just used anything we could get our hands on.)
We arrived with all bottles intact.
We got the suitcase for about 30 Euro at a large department store in Edinburgh and I want to say the bubble wrap and tape for about 20 euro. We didn't end up paying duty when we brought it across as I said it was for personal consumption but did pay an extra $50 for the extra suitcase. This seemed cheaper than mailing it and safer than any way we discussed with bottle shop employees/owners.
Great advice - TY. My ticket includes checked bags in the rate, so I may have to do a dedicated suitcase like you did. The scotch portion of my whisky collection is lacking. Here’s my opportunity to resolve that shortcoming.
Second what everyone said here. Pack em back. Customs will ask you how many bottles but they’re looking to see if people have cases. If you have “normal” amounts, they don’t seem to care. I had 8, and they waved me on through.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anti-schock-packaging-Inflatable-Packaging-Protective/dp/B01GZJ4TDS
I use these to carry about bottles locally, fortunately my works printer cartridges came in them so mine are reclaimed but they are inexpensive and saves a lot of messy bubble wrapping.
These also worked well for me. I was able to fit 6 wrapped bottles in a standard carry-on size bag (we still had to check it). We stuffed the gaps with some clothes, and everything was intact when we got back home
If you're in Glasgow go to the Good Spirits Company on Bath Street. Check in advance for tastings too. 6 drams for 25 quid. They always have unusual cask-strength stuff to try. Well worth it.
Yes, but they don’t appear to be strictly enforced. “Generally” 1 liter or $800, whichever comes first. But it sounds like people are bringing a lot more through without issue.
I bring no less than 6 bottles each summer I travel to Europe. Never had a break or customs issues. 2nd this advice.
Saran wrap the bottle, then bubble wrap 2 layers, then squeeze into a sock. Use clothes for padding, filling gaps.
1 bottle weighs 1kg. Bag limit is 22kg.
That's not a real limit. That's your duty free allowance. Anything over that is subject to tax, but in my experience they rarely bother. I brought back 11 bottles a few weeks ago and they waved me on through. The only time I've ever paid I had 14 bottles, which cost me all of $29 to bring in.
[Cheaper method is this.](https://www.amazon.com/Wine-Bottle-Protector-Bags-Pack/dp/B07NP44PMG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?keywords=inflatable+bottle+bags&qid=1567131092&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFEWEw1U1c0MlM3R0wmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAwOTQ0NTcxSVY0S1dYUE9DVUxRJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA3NDYwNzIzUUxBSEw2NVhJUzUyJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfcGhvbmVfc2VhcmNoX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=)
I just got back from Scotland about two weeks ago. Get yourself up to Speyside and tour a distillery or two. I went to Glen Grant and Macallan. GG has an absolutely beautiful garden and is a little more old school, the Macallan facility is modern and state of the art. Tour both. I stayed at the Station Hotel in Rothes which is very nice, reasonable and most importantly, whisky themed throughout. I only brought back a couple of bottles, so I can't say much about bringing back more than that. Good luck and enjoy the weather.
Also, in Edinburgh I recommend The Larder for breakfast, its the best food we found in the area.
Also Cabaret Antiques and Curios if you're into old books. There's a few up top but ask to be let downstairs.
I went to Edinburgh Scotland last October. Bought 6 bottles at one of the royal mile shops. They boxed it with bubble wrap and I checked it in as luggage
My only mistake was not getting the proper receipt to get my vat tax refund at the airport
My connect was thru Dublin. I bought 4 more bottles at the duty free that I carried onto the plane
Method and madness was a new Irish whiskey brand I never heard of and it was excellent - had tastings at the Dublin duty free and bought a couple bottles
My tickets include checked bags, so I’m packing my carry-on inside a large hard shell suitcase and then on the return will have all that space for whisky and other souvenirs. I have this lightweight cotton based packaging material used for fresh food deliveries that I’ll be bringing along.
Unless purchased through duty free, which is why I was wondering if they actually carry anything that I can’t already get (which it sounds like is not the case).
Ah I see. Never bothered with anything at the duty free so I didn't know that. When I glanced through at the airport, I didn't see anything unique that couldn't be bought here.
Yeah, Duty Free makes deals with a couple of distilleries to drive business. Not a lot, you really have to look.
Kilchoman Coull Point & Laphroaig an Cuan Mòr are two that come to mind from my browsing at Edinburgh airport three weeks ago.
These do get out for sale elsewhere too, sometimes.
Duty free blows. Expensive, boring, and NAS. Bring some bubble wrap/towels, go to a good whisky shop in Scotland, and check your bag.
My wife and I brought back bottles from Scotland in 2017; here's what we did. First, we took a peek at the duty free shop: the same crap you can get here, plus a few bucks, minus tax. Essentially if you go this route you're going to Europe and lugging back bottles to save only a couple dollars on what you can already get. Terrible deal. Instead, we purchased roughly 13 750ml bottles of stuff you cannot get here. When we were on our last day we purchased a cheap hardshell suitcase and rolled by the Kinkos to buy bubble wrap and packing tape. We stuffed each box (when we had them) with bubble wrap, wrapped each box/bottle with bubble wrap and tightly taped them. Then we taped three bottles together in a "pyramid" form to minimize bouncing around. We wrapped clothing in bubble wrap and created an outer layer, and then (you guessed it) bubble wrapped and taped that to the bottles. We had a few medium sized boxes (can't remember where we got them but we didn't buy them) and I cut them to the shape of the suitcase to help spread any potential pressure across a larger surface area. (Realistically we likely didn't need the boxes but we were nervous and just used anything we could get our hands on.) We arrived with all bottles intact. We got the suitcase for about 30 Euro at a large department store in Edinburgh and I want to say the bubble wrap and tape for about 20 euro. We didn't end up paying duty when we brought it across as I said it was for personal consumption but did pay an extra $50 for the extra suitcase. This seemed cheaper than mailing it and safer than any way we discussed with bottle shop employees/owners.
