Starting August 29, 2025, the U.S. ends the long-standing $800 “de minimis” duty-free rule for low-value imports. Most postal operators are pausing U.S. parcels, and courier shipments (DHL/UPS/FedEx) will be treated like normal imports, with duties/fees collected and adult-signature rules strictly enforced. Buying direct from a non-U.S. retailer just got slower and more expensive. [1]

 

What actually changed?

 

• De minimis ($800) suspended for all countries on Aug 29, 2025, by Presidential order. Low-value parcels are now subject to duties/fees and full admissibility checks. [2]
• Postal networks: for 6 months, they may charge a flat, per-item duty of $80–$200 (based on country tariff bands) instead of percentage-of-value; after Feb 28, 2026, postal items must use ad valorem (percentage) duties. Many posts in Europe/Asia have suspended U.S. parcels while they retool. [3]
• USPS still cannot carry alcohol; that was true before and remains true. Postal shipments of spirits to U.S. consumers are effectively a non-starter.

 

Can you still ship whisky from a U.K. seller to a U.S. address?

 

Only by courier and only if the shipper is licensed and enrolled in the carrier’s alcohol-shipping program, with Adult Signature Required on delivery—and it must comply with U.S. federal & state alcohol laws. Expect carriers to collect import taxes/fees up-front or on delivery. Postal routes won’t work for alcohol (and many posts have paused U.S. parcels anyway). [4]

 

Cost anatomy for couriered whisky to U.S. after Aug 29

 

For a typical 700 ml bottle at 50–60% ABV:

• Tariff: 10% of the customs value

• Federal Excise Tax (FET): $13.50 per proof gallon (personal imports won’t qualify for reduced CBMA rates). A 700 ml bottle at 59% ABV ≈ 0.218 proof gallons, so FET ≈ $2.95 per bottle.
• CBP fees: likely a Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) (rate 0.3464%; minimums apply—around $33 for formal entries). Whether your courier files informal or formal entry drives the actual MPF; alcohol and other PGA-regulated goods are often handled as formal.
• Carrier brokerage/disbursement: couriers charge to front duties/taxes and file entries (e.g., 2–3% of duties/taxes with a minimum fee). [5]
• State use/excise tax may also be owed depending on where you live; carriers don’t always collect it, but you’re responsible for compliance.

Net: for premium bottles, the extra import costs (beyond shipping) often land in the $40–$100+ range per shipment once you add MPF minimums + brokerage/disbursement + a few dollars of FET. Postal “$80 flat” headlines don’t apply to couriered alcohol—and postal isn’t viable for spirits anyway.

 

Three real-world scenarios (numbers are illustrative)

 

1)    A coveted, cask-strength release (think: new Octomore), 1× bottle

a)     Price: say $250 (declared value)

b)    Shipping: international express (already pricey pre-Aug 29)

c)     Import math (courier):

i)      Duty: 10% (UK origin whisky) → $25

ii)     FET: ~$2–$3 per bottle (depends on ABV)

iii)   MPF: if filed as formal, expect ~$33–$34 minimum (higher if value >$2,500, which this isn’t)

iv)   Broker/disbursement: ~$15–$40+ depending on carrier program

d)    Total extra at the door (excluding the shipping you already paid): commonly ~$75–$105.

 

2)    Two mid-priced indie bottles from a U.K. specialist, 2× $120

a)     Price: $240 total

b)    Import math (courier):

i)      Duty: 10% (UK origin whisky) → $24

ii)     FET: roughly $4–$6 total (ABV-dependent)

iii)   MPF: if formal, ~$33–$34

iv)   Broker/disbursement: ~$15–$40+

c)     Total extra: ~$79–$109 for the shipment.

d)    Tip: Combining into one courier shipment avoids duplicate entry/brokerage minimums; splitting into two boxes usually costs more. GovDelivery

 

3)    Auction house win (1–3 bottles), shipped by DHL/UPS

a)     Auction usually uses a licensed export packer/shipper (good).

b)    Expect formal entry + the same fee stack as above; some brokers add a single-entry bond or higher brokerage for alcohol.

c)     Budget ~$80–$120+ in import-side costs on top of steep packing/insurance. (If value >$2,500, MPF is still 0.3464% but the minimum no longer caps your fee.)

 

So…is it still worth shipping from the U.K.?

 

• Feasible? Yes, by courier, via licensed shippers only, and with adult signature. Not by post.
• Costlier and slower? Yes. Every shipment now requires customs processing and collection of taxes/fees; many foreign posts have suspended U.S. parcels outright.
• Alternative: buy through a U.S. retailer….like The Whiskey Lab!! ….(cleanest compliance and usually cheaper/faster end-to-end) or carry bottles back in checked luggage and pay any applicable duties/taxes at the airport.

 

A quick note on “$100 gifts” and “$80 fees”

You’ll see headlines about “$100 gifts” and “$80 flat fees.” Here’s what they mean—and why they don’t help much with whisky:

• Gifts under $100 remain a narrow postal-gift exemption; it doesn’t legitimize retail purchases shipped as “gifts,” and alcohol by post remains barred in the U.S.
• The $80–$200 figure is a postal-only, temporary flat duty per item that some operators may choose during a 6-month transition. It doesn’t apply to couriered alcohol. And again, postal is off the table for spirits. 

 

Bottom line for whisky fans

1. Expect higher total landed costs and more delivery friction if you buy from a non-U.S. seller after Aug 29, 2025.
2. Courier shipments can still work, but only with fully licensed shippers and adult signature.
3. When in doubt, buy via a U.S. retailer (that’s us) or bring bottles home in your luggage.

 

The easy button: buy in the U.S. through The Whiskey Lab

When you order at thewhiskeylab.com, your purchase is fulfilled by our licensed Washington, DC retail partner. Why that matters:

• No surprise import charges - domestic checkout with taxes/fees shown up front.
• Fast, compliant delivery - adult-signature shipping from DC (where legal). 
• Curated indie bottlers - single-cask & small-batch releases you won’t see everywhere.
• First access, less friction - drops arrive stateside; you get the bottle without customs drama.
• Real support - questions answered by people who live this every day.

If you’ve ever had a bottle hang up in customs (or bounce back), you know: the cheapest cart total often isn’t the cheapest landed cost. Buy stateside, enjoy the whisky.

FAQ

Will DHL/UPS/FedEx still deliver whisky from overseas?

• Sometimes - only when the shipper is properly licensed in the carrier’s alcohol program and sends via courier (not post). Even then, you’ll face import taxes/fees and adult-signature rules.

What extra fees appear when I ship direct from a U.K. seller?

·      Expect federal excise tax on spirits, a customs processing fee (often with a minimum), and the courier’s brokerage/disbursement charge. State taxes may also apply. That stack can add ~$50–$100+ to a small parcel—on top of international shipping.

Can I use the postal service?

·      No. Alcohol isn’t mailable in the U.S., and several foreign posts have curtailed U.S. parcels anyway.

What if nobody’s home to sign?

·      Adult (21+) signature is required. Carriers will reattempt; you can usually reroute to an access point. With The Whiskey Lab’s DC retailer fulfillment, you’ll get tracking and signature options to avoid missed deliveries.

How fast is TWL shipping?

·      Orders typically process within up to 3 business days, then ship via UPS (adult signature required). Transit time depends on your location.

 

Skip the customs roulette. Shop indie bottlings in the U.S. at thewhiskeylab.com and get your bottles fast, legally, and without surprise import bills Starting 9/1/25.