Open the Shipment with Caution
Shipping whiskey internationally isn’t for the faint of heart. Every box, bottle, or keg needs to be packed with delicate love and proper padding. Opening up one of these shipments with nothing but the hope that your whiskey arrived safely is enough to make your palms sweat. The process is easy as long as you take the right precautions. Read on to learn all the tips and tricks to shipping whiskey across the world.
Know Your International Customs Rules
To begin your shipping journey, you must know the rules put forth by the specific customs you are dealing with. Each country and state has its own laws, restrictions, and requirements, and they can range in difficulty. Some countries may only allow you to ship to certain locations designated by the local government. Make sure you contact the local liquor board to get the required licenses and all the paperwork you need to ship in those locations.
Pick a Reliable Shipping Company
In order to make sure your whiskey safely arrives in its destination, you need to pick a reliable shipping company to handle the job. Look for a service that offers a money-back guarantee, is known for timely delivery, and offers tracking services so you can keep an eye on the shipment’s progress. Many of these services can also handle the paperwork and clearances for you, making your international shipping a much easier process.
Ensure Proper Packaging for International Shipping
When you start to package up your shipment, make sure that it is labeled correctly and meets all the appropriate safety regulations. Depending on where you are shipping, you may need to use special certified boxes and bottles to hold your spirits in transit. Pay special attention to the padding around the bottles to keep them safe and secure during transit. Foam, styrofoam, cardboard, and bubble wrap are all good options.
Choose an Insured Shipping Option
In the event that your shipment was damaged or lost in transit, you should do your best to get an insured shipping option to cover the cost of whatever gets lost or broken. That way, you won’t be out of pocket if something happens to it. While most shipping companies will offer an insurance option, you may need to contact third-party insurance companies for specific coverage. Make sure you understand all the terminology and read the fine print before completing the purchase.
File All the Necessary Paperwork
Paperwork is another crucial part of shipping whiskey internationally. Depending on the country you’re shipping to, you may need to fill out a few forms or get certain signatures from the local liquor board. Make sure you know which paperwork is required before you send your shipment, to avoid any potential delays in transit. Additionally, be sure to check the customs rules before you ship so that you don’t send your shipment to an area where it is illegal.
Pay Attention to Climate Conditions
It’s important to pay attention to the climate at the destination and the transit times to ensure that your whiskey arrives in good condition. For instance, if you’re shipping to a hot climate, it’s a good idea to add extra insulation and cooling materials to the box. The same goes for icy winter weather. You need to make sure that the distillery sends out the right ratios of different whiskies to cope for the changing climates during transit. Overall, be aware of the conditions and environmental factors that could cause your whiskey to expire or not taste the way you intended it to.
Choose the Right Pricing for Your Shipments
Cost can also be a huge factor in international shipping. The more expensive the shipping option you choose, the faster your whiskey will reach its destination and the less likely it is to get lost or damaged. In general, tracking and insurance are both important investments to make if you want your whiskey to be safe. That said, if you’re shipping large amounts of whiskey, look for shipping discounts or bulk discounts that many carriers offer.
Verify Delivery with the Recipient
Finally, once your whiskey has arrived at its destination, it’s important to take the time to verify delivery with the recipient. A signature should be obtained in order to confirm that it arrived in the condition it left in. Once you have the signature in hand, you’ll be able to rest assured knowing that your whisky is safe and sound in its final destination.
