Run! Don't walk!

Run! Don't walk to your nearest Costco! That's exactly what DC Scotch Chick wanted to do after reading Eric Felten's 'How's Your Drink' column in this weekend's Wall Street Journal. Wouldn't you if you thought you could score a bottle of Macallan 18 for $60? What's the catch? There isn't one, and you may be able to snag some deals at your local liquor store as well if you know what to look for.

  

See, about twenty years ago there was an abundance of spirits so the extra was sold off to independent bottlers who distribute the liquid under their own label. This used to be the norm for most distilleries. Times they are a changing. As more distilleries return to bottling and marketing their own single malts (for higher profits no doubt), independents are starting to release their own bottlings into the market. Felten uses Diageo's Caol Ila as an example. And as demand for single malts is growing there will be fewer and fewer of these independent bottlings to pick up because distilleries are hanging on to more of their product.

So if you don't mind seeing the 'Kirkland' label on your bottle of Macallan 18 (the official name is Kirkland Signature 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch From Macallan Distillery), check out the Costco nearest you for a bottle. There are no Costcos in DC, and none of the Costcos in Virginia or Maryland can sell hard alcohol, so maybe CA Scotch Chick will have some luck out in sunny Southern California.