Shipping
At Whisky Auctioneer, we’re passionate about delivering exceptional whisky to enthusiasts worldwide. That’s why we’ve partnered with trusted shipping providers to ensure we can reach as many destinations as possible.
We handle the complexities of international regulations and customs, making the process smooth and hassle-free, so you can focus on enjoying your latest find.
Shipping Fees
In advance of bidding, it is important to please review our Shipping Fees and Information to confirm if our shipping service is available to you. If your country is not listed, please contact our Client Service team to discuss this further. Please note, all fees quoted are exclusive of VAT.
Understanding the delivery options in your country
Please note: In compliance with EU Directive 2020/262, an excise charge will be applied to all EU Lots (per bottle) for clients based within the EU. If your items are being shipped, this will be calculated during the checkout process. This charge reflects the costs managed on your behalf by Whisky Auctioneer for moving excise duty products within the EU for sale on our platform.
Info for UK Lots to France, Italy, Spain, Finland, Monaco & Slovakia:
Please note that our UK shipments to these countries are forwarded via our Netherlands office. As a result, a 21% import VAT (based on the order value) will apply. Please contact our Client Service team to discuss this further.
Shipping multiple UK and EU Lots
If you have won lots from multiple locations (e.g., UK Lots sold from our Perth office as well as EU Lots sold from our Utrecht office), they will be charged individually for shipping. They will also be shipped separately so may not arrive at the same time.
U.S. Shipping
Tariff fees for your order are now automatically calculated and applied at checkout as part of the normal process.
Shipments to the U.S. may take up to 5 weeks to arrive following payment. At your request, we can provide tracking information and this will be sent to you within 5 days following a dispatch confirmation email.
To comply with regulations, bottles shipped to the U.S. may have a removable government health warning sticker applied.
Loss and Breakage Assurance
When shipping orders, our expert team take extreme care and effort to package and dispatch orders carefully and securely. Although rare, accidents can happen during shipping, and courier companies are not liable for any items lost or broken in transit. To protect our customers, Whisky Auctioneer offers Loss and Breakage Assurance (LBA), to cover items lost or broken in transit.
This protection will provide cover for any breakage or loss during transit and is charged at 4% of the hammer price.
Please note, any loss arising from an item’s condition is not covered, such as seal failures or cosmetic damage.
LBA is added automatically at checkout for your convenience, however it is optional and can be removed.
Important Information
- All prices quoted are based on a standard 75cl bottle and therefore may vary for heavier or larger bottles.
- All deliveries must be signed for upon arrival by persons over the legal drinking age in the destination country - proof of age may be required.
- Delivery is available between Monday and Friday only.
- Delivery companies may require contact details for the recipient. Please include a phone number or email with the recipient address when placing an order.
- All UK lots shipped outside the UK, and all EU lots shipped outside the EU, may be subject to local taxes and import duties upon arrival in the destination country. These charges are the responsibility of the customer.
- We are unable to provide refunds on purchases which have been destroyed, delayed or returned to us due to customs, administrative issues and/or unpaid fees/taxes.
- If a shipment is returned due to unpaid import fees or duties, a re-delivery charge will apply.
Storage Services
Buyer's Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
We use DHL exclusively for all shipments (excluding U.S. orders), as we’ve found it consistently offers the best reliability and service. In fact, many customers used to request a switch to DHL, which led us to make it our standard courier.
Unfortunately, we’re unable to accommodate courier change requests. We’ve chosen DHL to ensure fast, secure, and professional delivery every time.
Please note: CID shipments are for U.S. bound orders only and are not available to buyers based elsewhere.
All orders being shipped internationally from our UK or Netherlands offices may be eligible for local taxation and duties upon arrival in the destination country, which are payable by the customer. We are unable to provide an exact quotation for this, as the charges are calculated by the courier once your items reach customs, therefore we kindly ask that you are aware of your country's alcohol taxation and importation fees prior to purchase.
Please note we are unable to provide refunds on purchases which have been destroyed, delayed or returned to us due to customs, administrative issues and/or unpaid fees/taxes. If a shipment is returned due to unpaid import fees or duties, a re-delivery charge will apply.
We aim to ship all orders within 10 business days of receiving payment. Once your order has left our warehouse, you can expect delivery within 5 business days to most locations. Please visit our Shipping page for more information.
All Whisky Auctioneer orders are fully tracked, so you can easily follow your bottle’s journey. Tracking updates will begin once your order has been dispatched from our warehouse.
For orders processed by a forwarding company, such as those to the U.S., you'll receive additional tracking information as soon as it's available.
Yes, you can collect your bottles in person. Please be sure to book an appointment in advance, our booking calendars can be found on our Contact Us page.
Please note:
- UK lots can only be collected from our Perth Office.
- EU lots are available for collection from our Utrecht Office.
- Our London Office is open for drop-offs only. Collections aren’t available from this location.
In compliance with EU Directive 2020/262, an excise charge will be applied to all EU Lots (per bottle) for clients based within the EU. This is a legally required charge for alcohol shipments from our Netherlands operations.
If your items are being shipped, this will be calculated during the checkout process. The amount is calculated based on the bottle's size, ABV (alcohol content) and the duty rate of the destination country. It ensures your purchase is fully compliant with local regulations.
To find the duty rate for alcohol in your country, you can consult the Taxes in Europe Database (TEDB) provided by the European Commission
Interested in Buying?
Discover and bid on old, rare and collectible whiskies in our online auctions each month.
Interested in Selling?
Our global whisky auctions give your bottles the attention they deserve. Get started with a free valuation today.