I regularly travel for work and I like to do a little bourbon hunting while out of town. Here are a few tips I have learned when flying with bottles of whiskey. (Note: I am not affiliated with any products mentioned nor receive any compensation.)

How much can I take with me when flying?

For carry-on luggage you are limited to containers of 3.4oz or less that fit in a quart-sized bag. If you want to take your own bourbon with you while traveling then check out the Aged & Ore Bottle Flight kit. It comes with a set of four 3oz silicone wrapped glass bottles in a travel case that is TSA travel compliant and perfect to fit in a small bag. I also have a mini Wee Glencairn that fits in the case if you remove one of the bottles.

For checked bags you are limited to five liters per passenger. That’s just over six standard 750ml bottles. However, it must be in unopened retail packaging. The limit is for up to 70% ABV / 140 proof.You are not allowed to travel with any hazmat bottles over 70% ABV / 140 proof.

How to safely pack bottles in a checked bag

Since most of my trips are only a few days I usually pack a carry-on size bag. Here are a few things I recommend:

Pack bottle protector travel bags. These can be readily found on Amazon. They are inflatable bottle bags that come with a small hand pump. I always keep a supply in my bag as they pack easily and you can inflate them as you need them. They fit most 750ml or smaller sized bottles. Even odd shaped ones like Blanton’s or squat square ones fit in the bags. I am able to fit 6-7 of these in my carry-on with a little room left over for clothes to stuff in between. I have used these for years and have never had a bottle break while using one.

Get a zipperless aluminum hard sided carry-on with locking latches. These too are readily found on Amazon for less than $200. Since you will need to check your bag if you get any bottles, I recommend the aluminum hard sided as they are light and provide great protection for your bottles when combined with the inflatable bottle bags. I also like the zipperless ones as they are much less likely to break open and much more difficult for someone to quickly open and steal your bottles. No bags are theft proof since all locks must be able to be opened by the TSA for inspection and as such can be opened by thieves. But having the locking latches without zippers makes it more difficult and less likely. I have never had anything stolen while using this type of bag.

Pack a foldable carry-on travel bag. I keep one of these in my carry-on. They fold up small and flat. If you end up filling up your carry-on with bottles and have to check-it you will likely run out of room for your other clothes and stuff that are in your bag. Thats where this is handy. It expands to the perfect size to put any extra stuff that doesn’t fit in your suitcase and is easily carried on the plane with you. Here is an example of what I use on Amazon.

For more information check out this TSA blog TSA Travel Tip: Traveling with Alcohol