Bringing wine and champagne home/luggage/ship?

We usually travel and hardly ever check luggage after once waiting 45 min for luggage!

But flying home on business into JFK and debating bringing home some champs and wines that we can typically get in NY (feel free to recommend some!).

These days, does luggage still take forever to get off the plane? I’m wondering if shipping home would be easier?

IMHO!! I would not trust the "lovely" people that inspect our luggage!! I've had stupid things stolen, shampoos- conditioners. Hairsprays!! TSA brings a whole new meaning to "home shopping network"!! If it's something you really like from the island in bulk, then ship it. If not the duty free shop has a nice selection.

If you stop by Select Wine in Cole Bay and pick up some bottles Sylvain has a few styrofoam wine shippers. Folks use them to bring wine down as checked baggage.

Dude, that’s a great point. I mean the last time I took home wine in the luggage was literally weeks before 911. I brought home 8 bottles in luggage from Australia. And no issue, no TSA( thousands standing around). I’ll definitely have to consider shipping

Cap!! This is a whole new ball game and we are just pawns! A friend of mine is a professional caddy, he tells me about clubs/ shoes stolen out of locked travel bags!! If you are looking to bring back that kind of weight, you're going to be WAY short!! Good luck!!!

I’m right there with you. George Carlin is rolling in his grave right now. Don’t even get me started. Anyway, again, I’m gonna be shipping!

And I never said it before, but I love you Gene Simmons avatar🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽

I don't think you can ship alcohol from SXM to the US. You may want to research that. You need an importers license.

mort--I think, although not sure, that Sylvain can ship it though?

I guess I'll find out but can't see why not Fedex.


I'd buy duty free in the airport and just bring onboard but I dont think I ever saw any bottles that I couldnt get in the US

For instance, I've NEVER seen Johnnie Walker ISLAND GREEN here and its a unique scotch I've enjoyed. I saw it once in a bottle shop in SXM once and hoped to see it at the airport but no go.

We brought home three bottles in our checked luggage recently. We used these packages..
They worked perfectly.

Captain, I picked up a bottle of the Walker Green. It's available in Detroit, but at more than twice the price. I also was lucky enough to find a bottle of Old Man Guavaberry Brand Rum.

I bring back multiple bottles of alcohol in my checked luggage every year with no problems. I see you are flying Business Class as we do FC/Business also which means extra free checked bags and if you are flying AA each bag can be 70lbs. I pack each bottle in a neoprene wine sleeve that I take down with me and have never had a lost or broken bottle.

I have brought back 2 or 3 bottles of liquor in checked luggage every year. Tightly wrapped in T shirts and cushioned in middle of clothes. I also have a netbook in there on top so TSA can easily confirm it. Never had a problem. Usually return SXM-CLT-PVD. Maybe NY is different.

Those look pretty good. I use something similar to this Bottle Protector

I’ll keep looking. It’s elusive in NY

Island Green?

Anything online only points to “green”

Official name is Johnny Walker Green Label. It's a 15year. If you have a Total Wine and More near by it's available there. I have some currently at home and usually buy it in St Maarten at Friendly Duty Free on Front Street in Philipsburg.

Shipping back from SXM is not a legal option unless you are set up to do that with the US agencies that will be involved. Bringing back in your luggage is an option and there are all sorts of ways to protect the bottles including Gulmohar's inflatables. I would only suggest really looking at what the cost is back home vs what you are paying to see if it is really worth it, or if is something that is not sold in the US. Due to prices going up on SXM and that we just do carry on with multiple connectors coming home we quit bringing back for the most part but have many times.

It will be interesting to see when they will start allowing liquids on aircraft in carry on, the technology is there but only a few airports have it set up.

"It will be interesting to see when they will start allowing liquids on aircraft in carry on, the technology is there but only a few airports have it set up."
One can hope for that. Would make life a lot simpler like it was before 911.

Here is a link that talks more about it, UK to do it in 2024. I haven't researched extensively but I thought I had heard there were a couple airports in the UK already allowing liquids.
https://www.cntraveler.com/story/will-tsa-liquid-rule-end

You’re right, that’s Green.

But is different it’s not your standard 15 yr Green
It’s, Island Green. Only saw it once. I even met a liquor distributor for Diageo who hadn’t known where to get it.

Island Green
https://www.johnniewalker.com/en-ca/our-whisky/johnnie-walker-colours/island-green/

Highly recommend you try. And now I’m wondering if that’s what the post above from Detroit got.

Cap!! We had so much fun back in the day on Halloween night!! The parties all over the dutch side were amazing!! Yes, I do my own make-up too!! Thank You for the compliment!!! (photo at Red Piano-12)

I've never seen the Island Green. I picked up a bottle of Walker Green.

Interesting.
Definition of Island Green:
"A dynamic interpretation of our Johnnie Walker Green Label crafted using only Single Malt Whiskies from each of the four corners of Scotland. Johnnie Walker Island Green has all the character of a single malt, but with a richer flavour experience – combining notes of rich toffee, fresh black pepper. The maritime malt whisky Caol Ila provides the greatest influence in this stunning combination of smoke, sweetness and spice."
Definition of Green Label:
"Johnnie Walker Green Label is crafted from a palette of Speyside, Highland, Lowland and Island malts matured for at least 15 years – all perfectly balanced to bring together the intense aromas of crisp cut grass, fresh fruit, wood smoke, deep vanilla, and sandalwood."
Really not sure if there is a real difference or just marketing.

Fair point. I’d have to do a taste comparison and report.

