The 14 Best Bourbon Brands At Costco That Are Always Worth Buying

One of the major perks of being a Costco member is getting great deals on spirits. And if you're a bourbon lover, you'll find plenty of bottles at very competitive prices. Some are well-known brands that you can find at most warehouses throughout the year. Others are limited-time offerings that pop up every now and again, and yet others are rare finds that typically fly off the shelves as soon as they come out. But with so many options, how do you determine which ones are worth buying?

As a long-time bourbon lover and Costco member, I decided to do a deep dive into the best bourbon brands that the warehouse chain has to offer. I drew on my own experiences and reviews from other Costco members to determine which bottles deliver the best combination of flavor, quality, and price. From everyday bottles that offer plenty of bang for your buck to pricier pours that are well worth the splurge, these are the bourbons you should definitely snap up if you spot them at your warehouse.

If you're looking for a solid bourbon that consistently rakes in awards, Eagle Rare is an excellent buy. Charles L. Beam (the grandnephew of Jim Beam) brought the brand to life in 1975, and the Buffalo Trace Distillery took over production in 1989. Today, it's a favorite with bourbon connoisseurs and casual sippers alike for its rich flavors. The 10-Year expression is the youngest in the collection, and the one that pops up the most often at Costco warehouses.

Although prices vary by warehouse, some Costco members have reported seeing bottles of Eagle Rare 10 on sale for around $36. That's a great deal, since the same bottles can sell for around $60 elsewhere. Plus, reviewers say it's pure quality. As one fan said on Reddit, "Even though this is an entry-level bourbon for [Buffalo Trace], it's surprisingly complex." It's smooth with a dry, lingering finish and offers up notes of cocoa, toffee, and nuts. Also keep an eye out for the elusive Eagle Rare 17, which has appeared at Costco in the past.

Buffalo Trace is a renowned distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, that dates back to the mid-1800s. The distillery produces several bourbon brands (including the aforementioned Eagle Rare), and one of the most popular is the flagship Buffalo Trace bourbon. It's a common find at Costco, where some members have reported seeing bottles sell for as low as $20. Don't let the low price fool you, though, because this is a very easy sipper with a nice balance of sweet, spicy, and toasty oak flavors.

Buffalo Trace is pretty secretive about how it makes its namesake bourbon, but we do know that the mash bill includes corn, rye, and malted barley. It's aged about eight to 10 years in charred oak barrels, which gives the bourbon three distinctive tasting notes: toffee, dark fruit, and vanilla. All up, it's a solid everyday bourbon. As one reviewer said on Reddit, "Nice enough to be drunk neat to start the night, a heck of a mixer, and not going to break the bank."

Easily recognizable by its round bottle and horse and jockey topper, Blanton's Original Single Barrel is a special bourbon from the Buffalo Trace Distillery. It's named after Colonel Albert B. Blanton, who started working at the distillery in 1897 and eventually became the company's president. Blanton often served special guests bourbon from "honey barrels," which are essentially a distillery's best barrels. In 1984, the distillery paid homage to that tradition by releasing Blanton's Original Single Barrel bourbon.

While a bottle of Blanton's Original typically retails anywhere from $75 to $85, Costco members have seen it pop up for about $65 at warehouses. That's an absolute steal, considering each bottle is hand-filled from a specially selected barrel, then hand-labeled and topped with one of eight collectible horse and jockey figures. As for the taste, it offers notes of honey, vanilla, and warming spices. And according to many reviewers, Blanton's delivers consistent flavors every time. Because of that, Breaking Bourbon said, "This is one bourbon that deserves to be a staple on all bourbon drinkers' shelves."

As many Costco shoppers know, the company produces its own line of Kirkland Signature spirits. This includes everything from vodka to cognac, Irish cream liqueur, and yes — even bourbon. There are four Kirkland Signature bourbons available at Costco, three of which are produced at the Barton 1792 distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Of those, the Small Batch bourbon is a great deal, as it's priced at about $20 to $25 for a 1-liter bottle, and many members will tell you it's legit. As one fan said on Reddit, "It's the best I've ever found even close to that price."

The Kirkland Signature Small Batch bourbon features a mash bill of corn, rye, and malted barley, and it's aged for at least four years. It offers up buttery aromas of corn and oak, then follows through with tasting notes of vanilla, caramel, and spice. It's a bit punchy, but not overly so. It's decent enough to sip on its own, but many say it's better in cocktails. As one Reddit user said, "I personally feel it's outstanding for a mixer bourbon."

