Here at Delish, we know and love Costco dearly. Its warehouse aisles bring us joy, and the loads of free samples you can stock up on for lunch don't hurt either. But did you know that Costco sells booze? Yep, you can get beer, wine, and liquor at the wholesaler while picking up your rotisserie chicken and month's supply of toilet paper.
There are a few things you should know before diving into the land of Kirkland alcohol, though. Once you read about all these tips, you'll never stock up anywhere else. You can also check out our ultimate Costco shopping guide for more secrets on getting the best deals.
1. You don't have to be a member to buy alcohol.
Many states have a law prohibiting stores from requiring membership to purchase alcohol, which means you can buy those beverages without a club card. You're in luck if you reside in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Texas, or Vermont. Not every cashier knows the law, though, so be ready to explain your case to a manager.
2. Costco is the largest wine retailer in the U.S.
Wine makes up nearly half of the big box store's yearly alcohol sales. Costco had $2.5 billion in 2020 wine sales, which placed it as the country's largest wine seller. You'll find a wide variety of labels, but you don't want to sleep on Kirkland and KVine bottles—many of which have a big winemaker distributor behind them. And don't forget to check out our guide to the best wine at Costco.
3. You can stock your entire bar with Kirkland brand booze.
Kirkland brand wine was first produced in 2003, followed by hard alcohol in 2007 and later craft beer. Now, you can buy nearly every spirit under Costco's signature in-house label, including American and French vodka, Scotch, whiskey, bourbon, rum, tequila, and gin. We even handpicked the best liquor you can find at Costco.
4. Big-name brands make some of those Kirkland spirits.
Here are the rumored names behind the bottles.
- Kirkland beer is brewed by Gordon Biersch.
- Kirkland Scotch are distilled by either Alexander Murray and Macallan Distillery.
- Kirkland bourbon and rum is produced by Jim Beam and George Dickel.
- According to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and reported by USA Today, all Kirkland vodka is produced by LeVecke Corporation. Rumors have also circulated that Kirkland vodka is made from the same water source that Grey Goose uses.
- Kirkland tequila is produced in the same distillery as Cielo tequila.
5. You can get Costco alcohol delivered to your house if you live in these 11 states.
The Costco locations in 11 states will deliver the alcohol straight to your house, so no need to get up from the couch. Just order right from Instacart and wait for it to come to you if you reside in California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, and Washington, D.C.
6. Costco's wine markups are half that of most stores.
Many boutique wine shops sell bottles for up to 50 percent more than the wholesale price. Costco's markups hover around 14 percent. That means the cost of the same bottles of wine purchased at Costco versus another retailer could differ greatly—making Costco the much better bargain.
7. Get your gifts for booze lovers there.
Costco has an advent calendar that's stuffed with beer. And what's better than a mini bottle or can a day?
8. Keep an eye out for asterisks.
If you see this tiny star (*) in the upper right hand corner of an in-store sign, it means Costco has the item on clearance. These sales are when you'll get the best deals, but they occasionally indicate the last time Costco plans to restock the product. Scoop up as many bottles while you can.
9. You can keep those empty wood wine cases that are lying around.
You know how Costco keeps empty cardboard boxes near checkout registers that are free for the taking? Same goes for any empty wine cases you see in the aisles. Designers go nuts for them, so take note: They make great-looking storage bins.
10. You might not be able to return alcohol.
Costco is known for its insanely liberal return policy, but whether or not you can return alcohol depends on what state you’re in. States have their own laws about returning alcohol, so you’ll want to check your local Costco before trying to make a return.
Sarah Weinberg is the deputy editor at Delish and has covered food, travel, home, and lifestyle for a number of publications, including Food Network Magazine and Country Living. She's originally from the Bay Area, has an unhealthy affinity for the Real Housewives of Anywhere, and harbors strong feelings about fruit salad.
