If you’re a whisky enthusiast, you’ll be thrilled by the variety available at Costco. This retail behemoth is as renowned for its comprehensive liquor range as it is for its succulent rotisserie chickens and monstrous cakes, with whisky being a distinguished feature of its shelves. Costco merchandises a large number of whiskies, promoting many high-profile brands as well as its exclusive Kirkland brand which boasts an impressive range of whiskies. Names like Maker’s Mark, Jack Daniel’s, Jameson, and Crown Royal could be seen in the expansive stores, along with their very own Scotch, bourbon, and Irish whiskies.

Despite these eminent brands may be available at appealing prices, they may not account for some of the best deals among Costco’s other whisky products. Additionally, Costco offers some unusual whiskies you may not have expected to find, such as the elusive Pappy Van Winkle which purchasing demands specific information about its release and procurement. If you’ve been curious about the secrets behind Costco whisky, we’re here to provide you with the relevant facts. So fill up your glass and let’s take a closer look.

Find out more: All The Benefits Of A Costco Membership

Costco is not known to do things by halves, and that indeed extends to its collection of whiskies. The store offers a large selection under its Kirkland Signature brand, indicating a strong demand. As per the information in December 2023, seven distinct Kirkland Signature Scotch whisky formats are consistently available in the store. The blended Scotch whiskies are a constant offering, with an array of Speyside, Islay, and regular Single Malt scotches also frequently up for grabs.

Costco provides three distinct Kirkland Signature bourbon varieties, typically available and stocked during the summer season. The selection also includes Irish and Canadian whiskies, with the wholesaler occasionally offering limited-edition Kirkland whiskey products. Not included in this selection are whiskey-based beverages and liqueurs, such as Irish cream, which Costco also offers under its Kirkland label.

It’s important to note that like any large retailer, Costco may alter its product range unexpectedly. The items have changed over the years, which suggests that returning customers may experience changes in whiskey selection or flavor profiles. However, considering the indispensable popularity of the beverage, it’s likely that Costco will continue to stock whiskey for the foreseeable future.

Unsurprisingly, a large portion of Costco’s revenue stems from its whiskey sales. According to Forbes, the retailer sold approximately $6.5 to $7 billion worth of alcoholic beverages in 2023. These figures place Costco not only as the leading alcohol retailer in the United States but also worldwide. Around a quarter of these alcohol sales are attributed to spirit beverages. Given that a large portion of the Kirkland alcohol range consists of various whiskies, the sales figures imply a high volume of bottles being sold.

So, what does Costco owe to its successful alcohol sales? The answer is a mix of competitive pricing, high-quality products, larger bottle sizes (providing a sense of value), and the retailer’s influential subscription model. Costco’s membership model fosters customer loyalty by creating an impression of exclusivity and value-for-money, prompting customers to maximize their memberships. As a result, customers are inclined to bulk-buy whiskey and other alcoholic beverages, filling their carts with large, non-perishable items that appear to offer excellent value.

Costco’s subscription model creates a sense of exclusivity, leaving non-members feeling they might be missing something. However, in some places, you don’t need to be a member to purchase your favorite whiskey. There are standalone Costco liquor stores in a few places where you can go without having a full Costco membership and buy whiskey, vodka, among other spirits.

But for you to locate these outstanding stores, you need to be somewhere specific. Namely, Costco Liquor is situated only in Alberta, Canada, a province where alcohol is only sold in designated liquor outlets. Therefore, these stores are positioned right next to regular Costco locations, but they have a separate entrance. This means to buy your Canadian whisky, you have to just go next door. If you’re in the United States, you probably still need to obtain a Costco membership to buy its range of whiskies. Although some states, like Florida, separate the alcohol collection from the general product selection, you still need to show your membership card to get in.

Costco’s Kirkland alcohol products often generate rumors about their source. For instance, a question has been raised for years whether Kirkland Signature vodka is actually Grey Goose due to similarities in their flavors. Despite both Costco and Grey Goose denying such claims, the retailer seems not as enthusiastic in squashing the rumor that its Blended Canadian Whisky, which many suspect is produced by prominent Canadian whisky brand Crown Royal.

The comparison between the two is understandable due to their striking similarities. The Kirkland Signature Blended Canadian Whisky’s taste and smell are very similar to those of Crown Royal, although with minor differences and an extra hint of spice. As both whiskies are blended, it’s quite possible the Kirkland version has a slightly different recipe compared to other Crown Royal expressions, as there’s no exact comparison. The difference in taste could also be because of its six-year aging process, considering Crown Royal usually does not provide aging information on its whisky bottles.

Costco’s selection of Scotch under its Kirkland brand is impressive, with a diverse array of blended and single-malt options available. These Scotch expressions can age up to 25 years, ensuring a complex flavor profile. However, these products are not made by Costco. It’s widely believed that the company behind Costco’s Kirkland brand Scotch since 2007 is Alexander Murray & Co., a Scottish company operating in the United States.

Alexander Murray & Co. is named after the great uncle of owner Steve Lipp, a whisky aficionado himself. Established in California in 2004, the company supplies Scotch to the American alcohol market. Many liquor stores carry Alexander Murray & Co. products, but purchasing from Costco is an affordable way to enjoy their smooth, peaty whiskies.