Four Roses is one of the award-winning bourbon brands every whiskey lover should know. The company got its start in Louisville, Kentucky, in the 1880s, and it has an interesting history. During Prohibition, it was one of only a few whiskeys doctors could prescribe as medicine. In the 1940s, Seagram bought the company and stopped selling it in the United States, instead moving sales to Europe and Asia. It only became available in the States again in 2002, and it quickly regained its popularity.

Costco offers a few different Four Roses expressions at select warehouses. Although prices vary by location, you might be able to find the Small Batch for about $25, the Single Barrel for around $30, and the Small Batch Select for about $50. Each expression offers different flavor notes, but you can generally expect sweet notes like caramel and fruit, warm baking spices, and charred oak. Reviewers say the bourbons are great on the rocks or neat, and also work well in mixed drinks.

Elijah Craig is another bourbon company with a long, interesting history. It's named after its founder, Baptist preacher Elijah Craig, who was also a skilled whiskey distiller. In 1789, he started aging his whiskey in charred oak barrels, a concept that was new at the time. Because of that, many now call him the "Father of Bourbon." Today, the Bardstown, Kentucky, distillery produces numerous expressions, some of which are available at Costco warehouses.

One of the more accessible Elijah Craig bourbons at Costco is the Small Batch. It sells for about $25, which is a great deal considering it's won numerous awards. It also made our list of bottom-shelf bourbons that are worth the buy. If you want something a little more special, look for the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, which sells for about $65. Bottled straight out of the barrel, it offers up rich notes of butterscotch, vanilla, black pepper, and cinnamon. It's a bit of a splurge, but as one Reddit user said, "I'd buy this all day at that price."

It's not hard to spot Maker's Mark with its bright red wax drip coating the top of the bottle. The company has hand-dipped each bottle in wax since it was founded in Loretto, Kentucky, in the 1950s. It's become one of the most recognizable bourbon brands in the United States and abroad, so it's no surprise that Costco carries it at many warehouses. A 1.75-liter bottle can sell for as low as $35 at Costco, while many other vendors charge $60 or more for the same-sized bottle.

The classic Maker's Mark bourbon gets its smooth, full-bodied flavor from a mix of red winter wheat, corn, and malted barley. It's aged to taste, with the end result offering notes of caramel, vanilla, cherry, and oak. What many people love about Maker's (myself included) is that it's very easy to drink. It's a little bit sweet, a little bit spicy, and has a soft mouthfeel. As The Whiskey Ramble put it, "It's simply a well-crafted and nicely balanced bourbon."

When Costco released its Kirkland Signature bourbons produced by the Barton 1792 distillery in 2021, the Bottled-in-Bond quickly became a fan favorite. To carry the bottled-in-bond label, a bourbon must meet strict standards. It must be made by one distiller at one distillery during a single distillation season. It must also be additive-free, aged at least four years, and bottled at 100 proof. That's exactly what you get with this BIB, and at the reasonable price of about $25.

Made with a mash bill of corn, rye, and barley, the Kirkland Signature BIB offers a nice balance of sweet and spicy flavors. Tasting notes include caramel, banana, ginger, and oak. It's definitely boozy with its 50% ABV, but you don't get that strong alcoholic punch that you do with many other high-alcohol bourbons. By most accounts, it's a smooth sipper that seriously delivers, and some even say it's one of the best whiskeys you can buy at Costco. As The Whiskey Study said, "I think it's a surprisingly good bourbon at an insanely amazing value."

As you might guess from the name, Colonel E.H. Taylor bourbon pays homage to a man who played a pretty legendary role in the bourbon industry. Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr. founded the Old Fashioned Copper Distillery (O.F.C. for short) in 1870, which later became the Buffalo Trace Distillery. He also introduced innovative methods like using copper fermenters and pushed for the 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Act. Today, Buffalo Trace makes his namesake bourbon using some of the techniques he pioneered.

Over the past year, several Costco members have reported seeing bottles of the Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch bourbon available at warehouses for the very attractive price of just $49. That's an absolute steal, as many retailers sell it for around $80 to $90. Reviewers rave about the beautiful balance of flavors like vanilla, grapes, raisins, and charred oak. One taster commented on Reddit, "This is one of the best bottles I have opened in a while." Keep an eye out for other expressions too, like the Cured Oak, which also gets top marks for its smooth, rich flavor.

Knob Creek may be a relative newcomer, having launched in 1992, but there's plenty of Kentucky bourbon history behind the brand. Founder Booker Noe was Jim Beam's grandson, and his family had been making whiskey in the region since the late 1700s. Noe created Knob Creek to bring back the more robust style of pre-Prohibition bourbon. Today, it's one of the brands well worth looking for at Costco, especially because the prices are often well below the average retailer's.

