What Makes Costco's Japanese Whisky A Worthy Fan Favorite
Japanese whisky has long been an underdog in the world of spirits. Often overshadowed by the popularity of American bourbons and the prestige of Scotch whisky, these unique drams have struggled to find their place in the spotlight. However, in recent years, the tide has begun to turn. With a string of exceptional releases from renowned distilleries like Yamazaki and Hibiki, whisky enthusiasts are finally discovering the hidden gems from the Land of the Rising Sun.
If you're a fan or simply wish to know what all the buzz on Japanese whiskies is all about, take out your Costco membership card and check out what they have to offer. Costco — at least those in states that allow the sales of liquors – should have a wide range of Japanese whiskies stocked. And, thanks to Costco's bargaining power as one of the biggest beverage alcohol resellers in the country,all at very great prices. While you won't find any Kirkland Signature varieties like with other liquors (Costco's private label doesn't venture into the realm of Japanese whisky yet), Costco's selection of Japanese whiskies is extensive. Whether you're looking for a first taste, or a collector bottle worthy of being the centerpiece in a fan's collection, you should be able to find it here.
What Japanese whiskies you can expect to find at Costco
Lots of Costco-goers have sighted popular bottlings like Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt and the Hibiki Harmony on offer — and all of them at very good prices that you'd have trouble getting off-the-shelf at liquor stores.
Take the Miyagikyo Single Malt, for example. While this whisky typically retails for around $100 at most liquor stores and online vendors, in a Reddit thread, some lucky shoppers at the Costco in Carmel Mountain, San Diego, have reported snagging a bottle for just $76.99. The same story goes for Hibiki Harmony, which, depending on your luck, can be had for $59.99 to $79.99. Once again via Reddit, some have spotted it in the wilderness of Costco for $65, which is about MSRP for this bottle.
However, it's important to keep in mind that finding these Japanese whisky gems at Costco is not always guaranteed, even if your local store sells alcohol. As we mentioned earlier, Japanese whiskies tend to not be as popular as bourbons or scotches, so stock levels can fluctuate greatly depending on availability and seasonality. So, luck is the key here, both in the price you're going to get ... and your ability to even secure a bottle at all.
Interesting whiskies you can get with a ton of luck
If luck smiles on you that day, there have been reports of some interesting Japanese whiskies being in stock at Costco. One such gem is the Yamazaki 12-year, widely considered the flagship of Japanese whiskies and renowned among critics for its intricate flavor profile. While this bottle typically retails for anywhere between $145 and $199 (before tax), Redditors have found it sold by the pallet at an astonishing $99.99 per bottle. To put that into perspective, whisky enthusiasts usually count themselves fortunate if they can secure a bottle for under $150!
But the surprises don't end there. Costco has also been known to stock exceedingly rare whiskies like the Yamazaki 18-year in the past. While you might find this elusive expression priced between $415 and a whopping $1,000 at traditional retailers, a member had said on Reddit that they once found it being offered for around $488 — a quite reasonable price considering its exclusivity. The same holds true for other unicorns in the world of Japanese whisky, such as the Hibiki 21-year, spotted by whisky reviewer DrinkDrankDrunk. Even the legendary Hibiki 30-year has made a Costco appearance, with one Redditor reporting a jaw-dropping price tag of $4,300 (which their friend snapped up.) So, while you're not guaranteed stock at Costco like at liquor stores, the Japanese whiskies here will delight fans and first-comers alike with the value they give for the money!