The duty due on alcoholic beverages beyond the initial allowance is based on the alcohol content. Because of this the duty on wine and beer is often such a small amount that the agents don't think it worth the time and effort to do the paperwork.

They will be happy to do the paperwork involved, however, if you don't declare it.

I recently brought ~2L of alcohol from Iceland thru JFK.

No problems, just declare it on the form and be over 21.

Quite possibly true, but if they don't have jurisdiction they could just tip off local/state LEOs and you would immediately be a Minor in Possession.

Fortunately, it isn't much of an int'l gateway but those arriving into the U.S. at SLC should be aware of very restrictive liquor import laws that U.S. Customs there enforces.

My husband and I bring scotch whisky home from the UK all the time. Even when I'm traveling by myself and bring 4 bottles in I always get waved through- this has been at EWR, DFW and ORD. I always decleare them and occasionally an agent will comment on them ("you know the limit is one liter per person, right?") but have never been charged duty. If I ever get charged, I'll happily pay it.

Let's say I hypothetically bring home 10 bottles of German wine (0,75L and for personal consumption), split between my wife and me. If I am charged tariffs, what would I expect to pay?

I found the Harmonized Tariffs Schedule on the CBP website, but that's pretty hard to analyze...anybody?

One time driving back to the US from Canada, I had 8 bottles of wine, which I bought in Canada from the duty free store at the border with the money refunded from the GST.

I voluntarily told the CBP officer I had the extra wine, which was sitting on the back seat in plastic bags and asked her where do I go to pay the duty on the extra wine, she said no need to pay, and cleared me through.

If I had tried to sneak the wine in, they could have fined me or even confiscated, but being open and honest I knew they would not make me pay any duty on the extra bottles of wine.

Mr. Elliott

Or, I guess, what's the limit I could bring without any suspicion? All would be for personal consumption and not for resale.

I have brought back liquor from many countries, and usually buy at duty free. I was told limit is 2 liters per person or 5 cartons of smokes...they even sell 5 cartons in a bonus pack for the price of 4, I bring them back for my brother. My wife and I declare the amount paid for our 4 bottles and usually arent questioned. I also read that on cruises that stop in st thomas you are allowed an extra bottle each. To be sure do a search on duty free limits for your country. 4-6 is about all you can comfortable carry with luggage anyway.

Best find has been in Canada....they sell a Crown Royal Limited that comes in a different shaped bottle and is only sold in Canada...not crownXR or cask 16 or reserve, but Limited....very smooth and its the price of regular crown here, sometimes cheaper with the Canadian dollar, I keep it in my safe since my wife quit traveling to Canada for work.
Mexico has great deals on Kahlua and tequilla...Jamaica has appleton 12year rum for next to nothing....depending on the country, some brands can be just as cheap back home....I get Grey Goose just as cheap here as in most duty free shops I have seen...so it helps to know your prices.
Its a pain to travel with because we have to go through customs here in ATL and then put it in our checked bags to go through additional screenings before we can claim them to go home...I cant wait until ATL has a seperate and secure international concourse to come home to, where we can claim our bags once and leave.