Costco also sells bourbon under its Kirkland brand, providing a cost-effective alternative for customers. The supplier of Costco’s Kirkland bourbon is somewhat of an open secret, as Barton 1792 Distillery is named directly on the label.

Barton 1792 Distillery, based in Kentucky, has a deep-rooted history in bourbon making, dating back to 1879. They specialize in small-batch whiskies. Interesting to note, though, is the recent partnership with Costco. Records reveal that in 2011, Jim Beam was behind Costco’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Tennessee-based George Dickel Distillery is believed to have taken over for a period, before Costco settled on Barton 1792 Distillery as their bourbon supplier.

If you’re a fan of Irish whiskey, Costco may be your next stop. The warehouse behemoth’s Kirkland Signature variant offers the nuanced, barley-forward taste and extended maturation typical of this spirit. Furthermore, there are strong indications that its production is under competent management. It is speculated that Costco’s Irish whiskey hails from the stables of Irish Distillers Ltd., a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard. Surprisingly, this well-known firm also produces Jameson, which is also available at Costco, albeit at a significantly higher price than its Kirkland counterpart.

True to its style, Costco has refrained from officially recognizing Irish Distillers Ltd. as its Kirkland brand supplier. Nevertheless, the evidence seems compelling. Irish Distillers Ltd.’s nationwide presence and substantial production capacities make it a plausible supplier for Costco’s large volume requirements. Additionally, the firm’s reputation for quality products offers significant peace of mind. In addition to Jameson, Irish Distillers Ltd. is credited with creating Middleton Very Rare, Redbreast Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, and Powers Irish Whiskey, among others.

Worth noting is that Costco offers an even wider liquor selection beyond its Kirkland-branded products. In fact, Costco outstrips other outlets in sales of Johnnie Walker Blue and The Macallan, and its liquor aisles teem with a diverse range of whiskey options.

For those with a preference for Irish whiskies, a bottle of Jameson should suffice, either in its Black Label or standard form. However, expect to part with an extra $20 for the branded version. If bourbon is up your alley, Costco’s assortment is dizzying, featuring options like Bulleit, Knob Creek, Basil Hayden’s, and Woodford Reserve. In addition, Glenlivet 14-Year-Old Single Scotch Malt Whiskey is available, besides the aforementioned Johnnie Walker Blue.

Just remember that these whiskeys may not always be a standard feature in Costco stores — and some of them can be extremely hard to find. On occasion, you can find a bottle of ultra-rare Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon on its shelves, at a slightly lower price than it’s sold elsewhere. These “drops” of Pappy Van Winkle only happen sporadically, though, and you’ll either have to be in the right place at the right time or be one of the lucky few that employees hand a ticket out to for a chance to purchase it.

Although you have to pay for a membership to Costco, you’re rewarded with a cavernous warehouse full of low-price items, including whisky. Costco whiskies are consistently cheaper than name-brand versions, and given that they’re made by reputable companies, you shouldn’t worry too much about their cheaper price point.

Take Costco Kirkland Blended Canadian Whisky, for example. A 1.75-liter bottle will generally cost you between $20 and 30, depending on which state you buy it in. A bottle of its closest name-brand competitor, Crown Royal (which may manufacture the Kirkland product), will come in closer to the $50 mark. Costco’s Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky may have a lower price difference, but buying it can still save you valuable dollars. Its 12-Year expression comes in at roughly $46 and is praised for its excellent, layered taste, with hints of cinnamon, prune, smoke, and brown sugar. Johnnie Walker Black Label usually comes in at over $50 per bottle for the same size, and while it will give you a similarly smooth experience, every penny counts.

It can feel like going for Kirkland whiskies over a name-brand version can leave you with an inferior product. If you’re smart, though, you can get a whiskey that tastes pretty similar to a more expensive option, saving you money and the hassle of going to a different store to get your liquor. Scotch pros have noted the similarity between Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky and Dewar’s White Label, although the Kirkland version may be a little darker. As such, if you’re using the Kirkland product in a cocktail instead of Dewar’s, you’re unlikely to tell the difference.

Costco’s Kirkland Signature Canadian whisky is often likened to Crown Royal, not just in taste but also in the bottle’s design. The form of the bottle echoes the squat structure of Crown Royal’s. This resemblance might be seen as a nod to the pricier brand, offering customers a similar luxury at a more economical price — and almost identical flavor to boot.

One might imagine Kirkland products to be unvarying and uniform owing to the emphasis on delivering basic goods at lower prices. However, that doesn’t mean Costco shies away from experimenting. The company sometimes releases limited-edition versions of its whiskies, celebrating a new flavor or marking an occasion.

In early 2024, Costco introduced a blended Scotch whisky, matured for eight years, in celebration of the Lunar New Year. The bottle’s design incorporated the Year of the Dragon, featuring a formidable serpent, and came in a special edition box. The whisky had familiar taste notes, suggestive of it originating from the same producer as Costco’s other Scotches. It had a pronounced spiciness and a woody, peaty finish. The year prior, Costco had introduced a limited-edition 15-year-old single malt Scotch, and in 2022, it outdid itself with a 20-year-old Speyside Scotch. It is certainly worth keeping an eye on what Costco’s offering.

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