Ship the wine, not worth taking the chance.

Another option would be to fly to Canada (20 year old's can drink) declare in transit to the U.S. and have a 21+ yr old friend/relative join you on the last segment into the U.S. - have them declare the alcohol.

I used to carry alcohol all the time between Spain and the UK as an unaccompanied minor. The alcohol would be gifts from family and friends in Spain to my parents. I was pulled up once about it, my parents had to pay the duty (my brother and I were schlepping well over anyone's allowance) but it wasn't confiscated.

If you're concerned that customs could seize it, couldn't someone 'responsible' for you come to collect you at the airport? My thinking is that if they have a problem with a minor being in possession of alcohol, they could perhaps hand it to someone at the gate instead.

FWIW the wine will most likely be going through bottle shock when you try to drink it for thanksgiving and therefore won't be that good..again YMMV though.

On SNN-ORD-DFW in August I purchased a bottle of vodka in Duty Free at SNN. I carried it off the plane in ORD in those clear plastic bags. I was told by an airport steward to put it into my luggage if I was connecting, or into my carry-on if ORD was my final destination. Nothing more was said, and I'm 20 and look younger.

To the OP: I don't think anecdotes of the type "I'm under 21, and I get away with ...." should in any way assist you in making your decision.

Taken from: http://customs.gov/linkhandler/cgov/...eforeyougo.pdfhttp://customs.gov/linkhandler/cgov/...eforeyougo.pdf

1. You MUST declare all items acquired abroad, whether they are subject to duty or not.

2. You MUST be 21 years old to bring in alcohol.

3. Absinthe is specifically prohibited.

Your decision should be based on these rules and the penalties for violating them. If you feel the penalties are tolerable, then feel free to bring these items with you.

As someone else pointed out, not anymore. Not since a few days ago.

From the link that I posted earlier:

The importation of Absinthe and any other liquors or
liqueurs that contain Artemisia absinthium is prohibited.

There are many products on the market today which are labeled "absinthe" but are not produced from wormwood. I would argue that they are not absinthe at all, and thus it is still illegal to import absinthe into the USA.

Please post a link to justify the statement: "Not since a few days ago."