Alberta's booming craft whisky industry is getting a significant retail boost this season, with Costco liquor stores across the province now showcasing eight distinct products from seven homegrown distilleries — a major win for producers in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
The rollout, which launched last week, spans 15 Costco locations from Medicine Hat to Grande Prairie, giving Albertans unprecedented access to locally produced spirits at one of Canada's most influential retailers.
A 'Treasure Hunt' for Whisky Enthusiasts
"If you're into Alberta whisky, you're gonna see it's slightly different at each Costco," said Bryce Parsons, president of the Alberta Craft Distillers Association and co-founder of True Wild Distilling, whose product appears at Calgary's Heritage location. "Every Costco is a little bit different — a bit of a treasure hunt."
In southwest Calgary, the Costco Tsuut'ina liquor store is featuring selections from Wild Life Distillery in Canmore, Bridgeland Distillery, Anohka Distillery near Stony Plain, and Eau Claire Distillery in Diamond Valley. The Maligne Range distillery from Jasper and Burwood distillery from Calgary round out the provincial showcase.
Brian Lerner, manager of the Costco Tsuut'ina liquor department, says customer response has been enthusiastic. "People know what they want but this allows them to explore something new," Lerner explained. "People want to buy things that have been made and produced with care from the people around us. They make fantastic products here in Alberta."
Timing Couldn't Be Better — Or More Critical
The Costco partnership arrives at a crucial moment for Alberta's craft producers. Earlier this year, the Alberta government passed the Alberta Whisky Act, establishing quality standards and branding requirements similar to the Canadian Whisky designation — a move designed to protect and promote the province's distilling sector.
The timing also matters internationally. As trade tensions between Canada and the United States continue to escalate, securing domestic retail presence becomes increasingly valuable for Alberta producers.
"I think overall, people find it extremely exciting and very happy that someone like Costco — who has a great reach to Albertans — that they're supporting an initiative like this, at this time," Parsons said.
Costco representatives attended the unveiling of the Alberta Whisky Association's official logo in July, an event that Parsons credits with jumpstarting the retailer's interest in the category.
Breaking Into Costco Is No Small Achievement
Landing shelf space at Costco represents a significant milestone for any producer. Unlike traditional big-box retailers that stock over 100,000 different items, Costco carries only approximately 4,000 unique products — making every placement highly competitive and carefully curated.
To support the launch, distillery representatives have been visiting Costco locations in person, conducting tastings and educating staff and customers about Alberta's craft whisky heritage. The personalized approach underscores the quality-focused positioning these producers are betting on.
"People want to buy things that have been made and produced with care from the people around us."
This article is based on reporting from Global News. Read the original story at Global News.