1. The Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky 12 Years
Visiting Costco after a long time, I deliberated a lot on which alcohol to buy but ultimately decided on The Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky 12 Years because it’s a brand exclusive to Costco.
To be recognized as Scotch whisky, it must adhere to the association’s standards, including distillation and aging for at least three years, and bottling within Scotland.
However, The Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky 12 Years was bottled in France, which is interesting because blended whiskies can still be recognized as Scotch whisky even if bottled outside Scotland, unlike single malts which must be bottled in Scotland to maintain their status.
The Kirkland Signature
1) Kirkland Signature Story
Kirkland Signature is Costco’s private label brand, through which Costco sells a variety of alcoholic beverages.
Starting with wine in 2003 and expanding to spirits in 2007, Kirkland Signature has grown significantly, reaching $2 billion in sales five years later. Now, Costco is considered one of the largest whiskey retailers in North America.
Kirkland Signature offers a wide range of spirits, including 10 types of Scotch, 12 types of Bourbon, 20 types of Canadian whisky, 22 types of Tennessee whiskey, and 23 types of Irish whiskey. However, it can be challenging to find information on where the spirits are sourced and produced.
Costco does not disclose the names of the distilleries for its products, leading to much speculation. Analysts suggest that Costco uses very high-quality producers, ranging from premium to super-premium levels.
The Scotch whiskies, today’s topic, are produced in the Speyside and Islay regions of Scotland, as mentioned on the Kirkland product bottles. With over 50 distilleries in Speyside and many in Islay, it’s unclear which specific distilleries supply the bulk whisky. Alexander Murray And Company, the company responsible for bottling, sources single malt whisky from various distilleries.
Uniquely, for Bourbon, Costco has a partnership with Barton 1792 Distillery, and previously, bottling was handled by Jim Beam and George Dickel.
Costco does not own its distilleries but sources whisky from others, presumably through large, cost-effective contracts. This approach focuses on providing casks to breweries and maintaining strict standards for its own brand, allowing consumers to purchase whisky at affordable prices at Costco.
Among Kirkland products, some have been recognized as among the best in the world. At the World Whisky Awards, the Kirkland Signature Single Barrel Bourbon (ABV 60%), Kirkland Signature Small Batch Bourbon (ABV 46%) won silver, and the Kirkland Bottled Bourbon (ABV 50%) won gold.
2) Tasting Note
The color of The Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky 12 Years is quite rich, but in Scotland, there are no regulations regarding coloring, so it’s difficult to determine the age of the whisky just by its color.
Upon nosing, there’s a slight acetone presence along with grains and fruity aromas. It’s unclear whether the fruit note is peach. Additionally, there’s no peat detected. As it breathes, the aroma becomes sweeter.
Tasting it reveals a dominant sweetness from start to finish. Initially, there’s a freshness and nuttiness reminiscent of pear. Lingering in the mouth, a spiciness emerges. With aeration, the sweetness intensifies significantly.
The finish is long, with the sweet and nutty flavors experienced in the taste lingering together.
3) Highball
I made the highball with a ratio of 1:5, took a photo, stirred it well, and then drank it. The characteristics I noticed when drinking it neat seemed to diminish significantly. The dilution might have made it difficult to detect the sweetness. However, I could still taste the nutty flavor of the grains.
It’s a refreshing highball with a nutty taste. Adding just a little bit of lemon juice towards the end also made the finish cleaner and more refreshing.
4) Product Information
Product Name: Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky 12 Years
Origin: United Kingdom
Bottling Country: France
Volume and Alcohol Content: 1.75L, 40%
Type of Food: Whisky
3. Overall Review
In summary, The Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky 12 Years is sweet and light, making it ideal for enjoying neat or as a highball. The price is reasonable considering the volume, and its sweetness makes it enjoyable to drink. Given its large quantity, it’s also great for sharing with friends.
Breathing out The Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whisky 12 Years enhances its sweet taste and aroma, making it a good option for those who prefer sweetness.