Olive oil

Unfortunately, olive oil does not age well.
I got a bottle in Andalusia a couple of years ago, and like you, thought it was the best olive oil ever. But I know it was only because it was so fresh and used it liberally and fast.
Edited to add
My trip to the olive oil cooperative happened in March, so the oil was very fresh.

From the date of harvest and pressing (Nov/Dec), you should consume the EVOO within 12-15 months. Beyond that period the oil loses its characteristics. So no point in bringing back a full case, unless you and your family can consume it within that timeframe. If you go in October and have it shipped, make sure you make arrangements to send you the new upcoming harvest oil (generally coming out in Dec), otherwise you'll be getting oil that is already 10+ months old.

A number of years we were on a culinary tour in Tuscany & Umbria. One of our memorable stops was in Montepulciano at Crociani winery.
Several of us bought their great olive oil. The bottles were 250 ml. They were vacuumed packed. They were just the right size for keeping a couple and for gift giving. http://www.crociani.it/vendita.en.php

amber,

You may find that local shops in your area stock good quality olive oils, and that would probably be preferred over bringing a large quantity home. I'm fortunate in that regard as I have several Italian specialty shops in the the area so I can get top quality Italian or Greek olive oil that has the official "DOP" designation.

However, one must be a bit diligent to make sure that oil purchased here is actually 100% authentic, as there's been a lot of fraud with that in the past.

Queen Creek Olive Mill, Queen Creek, AZ

Ah! I'm so excited to see this post in my random scrollings! This is the bougiest (sp?) thing I do, but it's so well worth it:
We ate at Le Sirenuse in Positano last year, and the olive oil they had on the table knocked my socks off. Before this meal I've never, ever been able to differentiate between olive oils, never thought twice about them, but this one had a bright, herby flavor I've never experienced before. So good for a finishing oil on any dish and for salads. Got back home to the states, and couldn't let it go. Contacted Le Sirenuse, asked about their olive oil and they graciously sent a bottle, along with the contact info for the small-scale organic producer in Campania. I contact Marco Rizzo directly, via Whats App and PayPal, and now source my olive oil directly through him. For two bottles, it's $45, the shipping is $45, and the Paypal charge is $10 so I pay over $100 for a year's supply (as others have mentioned, shelf life is limited).

Ahhh- k.mil maybe “bougie” but a great idea!!! Alas I might have found my solution. As previously said there are “good” even great olive oils found in the states. There are just phenomenal oils for finish and dipping (which we do a lot of!). Thanks for the tip!!!

Of course you can buy a bottle or two of good oil or balsamic or wine at home. But that negates the whole connection to your travel that makes it a reminder of that specific place you experienced on your trip. We do that every trip. But getting whole cases of stuff shipped is just too expensive for us to consider. But yes, it can be done.

I used to think about buying and shipping. Several disasters (broken bottles in luggage, confiscated bottles on changing planes) have convinced me that I gain nothing except aggravation by purchasing for the home trip. Professionals who ship large quantities know how to do it safely to preserve the product. I'd find a local high-end food store, and work with them to get olive oil of the right quality.

We just had some shipped on our recent trip. We visited a wonderful winery outside of Siena, that also produces a small amount of olive oil. Been home a couple days, and eagerly awaiting our box of wine and oil from the winery 😊

"Bougiest" - luv it! New RS term!!!

Many wineries also produce excellent olive oil. On a recent trip to the Val d'Orcia, we stopped in Montelcino and had a wine tasting of excellent Brunello at the Capanna di Cencioni where they also produce small quantities of olive oil. We purchased several cases of wine for them to ship home to us, but substituted a few cans of olive oil for wine to make up a case, which they were more than happy to do for us. When buying by the case, you often get a reduced shipping charge and in some cases, free shipping, depending on the vineyard.

Just received an email that our shipment had cleared customs and will be delivered tomorrow via FedEx, can hardly wait!

Surprised to hear you can do that in Rhode Island. https://www.winespectator.com/articles/us-wine-shipping-laws-state-by-state-50258

Mike, you are correct, Rhode Island law does prohibit delivery of wine, but the law doesn't seem to get enforced. I've had many cases delivered both from international and domestic sources for years now without a problem.