Lagavulin 16 Discontinued at Costco: Guess We’re Drinking Kirkland Scotch Now

Costco Discontinues Lagavulin 16 Just Before the Holidays

(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — For whisky lovers, this one hits deep. The smoky, sea-salted Scotch that’s long been a quiet treasure on Costco’s shelves — Lagavulin 16 Year Old Single Malt — is being discontinued at the warehouse giant.

A Costco corporate representative confirmed this week that Lagavulin 16 is being “deleted from the system,” meaning it will no longer be restocked once current inventory sells out. As of today, the Simi Valley warehouse is empty, with just a few bottles remaining in Pacoima, Van Nuys, and one Orange County location.

For many, this bottle wasn’t just another item on the shelf — it was a reason to stop in. Aged 16 years on Scotland’s Isle of Islay, Lagavulin is known for its slow distillation, seaside aging, and unmistakable smoky flavor. It’s a Scotch that demands patience and rewards it with depth: peat smoke, dried fruit, and sea spray all wrapped into one.

A Whisky With a Following
Lagavulin 16 rose to near-mythic status in part thanks to Nick Offerman, the actor and real-life whisky enthusiast whose Parks and Recreation character, Ron Swanson, made the brand famous. But long before it became a pop-culture icon, Lagavulin earned the loyalty of serious Scotch drinkers for its complexity and balance.

“It’s not an easy whisky,” said one Simi Valley Costco shopper who’s been buying it for years. “It’s smoky and strong. Once you’ve had it, everything else tastes a little too polite.”

Why Costco Is Dropping It
A Costco corporate representative said products can be discontinued for several reasons — including declining sales, supply or sourcing issues, or an inability to secure stable pricing and inventory from suppliers. The company didn’t cite a specific reason for Lagavulin, but aged Scotch is notoriously hard to keep in steady supply, especially as global demand rises.

The Real Pain: The Price
Lagavulin 16 remains available elsewhere — specialty liquor stores, online retailers, and a few boutique shops in Ventura County — but at a steep premium. Several local stores now list it anywhere from $130 to $160 a bottle.

That’s a far cry from what Costco shoppers were used to paying. For years, the warehouse giant offered some of the lowest prices in the country, with bottles typically selling for under $90, and occasionally dropping to as low as $59.99 during rare markdowns.

Those bargain prices turned Costco into a go-to stop for Scotch lovers, who often stocked up before the holidays or kept a bottle tucked away for special occasions.

A Loss Felt in Simi Valley
With the holiday season approaching, the timing couldn’t be worse for longtime fans. Lagavulin 16 is a favorite gift, a centerpiece of gatherings, and a winter ritual for many in the community.

“It wasn’t just the whisky,” said another shopper. “It was the fact that you could get world-class Scotch in the same place you bought your Christmas ham and batteries. That was kind of special.”

The Legacy of Lagavulin 16
Distilled slowly and aged by the sea, Lagavulin 16 remains one of the most respected single malts in the world. It’s bold yet refined, offering layers of peat smoke, brine, and sweetness that few whiskies can match. Critics regularly rank it among the best in its class, and many drinkers use it as the standard by which all other smoky Scotches are judged.

What’s Next
Costco hasn’t ruled out a future return, but for now, the shelves will stay empty once the last bottles are sold. Inventory decisions, the representative said, are “data-driven and reviewed regularly.”

Still, for Simi Valley shoppers who made Lagavulin part of their Costco run, this feels like the end of an era — a small luxury hiding in plain sight, right next to the Kirkland vodka and the shrimp platters.