Food Gifts Come in All Shapes and Sizes. Does this mean all gins and vodkas are created equal? Pizza Babka Is on Track to Be Instagram’s Next Big Thing. The major question, of course, is “Is it worth the discount?” Will that “Blended Scotch Whiskey” make a decent Penicillin? All gins rated from 0-5 stars with flavor profiles mapped. Unlike whiskey, rum, gin, or vodka, you can’t rely on barreling or aging to get a neutral spirit to taste like tequila. Visually, the Kirkland bourbon was clear, with a medium to medium plus amber color with gold and brown hues. To ease the stress of buying supplies, they start settling for “good enough,” heading to Costco where, if you have a membership, you can buy... practically everything, even generic Kirkland liquor that, despite being cheaper and of more mysterious origins than the name brand stuff, will absolutely satisfy holiday cocktail needs. Now, you can buy nearly every spirit under Costco's signature in-house label: American and French vodka, Scotch, whiskey, bourbon, rum tequila, and gin. Which variety would you like to review? 5. At $14.99, the Kirkland spiced rum is absolutely tinted with caramel coloring which, if you’re just mixing it with coke, probably won’t matter a whole lot, particularly when it comes to flavor. Agave plants are hand-selected and handpicked at an average age of more than 7 years. The clear stuff, on the other hand, is much less likely to be adulterated. There is no way to control for consistency with single barrel spirits; they’re all going to look, smell, and taste differently. I like that this doesn't have any distinct flavour AMD can be missed easily. Good rum is very difficult to make cheaply, and a spiced rum for me is a massive red flag: You basically have no idea what’s actually in that bottle. Cheap tequila gets a bad rap for a good reason: True tequila can only be produced in Mexico, and in specific parts of Mexico at that. The most readily shared secret of the bar industry is this: When you’re making mixed drinks or juice-and-modifier-forward cocktails, the brand of base spirit you use rarely matters. Old Tom Gin was the gin of the Victorian period (1837–1901), and it was the gin of choice for many early bartenders. Find a Warehouse. In a whiskey smash, for instance, it barely makes a difference if you’re using Jim Beam or Jack Daniels or something less widely marketed like Four Roses Yellow Label. You see, Gordon’s was the gin that many of us in the UK first drank. Costco’s blended Scotch whiskey is procured from Alexander Murray & Company, a purveyor and exporter of Scotch whiskeys. With the BIG exceptions of rum and tequila, you can confidently complete your booze buying quest in a single stop which, let’s be honest, is so very often the greatest gift of the holiday season. For $20 a bottle, I fear that the Costco-brand añejo tequila is essentially tequila-flavored vodka with a dose of artificial coloring to mimic the barrel-aged color. Flavor-wise, you'll notice hints of brown sugar, plums, orange, and malt. by Jeff Ellingson. Kirkland Signature brands is a line dedicated to—as well as owned and managed by—Costco, the warehouse member retailer that has had a large liquor inventory for some time.br /> Kirkland Spiced rum is produced out of the LeVecke Corporation of California, a company who imports, blends, and bottles several different varieties of rum. 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This bottle reminds me of Dewar’s White Label, a standard go-to well Scotch in many a cocktail bar, and will mix well with soda water or ginger beer (and would totally work in a Penicillin). Cocktail time! With that in mind, it’s safe to say that Costco gin is going to drink like gin. The Kirkland Signature añejo tequila is another clear loser. Kirkland Signature Silver Tequila is made from some of the finest blue agave available. At its simplest, gin could be described as a very complex infused vodka. Works fine with tonic as well. Will anyone notice the difference between Kirkland’s “Spiced Rum” and Captain Morgan? Reposado (rested) and añejo (aged) tequilas are golden-brown in color because they have absorbed coloring and flavor characters of the wooden barrels they’ve been stored in. Our Verdict: Definitely worth buying. 89 • Kirkland Signature London Dry Gin 44% (USA) $17.99. Continuing my well spirit overview, on this episode I look at a Costco product, Kirkland brand London Dry Gin. Much like blended Scotches are comprised of whiskeys from various distilleries, Kirkland’s Small Batch Bourbon is a blend. They do well in Martinis, Vodka Sodas, Gimlets, and more, and should definitely be in your liquor cabinet. Any time you purchase a blended Scotch you are buying a blend of Scotch whiskeys from different distilleries combined and sold in a single bottle, which sounds sketchier than it is. For products like Johnnie Walker Blue or Macallan, it’s virtually impossible to beat Costco on price.”. If you buy something from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. juillet 9 2018, 6:53 am. The flip-side of this is, of course, if you plan to drink these spirits neat, on the rocks, or in more spirit-forward cocktails like martinis, Old Fashioneds, or Manhattans. At $25 a bottle Kirkland Signature London Dry Gin doesn’t really impress compared to other similarly priced gins. A single malt Scotch is simply the product of a single distillery, while blended Scotches often combine whiskeys from various spirit producers. The reason for this? Every holiday season, neophyte party planners come to realize that their ideal soiree — one replete with the finest of cheeses, homemade baked goods, and small batch cocktails — isn’t entirely realistic. Browse Costco's selection of Kirkland's Signature Spirits. After tasting Gordon’s again, we’ll admit that the likely answer is “yes”. Tequila, unaged, is clear, a.k.a. Cooking Your First Thanksgiving? The internet’s