10 Best Bourbon Brands at Costco Including Kirkland (2023)

Last Updated on August 21, 2023 by Lydia Martin

Navigating through Costco’s extensive bourbon selection can be overwhelming, especially if you’re new to bourbon whiskey.

To make your choice easier, I’ve done the legwork by visiting multiple Costco locations to find the best bourbon brands.

Say goodbye to the confusion of scanning countless liquor shelves as our comprehensive guide directs you straight to the best bourbon brands at Costco.

Top 10 Bourbons To Buy At Costco Today

10. Kentucky Owl Batch #11 

Average Price: Roughly $26.99 (Caskers) 

ABV: 63.8%

Why You Should Try It:

Kentucky Owl Batch #11 is a highly sought-after craft bourbon in Costco because of its unique taste profile and rich taste.

Moreso, Kentucky Owl Batch #11 is a well-aged and bold bourbon. It is a blend of 10 to 14-year-old bourbons and is matured for 6 to 9 years for a unique flavor profile. 

“Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.” – Mark Twain, American Writer

Having personally tasted it, I can vouch for its exceptional quality. With rich and complex flavors, this bourbon offers a delightful journey for the palate. Notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak intertwine harmoniously, creating a balanced and memorable experience.

9. Jim Beam White

Average Price: Roughly $14.99 (Caskers)

ABV: 40%

Why You Should Try It:

Jim Beam White holds a special place in my heart, and it’s no wonder it’s a popular choice at Costco.

Jim Beam White is a cheap yet full of flavor bourbon. Every sip is refined, smooth, and elegant.

It has beautiful notes of nutty honey, vanilla, toasted grains, roasted oak, dried grass, and cinnamon. 

It has a fairly light flavor, but the fruit, spice, oak, and earthy flavor start to open up with a splash of water. 

8. John J Bowman Single Barrel 

Average Price: Roughly $49.99 (Total Wine)

ABV: 50%

Why You Should Try It:

John J Bowman Single Barrel is a bourbon that stands out from the crowd, and since I tried it multiple times, I can attest to its uniqueness. This bourbon boasts a distinct character with a rich and nuanced flavor profile.

It has an amazing flavor profile, a persistent finish, and a bold aroma. The bourbon commemorates Abram S. Bowman, who founded the A. Smith Bowman Distillery. 

7. Blade and Bow 

Average Price: Roughly $52.99 (Total Wine) 

ABV: 45.5%

Why You Should Try It:

Blade and Bow is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey that uses the unique Solera System [1] in the maturation process to preserve its oldest whiskey stocks.

It has a subtle aroma of fruits, and on the palate, it has rich sweet roasted grain, dried apricot, and ripe pear taste. 

6. Rabbit Hole “Cavehill” 

Average Price: Roughly $56.99 (Total Wine)

ABV: 47.5%

Why You Should Try It:

Cavehill Rabbit Hole is setting a new standard on American whiskey as it contains four grains on its mash bill, which is different from a standard bourbon.

Its mash bill comprises of 70% corn, 10% malted wheat, 10% honey malted barley, and 10% malted barley. 

Rabbit Hole “Cavehill” has a rich honey, spice, and fresh apple aroma. You can easily recognize the creamy flavors of orange, mint, honey, and toasted grain on the palate.

5. Smooth Ambler Contradiction 

Average Price: Roughly $40.99 (Caskers)

ABV: 50%

Why You Should Try It:

Smooth Ambler Contradiction is a blended whiskey with a mash bill combination of corn, rye, malted barley, and wheat.

It is a four-grain whiskey full of flavors like dried fruit notes and butter rum. 

Smooth Ambler Contradiction is non-chill filtered, allowing you to savor and enjoy every single sip of two different efforts of merchant bottles.

Read: Our Favorite Bourbons For A Wedding

4. Woodford Reserve

Average Price: Roughly $48.49 (Total Wine)

ABV: 45.2%

Why You Should Try It:

Regarding the best bourbon in Costco, you can never go wrong with the Woodford Reserve.

Woodford Reserve has a perfectly balanced taste and contains more than 200 flavor notes, not to mention its affordability. 

Woodford Reserve offers great value and a smooth taste. It is best to enjoy straight, but since it is versatile, it can work well with many bourbon cocktails. 