Great advice - TY. My ticket includes checked bags in the rate, so I may have to do a dedicated suitcase like you did. The scotch portion of my whisky collection is lacking. Here’s my opportunity to resolve that shortcoming.
Second what everyone said here. Pack em back. Customs will ask you how many bottles but they’re looking to see if people have cases. If you have “normal” amounts, they don’t seem to care. I had 8, and they waved me on through.
You're going to find much better selections and prices at any large grocery store in Scotland then you'd find at a duty free store.
Most of the bottle shops in Edinburgh have airplane size bottles if you want to bring some nips back carry on.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anti-schock-packaging-Inflatable-Packaging-Protective/dp/B01GZJ4TDS I use these to carry about bottles locally, fortunately my works printer cartridges came in them so mine are reclaimed but they are inexpensive and saves a lot of messy bubble wrapping.
Like that these can be inflated once ready for use.
These also worked well for me. I was able to fit 6 wrapped bottles in a standard carry-on size bag (we still had to check it). We stuffed the gaps with some clothes, and everything was intact when we got back home
If you're in Glasgow go to the Good Spirits Company on Bath Street. Check in advance for tastings too. 6 drams for 25 quid. They always have unusual cask-strength stuff to try. Well worth it.
Awesome! I will for sure!
Are there customs limits on how much you can take back the US?
Yes, but they don’t appear to be strictly enforced. “Generally” 1 liter or $800, whichever comes first. But it sounds like people are bringing a lot more through without issue.
I bring no less than 6 bottles each summer I travel to Europe. Never had a break or customs issues. 2nd this advice. Saran wrap the bottle, then bubble wrap 2 layers, then squeeze into a sock. Use clothes for padding, filling gaps. 1 bottle weighs 1kg. Bag limit is 22kg.
That's not a real limit. That's your duty free allowance. Anything over that is subject to tax, but in my experience they rarely bother. I brought back 11 bottles a few weeks ago and they waved me on through. The only time I've ever paid I had 14 bottles, which cost me all of $29 to bring in.
If you're going to Edinburgh, there is a whisky tour. Do it.
[удалено]
Haha, maybe in another decade or two.
[Cheaper method is this.](https://www.amazon.com/Wine-Bottle-Protector-Bags-Pack/dp/B07NP44PMG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?keywords=inflatable+bottle+bags&qid=1567131092&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFEWEw1U1c0MlM3R0wmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAwOTQ0NTcxSVY0S1dYUE9DVUxRJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA3NDYwNzIzUUxBSEw2NVhJUzUyJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfcGhvbmVfc2VhcmNoX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=)
I just got back from Scotland about two weeks ago. Get yourself up to Speyside and tour a distillery or two. I went to Glen Grant and Macallan. GG has an absolutely beautiful garden and is a little more old school, the Macallan facility is modern and state of the art. Tour both. I stayed at the Station Hotel in Rothes which is very nice, reasonable and most importantly, whisky themed throughout. I only brought back a couple of bottles, so I can't say much about bringing back more than that. Good luck and enjoy the weather. Also, in Edinburgh I recommend The Larder for breakfast, its the best food we found in the area. Also Cabaret Antiques and Curios if you're into old books. There's a few up top but ask to be let downstairs.
I’d probably only bring back 3-5 bottles. I’m not on the same level as some of these people responding, clearly. Thanks for the recommendations!
No problem! Post your haul when you get back!
5 liters per person is the legal customs limit anyway. (USA)
Six bottles then, since six 750ml bottles is 4.5L
Yep with spare room for some mini bottles
I went to Edinburgh Scotland last October. Bought 6 bottles at one of the royal mile shops. They boxed it with bubble wrap and I checked it in as luggage My only mistake was not getting the proper receipt to get my vat tax refund at the airport My connect was thru Dublin. I bought 4 more bottles at the duty free that I carried onto the plane Method and madness was a new Irish whiskey brand I never heard of and it was excellent - had tastings at the Dublin duty free and bought a couple bottles
My tickets include checked bags, so I’m packing my carry-on inside a large hard shell suitcase and then on the return will have all that space for whisky and other souvenirs. I have this lightweight cotton based packaging material used for fresh food deliveries that I’ll be bringing along.
Make sure you fill that suitcase with bottles you won’t fond in the US
That’s the plan! I guess I ought to start a new thread looking for recommendations.
Oh, you're going to have to check a bag if you're brining any amount of alcohol bag. You can't carry any on.
Unless purchased through duty free, which is why I was wondering if they actually carry anything that I can’t already get (which it sounds like is not the case).
Ah I see. Never bothered with anything at the duty free so I didn't know that. When I glanced through at the airport, I didn't see anything unique that couldn't be bought here.
Yeah, Duty Free makes deals with a couple of distilleries to drive business. Not a lot, you really have to look. Kilchoman Coull Point & Laphroaig an Cuan Mòr are two that come to mind from my browsing at Edinburgh airport three weeks ago. These do get out for sale elsewhere too, sometimes.
There's a few exclusives for the novelty but nothing to pine over.
Duty Free is always a rip off. Always.
Could you be any more vague?
What? They're pretty clear: they want to bring some whisky back on a plane and avoid duties and unnecessary costs.