opinion: The whiskey writer Aaron Goldfarb wrote an informative study of Costco booze for… Here’s How to Wrap Them. Costco’s French vodka: two voted “recommended buy,” with Friedman rejecting. Hands down the best jarred pesto ever! But the rumor exists for a good reason: This stuff is pretty darn good, especially for $20 a handle. Price includes delivery ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5.0 (1) Compare Product. Have we turned into gin snobs? Find a variety. Costco Kirkland Vodka Review; 8 Things You Should Know Before Buying Booze At Costco ; New look for Kirkland American Vodka; Grey Goose and Kirkland Signature brand vodka the same?! Sohla El-Waylly Has Tips to Make It Special. There’s a lot to consider when it comes to purchasing off-brand booze from, let’s be real, distilleries we know nothing about. Kirkland Signature London Dry Gin: Worst At $25 a bottle Kirkland Signature London Dry Gin doesn’t really impress compared to other similarly priced gins. It will probably become my rail gin at home. This gin, like Bombay above, is a great gin to have … Subscribe. 4. Have we become blinded by the variety of gin that’s available now? Olive Oil. Gin is essentially vodka infused with various botanicals, like cardamom, juniper, and citrus peel. The biggest thing to consider in terms of quality here is the source of those botanicals: While this bottle is sure to be free of coloring agents, you might not want to dwell too long on where, exactly, that gin flavor is coming from (although the same can be said for major distilleries like Bombay and Tanqueray). Over 215 Gin Reviews and counting! It works with 12 Scottish distilleries to procure the goods for and bottle Scotch for places like Trader Joe’s, Total Wine, and yep, Costco. Añejo Tequila ($20 for 1L) It’s fair to be a bit cautious about a bulk añejo priced at just $20, but you … It can and will, however, contribute to the magnitude of your hangover the next day. It’s a bit sweeter than Grey Goose but has none of the rubbing alcohol nose or mouthfeel that you risk with something like Rubinoff. Featured Most Recent Highest Grade Lowest Grade Most Helpful With Photo Test Verified. Enough with the back story and on with the review. But I’d go with something single malt if you and your guests are into Scotch on the rocks. It will probably become my rail gin at home. The beautiful display of aromatics on the nose come from the gin's classic botanical notes of juniper, zesty citrus peel and coriander and the flavours of these botanicals are captured in a taste that develops on the palate to deliver a long, clean finish. In fact, when I’m at a bar and ask the bartender what their well tequila is, I’ll typically drink it so long as it’s clear and in a glass bottle because it’s much harder to fake a silver tequila. The lemon, mint, and sugar are going to be much more discernible flavors than any differences between those three bourbons. Distilleries typically do not want to claim that they are making another label for Costco, so this educated guess is as close as there is to an established answer. Spend a few minutes browsing the booze aisles and you'll quickly find there are tons of options and deals ranging from the name brands you know and love to tons of equally good Kirkland Signature takes on similar liquors like vodka, whiskey, and Irish cream liqueur. Born working class in Bermuda, Hamill’s mother was an exceptionally beautiful and childlike woman. Costco’s Kirkland London dry gin, 44% ABV, $21.99 for 1.75 liter Make Sure You Have These Kitchen Tools. On the other hand, if you're just going to make cocktails, the Kirkland gin is a steal. Kirkland Silver Tequila is also now distilled at a different distillery, La Madrilena. Costco’s house bourbons have scored incredibly well on various booze geek scales; including a top prize at the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition in the past few years. But the retailer doesn't just sell other producers' wine. Kirkland Signature London Dry Gin is crafted in copper pot stills using a small batch approach. It's time to go old school and get a taste of gin brands that have revived the oldest gin … Over 215 Gin Reviews and counting! A bartender ranks Costco’s popular brand of house spirits. Eater says it's "essentially tequila-flavored vodka with a dose of artificial coloring to mimic the barrel-aged color," and speculates that it, as well as the similarly-colored rum, will leave you with some serious day-after regrets. Party planners, you are now fully armed with the ins and outs of which tantalizingly cheap Kirkland-brand bottles are actually worth both the risk of subpar cocktails and your money. Review: Kirkland Silver Tequila. Brands like Tanqueray, Boodles, and Hendrick’s go for around $20 to $35. It's no secret that bartenders really love Kirkland Signature liquor, and with good reason (via Vice). Customer Service. As a group, we were all more mixed on this wine. The Kirkland (44%) is the most sweet of the three, not surprising since it is also the lowest in alcohol. All gins rated from 0-5 stars with flavor profiles mapped. Rum and whiskey acquire all of their color and flavor from the barrels they are aged in post-distillation — or at least they should. Get Help Or Contact Us. It tastes so so fresh and had a vibrant green colour. Bols Genever. While the best and worst Kirkland liquors to buy appear pretty clear cut, there's one bottle you might want to think twice about. I use it in gin bucks and it has enough flavor to not be overpowered by the ginger beer. [ Read an excerpt from “Filthy Beasts.”. Sometimes a delicious cocktail is as easy as looking on the bottle: … .75 oz Alley Twenty Six Tonic. At about $18 for a 1.75 liter bottle, it's great to use with mixers like club soda, tonic, or in cocktails with juices or fruity ingredients (via Eater). With all that mixer, it doesn’t much matter what your base is.