Thirsty Thursday Eve - Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky
To me, Scotch has a sort of classy aura that many other spirits lack. I’m not going to claim to be a connoisseur, as I have tried very few variants of Scotch, but Costco’s Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky is a solid distilled spirit at a reasonable price. It certainly doesn’t compete with the higher end Scotch offerings available from Costco or other liquor stores, but it holds its own, and I would say it is undeniably drinkable.
Basically any Scotch, or “Scotch whisky” if we’re being proper, is known to have flavors of smoke and peat. Honestly, I didn’t know what peat was before looking it up, and I still don’t know what it smells or tastes like, but I do recognize some common properties across the Scotch brands that I have tried. The smoke flavor is undeniable, and seems to be the biggest hurdle to those trying Scotch for the first time. Coming from the sweet molasses flavor of rum or the mostly inert flavor of vodka, Scotch has a bold and strong flavor profile that can be overwhelming at first.
Like any distilled spirit available from Costco Liquor, the Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky comes only by the handle, and for a surprisingly cheap price. When I last purchased a bottle, it was only $17.99 or $10.28 per liter (for comparison, as they do not actually sell it by the liter). This is slightly more expensive than their spiced rum or American vodka, but slightly cheaper than the French vodka. I’m not sure if the price difference is due to additional aging time or higher cost of the logistics around the Scotch, but I would still say that a handle for less than $20 is super cheap. Going with the typical 40 shot estimate of 1.5oz each for a handle, that works out to 45 cent per shot. Not that anyone is taking shots of Scotch, but that’s a more digestible figure to compare prices with other spirits. Instead, I like to pour a highball glass of it, neat, and sip on it slowly, in the company of friends.
In addition to their Kirkland Signature branded Scotch, Costco offers a number of other brands and varieties of Scotch. All of these are unfortunately much more expensive. The most expensive Scotch that Costco had available during my last visit was a 25 year single malt from Macallan for an absurd $1,399.99 for a fifth. With roughly 17 shots in a fifth, that’s about $82 for a single shot of this liquid gold. Just to highlight the absurdity of high end spirits, Costco does have another liquor that costs even more than the Macallan. Their Remy Martin Louis XIII Cognac from France is a ridiculous $2,699.99 for a fifth. Using our same figures for comparison, that’s $159 for a single 1.5 oz jigger of alcohol. I can buy 150 bottles of the blended Scotch for the same price that I can get that one bottle of Remy. So until I hit the lottery and finally have more money than sense, I’ll stick with prioritizing quantity over quality and keep buying my Kirkland Signature branded liquors.
There is much discussion online of where Costco obtains this Scotch from. It appears that they purchase from an independent bottler, who has purchased from some unnamed distillery. The lips of every party involved are sealed, so it’s still a mystery exactly where the finished product originated, but it certainly comes from somewhere in Scotland. Personally, it doesn’t bother me that the specific source can’t be identified. For the vast majority of Costco’s products, the supplier is actually a well known brand that allows Costco to rebrand the products under the Kirkland Signature label for a cheaper price by ensuring a large purchase. If I can get brand products for not-brand prices under the Kirkland Signature name, I’m not complaining or asking questions.
The general consensus of the internet is that Costco’s blended Scotch is just mediocre, despite having impressive ratings from tasting institutions. Without exposure to a wider variety of Scotch, I can’t really say how good or bad of a Scotch it is. Compared to that Macallan 12 I had that one time, the Costco Scotch probably isn’t as good, but I assume it’s also a lot cheaper. However, as a distilled spirit, it’s pretty good. Better than what you would expect for the price, but not as good as what you can get for significantly more money.
References:
Drinking Consultants. (2015, September 16). Kirkland Blended Scotch Whisky Review. Retrieved August 24, 2018, from http://booze-blog.blogspot.com/2015/09/kirkland-blended-scotch-whisky-review.html
Felten, E. (2014, July 28). Your 'Craft' Whiskey Is Probably From a Factory Distillery in Indiana. Retrieved August 24, 2018, from https://www.thedailybeast.com/your-craft-whiskey-is-probably-from-a-factory-distillery-in-indiana
Goldfarb, A. (2017, November 16). How Does Costco Sell 18-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch for $38? Retrieved August 24, 2018, from https://punchdrink.com/articles/how-costco-kirkland-signature-spirits-whisky-scotch-pricing/
Newman, K. (2016, January 12). Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky. Retrieved August 24, 2018, from https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/kirkland-signature-blended-scotch-whisky
Richard. (2017, November 30). Who Makes Kirkland Signature Scotch? The Secret Unveiled. Retrieved August 24, 2018, from http://cantinasf.com/who-makes-kirkland-scotch/
Tastings.com. (2015, December 23). Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky. Retrieved August 24, 2018, from http://www.tastings.com/Spirits-Review/Kirkland-Signature-Blended-Scotch-Whisky-Scotland-1750-ml-01-01-2016.aspx
Thoma, C. I. (2016, March 12). Review - Kirkland Blended Scotch Whisky, (No Age Stated), 40%. Retrieved August 24, 2018, from https://angelsportion.com/2016/03/12/review-kirkland-blended-scotch-whisky-no-age-stated-40/
U/jericko. (2017, June 5). R/Scotch - How is Costco's - Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky? Retrieved August 24, 2018, from https://www.reddit.com/r/Scotch/comments/6fioxc/how_is_costcos_kirkland_signature_blended_scotch/
Basically any Scotch, or “Scotch whisky” if we’re being proper, is known to have flavors of smoke and peat. Honestly, I didn’t know what peat was before looking it up, and I still don’t know what it smells or tastes like, but I do recognize some common properties across the Scotch brands that I have tried. The smoke flavor is undeniable, and seems to be the biggest hurdle to those trying Scotch for the first time. Coming from the sweet molasses flavor of rum or the mostly inert flavor of vodka, Scotch has a bold and strong flavor profile that can be overwhelming at first.