And honestly, maybe Hole in the Wall at Maho offers drams of both? Considering their Walker montage mural advertisement…

I've been buying Johnny Walker Green since I first saw it back in 1999 on island and don't recall it being called Island Green. Not so say it was and didn't notice it.

JW Green and JW Island Green are two different blends. Pretty sure Island Green is a newer blend. I actually like the JW Green over JW Blue.

Much better price too.😜 If you have a chance try out Glenlevit 15. You won't regret it.

Glenlivet 15 was my late Dad's favourite Scotch. I enjoy it, too.

Scotch brings back great memories of my Grandfather who got me going on Scotch and other whiskeys. Started out with it mixed but switched to JW Red or Black on the rocks when I was about 12, grandpa insisted! I never really cared for the "peaty" scotch which my mother loves, and mostly moved on to Bourbon and Rye but I still keep about 10 top shelf Scotches around for guest including some JW Green and Gold, not a fan of Blue. My favorite Scotch by far is Macallan Cask Strength which when I just looked is in excess of $2k which I can state I don't like it that much but still have a bottle about half full. Tonight I will have a whisky and cheers to my grandfather! Thanks for the memories

Soon becoming mine too.

" I still keep about 10 top shelf Scotches around "
My last count is close to 25 different single malts and blends but I zero in on the Glenfiddich 12 as my go to standby.

Just a word about US Customs. I always declare all liquor and total the volume (750 fifths plus 1 L s). If they mention I'm over 1 L, I offer to pay the duty. They have always waved me through. Years ago when you could check 2 bags, I brought home 7 liters. Waved me through.

Nope. Cheaper and fresher on island

Amen

Glenlivit is awesome too but I can get that here. .

So after more research, I’ve confirmed JW Green is pretty easy to find whereas JW Island Green is ‘travel retail’ and thus relagated to sales out of duty free and airports. It’s at JFK but I can only buy it outbound.

But yea, check the label next time in SXM. I saw Island Green once.

"but I can only buy it outbound"
Then buy it outbound and then bring it back with you. Don't have to drink it there unless you find more on island.

Some items one buys duty free outbound are not allowed to be reimported. That was the case with me way back when with a carton of cigs.

I don't see bringing back as an issue at all, if you are with in the legal quantity limits and don't appear to be bringing in for anything other than personal use. Not sure on present restrictions from Cuba are, but that is about the only tobacco or alcohol country that you would actually want to bring something back from that might be restricted. If anything it is a tax and duty issue. In my last two trips I haven't even been asked what I would be declaring, and did not even slow down leaving the baggage area noting that we are just carry on. Noting that MJ is a US Customs Broker and I am in the international freight forwarding world we declare anything and everything when asked.

If you like the 15yr old, you'll really like Glenlivet 18. It's a bit pricey so I usually stick with the 12yr as it is available almost everywhere. If you are feeling adventurous you might try Aberlour A'Bunadh Cask Strength. It's about 60% abv so a small splash of water or a single ice cube is recommended to open up the flavor. I usually bring home a couple of bottles of other scotches from Gulmohar's that are not available here in the US.

I do exactly the same. Never been charged a duty. I also bring home 5 cartons of cigs. Same deal.

I've had the 18 Glenlevit. Prefer the 18 Macallan. For a blend the 21 Royal Salute is heaven.

Gulmohar's?

Also, Jerry, what are the unavailable in US scotches you mentioned? Are they worth trying?

"Gulmohar's?"
It's on Front St. Has a vast selection of top shelf liquor but I find his prices much higher than others along Front St for the same item.

Llast spring, I was gifted a bottle of the 21 Royal Blue Salute. Almost done with it and it’s lovely. And I agree the Macallan 18 is also great. We must have similar palates!

Sounds like we do. In that case try out the 18yr Chevas Royal. Very nice blend for the price. So many great scotches out there. Not enough time. 😉

Aberlour 10yr for one. It's their flagship product but is no longer available in N. America that I know of. Gulmohar's used to get a few bottles once in a while and I got my last one there. One of the scotch guides has it at a 95 out of a 100 rating. And it's fairly inexpensive or used to be. I can only find the 15 & 18 yr old and it is $$. I'm hoping he has the JW Island Green as it is especially blended for the tourist market. I would really like to give it a try w/out breaking my bank. A number of distillers do limited editions that are only available in the Caribbean.

I've had the 10yr Aberlour before. Pretty nice but prefer others. So many out there in a variety of tastes. Something for everyone.

Holy crap, still sitting on the jet, besides myself.

I scoured the island all week and no one had JW Island Green.

So we were flying SXM-JFK direct today BUT our crew timed out at SXM. So they finally planned to instead fly to MIA and then get us to JFK

This meant deplane in MIA, thru GE, collect checked bags, then recheck bags, and back to our plane with a new crew. As I get to the gate, I pass duty free by gate D34.

You already know where this is going.

In the DF beside gate D34 was a 4ft wide 10ft tall wall stocked with Johnny Walker Island Green.

And I could not buy it…..

I did take the advice here and found an Abelour [b][/b]10. Also. A JW Blue and JW Blue Dundas and a few bottles of French wines though.

So for anyone flying intl from MIA, therein you’ll find JW Island Green

I’ll get to a proper TR soon. Our diverted flight leaves soon…

captain--sounds like a very long day. Travel is such sweet sorrow.

So while I didn’t get it in SXM and it’s been seen in MIA and ORD, I found it.

And quite lovely 😊 and worth the wait.