3. Kirkland Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon

Average Price: Roughly $23 (Costco)

ABV: 50%

Why You Should Try It:

Your trip to Costco will not be completed if you will not bring home their very own bourbon-Kirkland Bottled-In-Bond.

The Kirkland Bottled-In-Bond bourbon is made by a single distiller in one distilling season and aged for at least four years in a bonded warehouse [2]. 

On the nose, the persistent candied and dried fruit notes linger with some clove spice and cinnamon. 

2. Kirkland Small-Batch Bourbon

Average Price: Roughly $21.99 (Instacart) 

ABV: 46%

Why You Should Try It:

Kirkland Signature, Small Batch bourbon, is a sourced whiskey from Barton 1792 Distillery, and while its mash bill is not disclosed, it is believed to contain high rye mash bill.

It has a nice and rich aroma of oak, rye spice, caramel, clove, and cinnamon. 

Kirkland Small Batch has a medium-length finish with lingering notes of cinnamon, vanilla, mild pepperiness, and caramel. 

1. Kirkland Single Barrel Bourbon

Average Price: Roughly $30.99 (Costco)

ABV: 60%

Why You Should Try It:

Kirkland Single Barrel bourbon is a non-chill filtered bourbon whiskey that shares a common DNA with other bourbon expressions. However, since it is a single barrel expression, it is pure and unblinded, and its taste varies on each barrel. 

“Sip, taste, enjoy – Kirkland’s bourbon brings quality to your glass.”- Liquor Laboratory 

I’ve tried Kirkland Single Barrel Bourbon on its first release, and it’s a bourbon worth considering. The bourbon whiskey has a rich flavor profile and aroma, and its overproof strength has a nice burn on the palate. But who makes Kirkland bourbon?

Other Bourbons You Can Try 

• John J Bowman Single Barrel – 750ml – Roughly $49
• Jeffersons Reserve Single Barrel – 750ml – Roughly $58
• Rabbithole Cavehill – 750ml – Roughly $75
• Uncle Nearest 1884 – 750ml – Roughly $35
• Angels Envy – 750ml – Roughly $42
• Michter’s Small Batch – 750ml – Roughly $42 (1 per membership)
• Kentucky Owl Confiscated – 750ml – Roughly $110
• Four Roses Small Batch Select – 750ml – Roughly $50
• H Deringer – 750ml – Roughly $85
• Blade and Bow – 750ml – Roughly $44

On Shelves

• Heaven’s Door – 750ml – Roughly  $33
• Kirkland Signature Small Batch – 1L – Roughly  $30 (TN, not Barton )
• Kirkland Signature Small Batch – 1L – Roughly $19 (KY, Barton )
• District Made – 750ml – Roughly $39
• Elijah Craig – 1.75L – Roughly $50
• Basil Hayden 8yr – 1.75L – Roughly $65 (prev $60)
• Bulleit Bourbon – 1.75L – Roughly $44 (prev $43)
• Makers Mark – 1.75L – Roughly $45 (prev $43)
• Smooth Ambler Contradiction – 750ml – Roughly $29
• Four Roses – 1.75L – Roughly $36
• Jim Beam White – 1.75L – Roughly $26 (prev $25)
• Jeffersons Reserve – 750ml – Roughly $33
• Knob Creek 9 – 1.75L – Roughly $56 (prev $53)

FAQs 

Is there a Costco brand bourbon?

Yes, there is a Costco brand bourbon known as Kirkland Signature bourbon whiskey. It is sourced from Barton 1792 Distillery and is exclusively available in Costco stores.

Final Thoughts

Bourbon selections at Costco can be described in four words: Convenient. Cheaper. Great Selection. Whether you drop by the nearest Costco warehouse or prefer delivery, you can score the best bourbon at Costco- from bottom to top shelf.

However, its reasonable price and quality make Kirkland Single Barrel Bourbon a practical choice for those seeking the best bourbon brand in Costco.

Have you tried to score a bottle of bourbon at Costco? How did you find it? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

References:

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/solera
2. https://www.forbes.com/sites/joemicallef/2021/06/20/why-you-should-buy-costcos-kirkland-signature-bourbon/