Costco, Trader Joe's selling Single Malt?

Costco sells a Macallan 12 and a Glenlevit 12 in Indiana , the price point is around the same as the store I go to on a normal basis

I live in Washington State as well and was disappointed that the Costco bill did not pass. I've heard from friends and family that Costco in California sells Single Malt and if I remember correctly, I believe one they mentioned in particular was Laphroaig 10 year old and it sells for about $10 less per bottle than we pay here. I've also heard that Trader Joe's has their own labeled Single Malt from an Islay distillery, but I do not know which one.

I live in Virginia and the laws are similar to Washington state. However, I travel to a part of California where my parents live a few times per year. In their town, there is a Costco, Trader Joes, and a BevMo. BevMo has a huge selection. Costco has a pretty good selection, with the usual caveat that availability is sketchy and usually based upon whatever good deals the Costco purchase team could come up with. When I was there last month, there was a pretty good selection of major blends (like JW Black or Cutty Sark). I know there were a few more well known single malts in some of the more common expressions like Highland Park 12 or Glenmorangie--I know there were those two and probably a few more but I really cannot remember. I also don't recall seeing a Kirkland brand scotch although they might have it with the usual odd availability caveat.

Trader Joes definitely sells single malts too, including Finlaggan and Laphroaig 10 year old for $32 (I know because I bought that one as it is about $20 more elsewhere). I have read about special Trader Joe's bottlings but don't recall seeing them. There are some reviews on the Trader Joes bottlings, generally not so positive, google it.

The good thing about Trader Joes and Costco is that prices are good and if (that's a big if) they have what you want, it is great and sometimes you just luck into a good find that you would otherwise not get. The bad thing about those places is that if you really, really want a certain thing, a lot of times they will not have it just because they only have what they can get for a good price from a producer.

I found that with a Bevmo in town, the prices at the other two places will be very low to compete.

Costco has some good deals, specially during the holiday season. I've heard they had introduced a gift set of Macallan 12 and 15 year for $100, which they are discontinuing now and it is available in some Costco's in Southern California for $40. If someone is local to Southern California(Carlsbad city), the Costco over there has this set for $40. I live near San Francisco, so if there is someone out there who is coming from Carlsbad to SF I would beg him to buy 1 or 2 sets for me.

I had purchased a bottle of Glenmorangie 10 1.75L for about $43 from my local Costco. Also a gift set of Glenlivet(12, 15 and 18 yr old) 750 ml bottles for $80.

I visited California recently and found a single malt with Trader Joe's Label. Surprisingly good!! Light palate, citrus and wood and a long semi-sweet finish. $20.00 !!! If for no other reason than curiosity, try it. I don't think anyone will be disappointed...

@Duane7457, I wrote a review of that one. I agree that for $20 it is hard to go wrong and it blows the comparably priced competition (to the extent there is any for a 12 year old $20 single malt) out of the water.

This past November, the voters in WA state passed an initiative to no longer have the state control liquor sales and distribution. The law takes effect June 1st. Looking forward to being able to purchasing Scotch at Costco and Trader Joe's. It will be interesting to see if prices go up, go down or stay about the same.

@bwmccoy I am a WA dweller myself and ecstatic that we may have Trader Joe's supplying my alcohol...

I will be bringing some of that single malt Irish home with me...

@Duane7457 - Always good to know there are others on here in WA state. I'm in the Seattle area (live on the East of Bellevue, but work in downtown Seattle).

@bwmccoy Vancouver here, 2 Trader Joe's and 3 Costco's within 10-15 minutes. Hoping for the best in June...

I live near the U District. Apparently Wine World in Fremont hired my buddy John Slager to run the liquor department. That's five minutes from here. And John's a good man (he's a Connosr member and hold the number 1 slot for his whisky shelf. He has a website theboozeroom.com. His personal collection is rumored at 1200 bottles. He's told me he'll be my go-to guy after June 1st. I'm looking forward to being able to order some Auld Reekie, Glencoe and Bunnahabhain Toiteach!

So Costcos in WA now have a Sherry Cask Macallan 15 on for $58.99. Anyone try it? My dad asked me about it as he's considering a bottle.

@cpstecroix - I am interested if anyone has tried it as well.

@cpstecroix With the extra WA state taxes it's $75. Now several companies, including Costco, are apparently suing WA state because the state is not following some of the new rules regarding distribution. I'm looking forward to all this settling down and our spirits selling for lower, more realistic prices. Lagavulin 16 is $120 in some stores!

@Wodha - Amen Wodha. I couldn't agree with you more! By the way, the local QFC in Issaquah has the standard Laphroaig 10 "on-sale" for $74.99 before taxes (approximately $100). Seriously? That's a $40 bottle. No thanks, they can keep it. I will just keep ordering from the Whisky Society for now.

@bwmccoy Many folks I know have started ordering out of state online. It's cheaper ordering from Royal Mile Whisky in Edinburgh and having it shipped around the world. There's rumors afoot of a vote to kill these absurd taxes.

@Wodha...the quickest way to kill the taxes in the US? Tell the powers that be that the prices in Washington state now exceed those in Canada!!! (insert dramatic flourish of music here) The LCBO (Ontario) prices, taxes included, are: Lagavulin 16 - $111 and Laphroaig 10 - $80. Though, to be fair to the state of Washington, Macallan is horribly overpriced in Ontario so the 15 yo Fine Oak (we don't have the Sherry Cask) is $130.

Costco sells lagavulin 16 for 63ish bucks, a 20 year speyside from aberdeen shirt that has to be macallan for 50, macallan directors edition for 50, oban 14 for around 55 bucks, macallan 12 for about 30ish (i dont fancy the 12 year old so i dont look at it i am guessing here).

Trader Joe's carries Finlaggan for 20 and that is an entry level islay ( might be laprhoaig or ardberg), macallan 10 fine oak for 30, dalwhinnie 15 for 50-55 bucks, and some of their own highland malts word of advice from one whisky lover to another do not buy the 10 year old trader joes rare highland.

I live in KY and I am trying to locate a liquor store in US that will ship either Lagavulin or Laphroaig. The prices here are beyond reason so I would appreciate any leads where the price of 16 year Lagavulin is not $135.00

Does Trader Joe"s sell Lagavulin?