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Last Updated on January 31, 2023 by Lydia Martin
Costco whiskey selections are highly respectable and hard to pass up. Big distilleries are in partnership with Costco to market whiskeys that give you a bang for your buck.
If you are looking for the best whiskey at Costco, you’ve come to the right place because we curated a cheat sheet just for you.
Top Whiskeys At Costco You Should Try
10. Kirkland Signature, Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (23 YO)
Average Price: Around $70 (Costco)
Alcohol Content: 46%
Distillery: Rumored to be The Macallan
Why We Liked It:
What we love about the Speyside Single Malt Scotch whisky is its rich aroma of dried fruit and orange marmalade.
It has a bold Sherry finish since, after aging in an ex-bourbon barrel, it will be finished in Sherry casks.
The Kirkland Signature sherry finish has delivered savory and respectable notes with deep fruity elements.
It has a delightfully long finish, and its tinge sherry pops everywhere.
9. Kirkland Signature Irish Whiskey
Average Price: Around $33.99 (Instacart)
Alcohol Content: 40%
Distillery: Allegedly Irish Distillers Ltd.
Why We Liked It:
Kirkland Signature Irish Whiskey is made from the finest malt and grain. It is thrice distilled and matured for four years in oak casks for a smooth and rich flavor profile.
Aside from its pleasing aroma, the Irish whiskey has notes of cedar, dry fruit, honeysuckle, toffee, and a steady hint of peat on the palate.
A drop of water helps open up the complex flavor of the Irish whiskey.
Read: Costco Whiskey Advent Calendar Full Guide
8. Kirkland Signature Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (22 YO)
Average Price: roughly $80 (Whisky Monster)
Alcohol Content: 46%
Distillery: Rumored to be The Glenrothes
Why We Liked It:
The Kirkland 22-Year Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky finished in Oloroso Sherry casks tastes great.
It offers orange, chocolate, pine trees, chocolate, and dried fruit notes on the nose.
The rich earthy flavors like chocolate, tobacco, peppers, and blackcurrant are present on the palate.
The 22-Year-Old whisky has a lingering spicy finish with bold cinnamon and nutmeg flavor profile.
7. Kirkland Signature Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Average Price: $21.99 (Instacart)
Alcohol Content: 46%
Distillery: Barton 1792 Distillery
Why We Liked It:
Previously distilled by Jim Beam and George Dickel [1], Kirkland Small batch bourbon is now sourced from Barton 1792 Distillery.
It has high rye content so expect its rich aroma of rye spice, oak, clove, caramel, and vanilla.
Kirkland Signature Small Batch is a smooth and slightly sweet taste because bourbon contains at least 51% corn on its mash bill.
Moreover, on the palate, it has cinnamon, rye, clove, and caramel notes. So, who makes Kirkland bourbon for Costco?
6. Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky
Average Price: $20.99 (Instacart)
Alcohol Content: 40%
Distillery: Reputedly from The Macallan
Why We Liked It:
Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky is honey-sweet on the nose with a mix of floral aroma, cooked cereal, a hint of smoke, and notes of caramel.
We love its almost-candy-like sweetness on the palate and hint of orange zest and apricot.
It has a medium-length finish with mild pepperiness, a slightly bitter note, and lingering sweetness.
It is a good value for money whiskey and is best to drink neat and on the rocks.
5. Kirkland Signature Bottled-in-Bond
Average Price: $23.99 (Costco)
Alcohol Content: 50%
Distillery: Barton 1792 Distillery
Why We Liked It:
Another sourced whiskey from Barton 1792 Distillery is the Kirkland Signature, Bottled-in-Bond.
We love its persistent notes of dried and candied fruit, oak, vanilla, and caramel notes.
Moreso, on the palate, it has noticeable pepperiness, clove, vanilla, caramel, and cinnamon with a medium-length finish.
Read: Hibiki Harmony Japanese Whisky Review
4. Kirkland Signature Single Barrel
Average Price: $32 (Costco)
Alcohol Content: 60%
Distillery: Barton 1792 Distillery
Why We Liked It:
Kirkland Signature Single Barrel bourbon whiskey from Barton 1792 is an unblended Kentucky straight bourbon.
Since it comes from a single barrel and does not married with other blends, the tasting notes may vary on each barrel.
It has a fair alcohol burn on the palate with a smooth and lingering finish. Single barrel bourbon has rich and bold notes of honey, caramel, honey, and dried fruit.
3. Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky, 12 YO
Average Price: $44.99 (Instacart)
Alcohol Content: 40%
Distillery: Rumored from The Macallan
Why We Liked It:
The Kirkland Signature 12-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky has a pleasing amber color.
It has a nice aroma and flavors of baked peaches and kasha with hints of bubble gum.
The 12-Year-Old Blended Scotch whisky has a smooth, dryish, light body and medium-length finish.
All in all, it has a nice balance of chewy grain and fruity characters. But who makes Kirkland scotch?
2. Kirkland Signature Blended Canadian Whisky
Average Price: $22.99 (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 40%
Distillery: Possibly Crown Royal
Why We Liked It:
Kirkland Signature Blended Canadian Whisky has a golden amber appearance and appealing aroma of baked goods.
On the palate, it has a little punch with notes of peppermint, sugar cookies, and subtle teaberry.
Overall, the Kirkland Signature Blended Canadian whisky has a smooth finish and decent length.
1. Kirkland Signature Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey
Average Price: $26.99 (Costco)
Alcohol Content: 40%
Distillery: Almost certainly George Dickel
Why We Liked It:
Kirkland Signature Tennessee sour mash whiskey is a low-proof Tennessee whiskey ideal for cocktails.
It has mellow smoothness, thanks to the Lincoln County Process [2] every Tennessee whiskey undergoes.
It has a long, sweet, and smooth finish with lingering fruit notes and persistent pepperiness.
It falls between George Dickel and Jack Daniels, but it is drier than JD and slightly sweeter than George Dickel.
Read: Does Costco Have Japanese Whisky?
Other Whiskeys Available at Costco
Case Items
Bourbons
- Four Roses Small Batch Select – 750ml – roughly $50
- Kentucky Owl Confiscated – 750ml – roughly $110
- Angels Envy – 750ml – roughly $42
- Michters Small Batch – 750ml – roughly $42 (1 per membership)
- Blade and Bow – 750ml – roughly $44
- Rabbithole Cavehill – 750ml – roughly $75
- H Deringer – 750ml – roughly $85
- John J Bowman Single Barrel – 750ml – roughly $49
- Uncle Nearest 1884 – 750ml – roughly $35
- Jeffersons Reserve Single Barrel – 750ml – roughly $58
Rye
- Michters Single Barrel US1 Rye – 750ml – roughly $45 (1 per membership)
- Whistlepig 15yr Rye – 750ml – roughly $215
- WhistlePig 10yr Straight Rye – 750ml – roughly $75
- Sazerac Rye – 750ml – roughly $25 (1 per member)
- Angels Envy Finished Rye – 750ml – roughly $80
- WhistlePig 18yr Double Malt Rye – 750ml – roughly $32
Scotch
- Johnnie Walker Blue – 750ml – roughly $180
- Glenfarclas Single Malt 25yr – 750ml – roughly $210
- Johnnie Walker Ultimate 18yr – 750m – roughly $79
- Dalmore “King Alexander III” – 750ml – roughly $215
- Oban Little Bay Single Malt – 750ml – roughly $54
Other Types
- Hatozaki Small Batch – 750ml – roughly $50
- Tenjaku Pure Malt – 750ml – roughly $58
- Kamiki Malt Whisky – 750ml – roughly $59
- Jack Daniel’s Bonded (BiB) – 700ml – roughly $29
- Crown Royal Peach – 750ml – roughly $25
- Daniels Triple Mash – 700ml – roughly $32
On Shelves
Bourbon
- Smooth Ambler Contradiction – 750ml – roughly $29
- Bulleit Bourbon – 1.75L – roughly $44
- Heaven’s Door – 750ml – roughly $33
- District Made – 750ml – roughly $39
- Basil Hayden 8yr – 1.75L – roughly $65
- Elijah Craig – 1.75L – roughly $50
- Four Roses – 1.75L – roughly $36
- Kirkland Signature Small Batch – 1L – roughly $30 (TN, not Barton )
- Jim Beam White – 1.75L – roughly $26
- Jeffersons Reserve – 750ml – roughly $33
- Maker’s Mark – 1.75L – roughly $45
- Kirkland Signature Small Batch – 1L – roughly $19 (KY, Barton )
- Knob Creek 9 – 1.75L – roughly $56
- Woodford Reserve Bourbon – roughly 1.75L – $59
Rye & Scotch
- Sagamore Spirit Rye – 750ml – around $31
- Catocin Creek Roundstone Organic Rye – 750ml – around $30
- Johnnie Walker Double Black – 750ml – around $34
- Johnnie Walker Black – 1.75L – around $59
- Johnnie Walker Red – 1.75L -around $30
- Balvenie 12yr DoubleWood – 750ml – around $65
