Costco Kirkland Scotch

[Chuckanut]

I was at my local Costco looking for adult beverages. I found their last remaining bottle of Kirkland Signature Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Aged 20 years. Price $60.

Any thoughts on Kirkland brand spirits Interms of the price and quality?

Note: my area has some of the highest liquor taxes in the nation. So the price may seem high to those of you in the more lightly taxed states.

[rodi]

I am a total convert to their Kirkland Vodka - not the american one, but the french one in the very tall bottle. The bottle is a PITA because it doesn't fit in most cupboards.

Kirkland tries very hard to maintain quality in their kirkland branded items... so I'd be surprised if it was crappy.

[robnplunder]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckanut I was at my local Costco looking for adult beverages. I found their last remaining bottle of Kirkland Signature Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Aged 20 years. Price $60. Any thoughts on Kirkland brand spirits I terms of the Price and quality? Note: my area has some of the highest liquor taxes in the nation. So the price may seem high to those of you in the more lightly taxed states.

I liked it. I googled the reviews before I bought one. The reviews were good too.

[calmloki]

Drinking Kirkland Canadian and rum and have been well pleased with Kirkland vodka - not the French tall bottle, but the usable American version. I do not care for the extra heavy bottles they use for the Canadian and the rum, but maybe I should keep the booze somewhere other than the 7' high shelf.

Have you tried the Trader Joe's $9.95 scotch? By the end of an evening, working hard on the bottle with a friend, I was surprised how good it was. Not at all paint thinner-ish.

[Bestwifeever]

The Costco premade Margaritas we took to a party were pretty bad.

Imho only the first drink has to be good

[woodguy00]

I had the regular vodka earlier this evening. Good stuff. The white tequila is good for margaritas while the the anejo is excellent. I wish they made gin!

[harley]

I'm a big fan of single malts, and when we moved to FL last year and I found the Costco liquor store I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. The Speyside Sherry Cask Finish I found was too tempting, much cheaper/oz than most of the ones I drink.

However, I wasn't thrilled. It was OK, as good as maybe Grant's, but definitely not up to Macallan's or Laphroaig. It didn't say who distilled it on the bottle, although I've seen some Costco scotch with Macallans name on the label before.

But still, for the price it's a definite yes. I can enjoy a Jack Daniels even though I prefer a Pappy Van Winkle or a Knob Creek. This is sort of like that, except with Scotch. Go for it.

[THINKER]

Awww! I only wish our state laws allowed hard liquor sales at Costco. Beer and wine only here. Bummer.

[ronin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodguy00 I had the regular vodka earlier this evening. Good stuff. The white tequila is good for margaritas while the the anejo is excellent. I wish they made gin!

They now have a reposado that is really good. I like the American Vodka and the spiced rum as well. The wines I've tried have been very good.

[Travelwanted]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodi I am a total convert to their Kirkland Vodka - not the american one, but the french one in the very tall bottle. The bottle is a PITA because it doesn't fit in most cupboards. Kirkland tries very hard to maintain quality in their kirkland branded items... so I'd be surprised if it was crappy.

The costco employee told us the vodka is produced in the same place as Grey Goose. It's not Grey Goose with a different bottle but close. My wife enjoys it as much as the other top shelf brands.

I would expect the scotch to be very good as well. Kirkland brands are usually excellent.

[Dash man]

Those of us in Pennsylvania are deprived. The state still keeps a tight control on liquor sales.


Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum

[nuke_diver]

I really liked the Kirkland Speyside scotch. I tend to like single malts that are smokier and peaty but it was really quite good for the price. The rumour was that it was a Macallan but not sure that's true. Sadly I have not seen it lately around here

[Chuckanut]

How does one store an opened bottle of good whisky? I recently finished an old bottle of Balvenie which was probably opened over two years ago. It is not as smooth as I remember.

[Janet H]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckanut How does one store an opened bottle of good whisky? I recently finished an old bottle of Balvenie which was probably opened over two years ago. It is not as smooth as I remember.

I can store it for you....


Just keep it in a dark cupboard tightly capped - it will be fine.

[rodi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travelwanted The costco employee told us the vodka is produced in the same place as Grey Goose. It's not Grey Goose with a different bottle but close. My wife enjoys it as much as the other top shelf brands. I would expect the scotch to be very good as well. Kirkland brands are usually excellent.

I heard that same rumor... And did some digging. It's distilled in the same town as Grey Goose, and uses a lot of the same grain sources. But the product is different. In blind taste tests the kirkland one ranks higher typically. At half the price, and better taste, compared to Grey Goose, it's a bargain in my book.

I've been pleasantly surprised at the price drops since it was first introduced. I think it was 24ish when it first cameout - and it's now $21ish.

[Car-Guy]

Personally, I'm a beer (Corona Light) and whiskey (Crown Royal) drinker. I've been known to drink Jack Daniels black label too. It took years and a lot of careful taste testing to get down to these few.

I've also tried a lot of different Scotchs (some of the best, so they tell me) but to me they all taste about the same (bad). It must be an acquired taste.

[Car-Guy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bestwifeever Imho only the first drink has to be good

Maybe, in this case "size does matter".

[manerac]

Quote:

Originally Posted by calmloki Have you tried the Trader Joe's $9.95 scotch? By the end of an evening, working hard on the bottle with a friend, I was surprised how good it was. Not at all paint thinner-ish.

Ten buck MacChuck?

[calmloki]

Quote:

Originally Posted by manerac Ten buck MacChuck?

And right about the same value/experience. I think. evening got a tad fuzzy.

[Rick_Head]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bestwifeever Imho only the first drink has to be good

You need more practice. An experienced drinker wants the first 4 to be good. :-)