Costco sells several Knob Creek expressions, including the classic 9 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey. It's made in small batches and aged in charred white oak barrels, then bottled at 100 proof. The result is a full-bodied bourbon with oaky notes and rich caramel and vanilla. A 1.75-liter bottle can sell for as low as $35. Costco members have also reported seeing the Single Barrel Reserve for $43, which one Reddit user called "probably one of the most underrated mass-market bourbons of the past few years." 

Smokeye Hill made huge waves when its Barrel Proof bourbon won the Ascot Awards Bourbon of the Year in 2024, beating out some pretty big names. Since then, it's earned plenty of fans, including more than a few Costco members. Bottles sell for around $69 at warehouses, and a few things make it unique. For one, the bourbon is made with a mash of blue corn, yellow corn, rye, and malted barley. It's also distilled in Indiana, then shipped to Colorado Springs, where it's aged for five years in oak barrels.

The Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof has a distinctive flavor with a strong base of vanilla and hints of orange, corn, oak, and baking spices. It offers a pleasant warmth and lingers a bit on the finish. Reviewers have mostly positive things to say about the bourbon, like one reviewer who said on Reddit, "The Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof is excellent. The blue corn adds a little extra sweetness, and it's a bottle I reach for when I want something a little different but still kinda regular bourbon."

Nowadays, small-batch whiskeys are all the rage, but back when Booker's launched in 1988, the term was virtually unheard of. It all started when Booker Noe began giving friends and family special bottles of bourbon from select barrels. It was so well received that he began selling it under the Jim Beam umbrella and marketing it as rare "small batch" bourbon. It's still marketed that way today, and even though the company only releases a few batches a year, some bottles find their way to mainstream outlets like Costco.

Each batch of Booker's Small Batch bourbon comes from barrels in the center of the rackhouse, where conditions are ideal for producing deep flavors. It's always bottled at barrel strength with no filtering or water cutting, and each release varies in flavor. "I have LOVED every Booker's I have had," said one Reddit user. "Big Bold Flavorful ... Plenty of proof and plenty of depth." Prices can also vary, with some Costco members citing ranges of $79 up to roughly $100.

Located in Woodford County, Kentucky, the Woodford Reserve Distillery is a key stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. It was built in 1812 and still uses the historic limestone warehouse to age its barrels today. It's a beautiful spot to visit, but if you can't make it to Kentucky, bottles are easy to find across the country, including at some Costco warehouses, where you may be able to snag the classic Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey for as low as $48.

The classic Woodford Reserve bourbon has many things going for it. For one, it's smooth and very sippable with a nice sweetness. It's made with a mash of corn, rye, and malted barley, and it's aged in charred American oak barrels for about six to seven years. The flavor profile features notes of chocolate, toffee, and spices, with a pleasant, warming finish. It's very approachable, which makes it a great crowd-pleaser. As one reviewer said on Reddit, "I'd put it in my top three recommendations for anyone just getting into bourbon to get their hands on."

Pappy Van Winkle is one of the rarest bourbons you can find at Costco, and that makes it somewhat of a unicorn. Its history dates back to the late 1800s, when an enterprising Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle sold bourbon by horse and buggy across Kentucky. In 1935, he opened the Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Shively, Kentucky, and crafted his own unique bourbon using wheat instead of rye. The distillery closed in 1972, but Van Winkle's family carried on his legacy under the Old Rip Van Winkle name. Today, the company sells a range of bourbons made with the old recipes, and many say they're some of the best on the market.

It should be noted that the chances of coming across a bottle of elusive Pappy Van Winkle or Old Rip Van Winkle at Costco are pretty slim. That said, it's not impossible. One member said on Reddit, "I've talked to the guys at 'my' Costco. He said they might see a bottle every two years or so. And it's always gone within seconds of them putting it out." If you do happen to grab a coveted bottle, you can expect pretty much every expression to be exceptionally smooth, with layers of flavors like chocolate, tobacco, and oak.

All the bourbons on this list have been spotted at Costco warehouses over the past few years, and according to countless members, they're not only supremely sippable but also a great value for the price. To verify the value, I cross-referenced prices from other vendors and found that in nearly every case, the bottles are significantly cheaper at Costco. As for taste, I drew on my own experience, along with reviews on forums like Reddit and dedicated bourbon review sites. Each of these bourbons gets top marks from both casual sippers and professional tasters alike.