- Buchanan’s 12yr – 1.75L – around $59
- Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whiskey – 1.75L – around $18
- Laphroaig Single Malt – 750ml – around $45
- Macallan Double Cask 12yr – 750ml – around $63
- Chivas Regal 12yr – 750ml – around $25
- Dewars White Label – 1.75L – around $33
- Glenlivet 12yr Single Malt – 1.75L – around $92
- Glenmorangie 10yr Single Malt- 1.75L – around $69
- Kirkland Signature 12yr Blended – 1.75L – around $36
Irish
- Jameson Irish Whiskey – 1.75L – around $46
- Kirkland Signature Irish Whiskey – 1.75L – around $28
Other Types
- Suntory Toku – 750ml – roughly $29
- Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey – 750ml – roughly $31
- Crown Royal – 1.75L – roughly $44
- Crown Royal Apple – 1.75L – roughly $45
- Kirkland Signature Canadian Whisky – 1.75L – roughly $19
- Jack Daniel’s – 1.75L – roughly $39
- Jack Daniel’s Honey – 1.75L – roughly $37
- Bulleit Ready To Drink Old Fashioned – 750ml – roughly $25
- Fireball – 1.75L – roughly $25
- Kirkland Signature Tennesee Whiskey – 1.75L – roughly $24
- Old Line Single Malt Whiskey – 750ml – roughly $32
**Prices and stocks may vary depending on location
Popular Costco Whiskey Cocktail Recipes
Hot Toddy
Prep Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 10 mins
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz whiskey
- ¾ cup water
- 2 tsp honey
- 2 tsp lemon
- 1 lemon round
- 1 cinnamon stick (garnish)
Instructions:
Bring water to a simmer, then pour it into a mug. Mix the hot water with whiskey, honey, and lemon juice, then stir. Top with lemon round and cinnamon stick, then serve.
Serving: 1
Winter Whiskey Sour
Prep Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 10 mins
Ingredients:
- 50 ml bourbon
- Crush ice
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp orange juice
- 0.5 tbsp sugar syrup
- 2 slices oranges
- Honey
- Gold edible glitter (garnish)
Instructions:
Get a small paintbrush or use your finger to brush honey and gold glitter around the rim of the glass. In a cocktail shaker, mix all the liquid ingredients and shake vigorously. Strain in a glass with ice then serves with orange slices on top.
Serving: 2
FAQs
Does Costco’s Return Policy apply to whiskey?
No, Costco’s Return Policy does not apply to whiskey. While Costco has a generous return policy, they do not budge on booze, whether sealed or unopened. But who makes Kirkland’s Signature Tennessee whiskey?
Can you buy Costco whiskey if you’re not a member?
Yes, you can buy Costco whiskey even if you are not a member. However, there are only 14 states where you can score Costco whiskey without being required to get a membership.
Can you get Costco whiskeys delivered?
Yes, you can get Costco whiskeys delivered. However, delivery is allowed in 11 states only, and you can order it from Instacart. Here are our favorite bourbons at Costco.
Final Thoughts
On average, there are almost 50 spirits available at Costco, and roughly 20 carry the Kirkland Signature label. While most of the best whiskeys have an undisclosed distillery, most are big names with a high reputation for distilling quality spirits.
Who could ask for more if the Costco whiskeys are of good quality, great value for money, and accessible?
There are 833 Costco warehouses worldwide, not to mention its online shop. Additionally, there are 14 states where you can buy alcohol without a Costco membership.
References:
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/joemicallef/2021/06/20/why-you-should-buy-costcos-kirkland-signature-bourbon/
- https://www.britannica.com/story/the-story-of-nearest-green-americas-first-known-black-masterdistiller
Lydia Martin hails from Redmond, Washington, where you’ll find some of the best cocktail bars and distilleries that offer a great mix of local drinks. She used to work as a bar manager in Paris and is a self-taught mixologist whose passion for crafting unique cocktails led her to create Liquor Laboratory. Lydia can whip up a mean Margarita in seconds! Contact at [email protected] or learn more about us here.