Like any distilled spirit available from Costco Liquor, the Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky comes only by the handle, and for a surprisingly cheap price. When I last purchased a bottle, it was only $17.99 or $10.28 per liter (for comparison, as they do not actually sell it by the liter). This is slightly more expensive than their spiced rum or American vodka, but slightly cheaper than the French vodka. I’m not sure if the price difference is due to additional aging time or higher cost of the logistics around the Scotch, but I would still say that a handle for less than $20 is super cheap. Going with the typical 40 shot estimate of 1.5oz each for a handle, that works out to 45 cent per shot. Not that anyone is taking shots of Scotch, but that’s a more digestible figure to compare prices with other spirits. Instead, I like to pour a highball glass of it, neat, and sip on it slowly, in the company of friends.
In addition to their Kirkland Signature branded Scotch, Costco offers a number of other brands and varieties of Scotch. All of these are unfortunately much more expensive. The most expensive Scotch that Costco had available during my last visit was a 25 year single malt from Macallan for an absurd $1,399.99 for a fifth. With roughly 17 shots in a fifth, that’s about $82 for a single shot of this liquid gold. Just to highlight the absurdity of high end spirits, Costco does have another liquor that costs even more than the Macallan. Their Remy Martin Louis XIII Cognac from France is a ridiculous $2,699.99 for a fifth. Using our same figures for comparison, that’s $159 for a single 1.5 oz jigger of alcohol. I can buy 150 bottles of the blended Scotch for the same price that I can get that one bottle of Remy. So until I hit the lottery and finally have more money than sense, I’ll stick with prioritizing quantity over quality and keep buying my Kirkland Signature branded liquors.
There is much discussion online of where Costco obtains this Scotch from. It appears that they purchase from an independent bottler, who has purchased from some unnamed distillery. The lips of every party involved are sealed, so it’s still a mystery exactly where the finished product originated, but it certainly comes from somewhere in Scotland. Personally, it doesn’t bother me that the specific source can’t be identified. For the vast majority of Costco’s products, the supplier is actually a well known brand that allows Costco to rebrand the products under the Kirkland Signature label for a cheaper price by ensuring a large purchase. If I can get brand products for not-brand prices under the Kirkland Signature name, I’m not complaining or asking questions.
The general consensus of the internet is that Costco’s blended Scotch is just mediocre, despite having impressive ratings from tasting institutions. Without exposure to a wider variety of Scotch, I can’t really say how good or bad of a Scotch it is. Compared to that Macallan 12 I had that one time, the Costco Scotch probably isn’t as good, but I assume it’s also a lot cheaper. However, as a distilled spirit, it’s pretty good. Better than what you would expect for the price, but not as good as what you can get for significantly more money.
References:
Drinking Consultants. (2015, September 16). Kirkland Blended Scotch Whisky Review. Retrieved August 24, 2018, from http://booze-blog.blogspot.com/2015/09/kirkland-blended-scotch-whisky-review.html
Felten, E. (2014, July 28). Your 'Craft' Whiskey Is Probably From a Factory Distillery in Indiana. Retrieved August 24, 2018, from https://www.thedailybeast.com/your-craft-whiskey-is-probably-from-a-factory-distillery-in-indiana
Goldfarb, A. (2017, November 16). How Does Costco Sell 18-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch for $38? Retrieved August 24, 2018, from https://punchdrink.com/articles/how-costco-kirkland-signature-spirits-whisky-scotch-pricing/
Newman, K. (2016, January 12). Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky. Retrieved August 24, 2018, from https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/kirkland-signature-blended-scotch-whisky
Richard. (2017, November 30). Who Makes Kirkland Signature Scotch? The Secret Unveiled. Retrieved August 24, 2018, from http://cantinasf.com/who-makes-kirkland-scotch/
Tastings.com. (2015, December 23). Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky. Retrieved August 24, 2018, from http://www.tastings.com/Spirits-Review/Kirkland-Signature-Blended-Scotch-Whisky-Scotland-1750-ml-01-01-2016.aspx
Thoma, C. I. (2016, March 12). Review - Kirkland Blended Scotch Whisky, (No Age Stated), 40%. Retrieved August 24, 2018, from https://angelsportion.com/2016/03/12/review-kirkland-blended-scotch-whisky-no-age-stated-40/
U/jericko. (2017, June 5). R/Scotch - How is Costco's - Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky? Retrieved August 24, 2018, from https://www.reddit.com/r/Scotch/comments/6fioxc/how_is_costcos_kirkland_signature_blended_scotch/
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