The Best And Worst Kirkland Liquors To Buy At Costco

If you're on a budget — or simply a smart shopper — you know that buying generic products, like cereal and soda, get you pretty much the same food for less cash. Some people even become more loyal to house brands in the end. Anyone who grew up near an H-E-B definitely understands. 

In addition to foodstuffs, more and more retailers are getting into the private-label liquor game. However none have caught the attention of consumers quite like the options at Costco. Their in-store label Kirkland Signature has already been declared as the "best store brand there ever was" by Bon Appétit, but it's not just their organic produce and pantry staples that have people signing up for Costco memberships. Kirkland Signature liquors have become a "cult favorite" that bartenders love. Not only are they a great price, but many of them also rival their name-brand counterparts as far as quality goes. 

Of course, not everything can be a winner — sometimes the store really misses the mark and it's better to just go with the name-brand. These picks for the best and worst Kirkland liquors can help you figure out which spirits to pick up the next time you're at Costco and which ones to avoid. The following prices were accurate as of February 2019, but they're always subject to changes over time and by location.

You're probably asking yourself "how does a company based out of Washington state make a scotch worth drinking?" Well, like cereals in a bag and most other generic products, it's not Costco that's actually producing the product. While Costco keeps their lips tight and shut when it comes to who exactly produces many of their liquors, the word on the street (and on the bottle) is that the manufacturer of this one is Alexander Murray & Co. The Kirkland Original Blended Scotch Whisky has a nice, caramel color and scent notes of vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, and — of course — peat. Flavor-wise, you'll notice hints of brown sugar, plums, orange, and malt. It's not overly-complicated; rather, it's a very basic scotch distinguished by its clean drinkability. Overall, Tastings ranks Kirkland Original as an "Exceptional" blended scotch whisky. 

Now, is this blended scotch whisky the bottle you should turn to if you're looking to treat yourself to a high-quality dram on a special occasion? Probably not. But that certainly doesn't mean that Kirkland Original Blended Scotch Whisky doesn't have its uses. It's a great scotch to have on hand if you like a nightly scotch and soda before you hit the hay. It's also a good option if you want something that's nice and dry, perfect for your favorite scotch cocktails or mixed into a boozy winter punch. At less than $25 for 1.75 L, you can easily afford to be heavy-handed with this blended scotch whisky. 

What in the heckin' heck does the "XO" in XO cognac even stand for? Well, as it turns out it means "extra old," which kind of makes sense considering that Kirkland Signature XO Cognac is one of the pricier Costco liquors to make it to the list at a healthy average price of $50 for 750 mL, though that price may vary by location. However, compare that price tag to the minimum $130 for 750 mL you'll pay for another bottle of XO. To be considered "XO," the youngest cognac in the blend must be aged at least 10 years with the average age of all the individual liquors running 20 years or older. The result is a sweet and slightly spicy liquor that pairs well with cigars and is best served straight or, at most, with a couple of ice cubes. 

It's flavor is "very light, very floral" with just a hint of spice on the end and enough notes to tell you that you're drinking a rich, complex cognac for the money. Kirkland Signature XO Cognac received a "Highly Recommended" rating from Tastings with an 89 point rating that is just shy of "Exceptional" status. If you want to make this bargain bottle feel fancier when you sip it, store it in a nice liquor decanter and no one will know the difference. Grab it when you see it though — this one is often only available during the holidays.

Ah yes– the one that got the buzz over Costco liquors in the first place; this list wouldn't be complete without Kirkland Signature French Vodka. It was one of the three liquors included in the Buzzfeed blind taste test, and the panelists had some interesting things to say about how it tastes...

• It's like "drinking Alex Mack if Alex Mack was a liquid."
• Compared to Grey Goose, it tastes "fancier."
• Drinking Kirkland Signature French Vodka "feels like I should be on a rooftop veranda." 
• The vodka is "so clean it's almost dangerous," therefore "buy with caution."

Despite the rumors, Costco is not simply rebottling Grey Goose and calling it their own. As reported by Vice, Kirkland Signature French Vodka is "made from the same water source" as Grey Goose (though they use a different well), which has received lower ratings in many blind taste tests AND costs more than twice as much. Kirkland's French Vodka has a distinctive viscosity, "silky, with a medium-weight heft akin to white wine," according to Kitchn. Its flavor is clean and bright with a subtle sweetness that makes it a great vodka for drinking straight or on the rocks. All of that and it's only going to cost you around $25 for the 1.75 L bottle– no wonder it has so much buzz!

There is no better way to combat the scorching summer heat than a fruity cocktail, especially in the form of a frozen popsicle. Essentially adult Otter Pops, Kirkland Signature Ready to Freeze cocktails may not reach the lofty standards of a mustachioed mixologist, but they will cool you down and give you a bit of a buzz (the alcohol by volume is only 8% — more or less splitting the difference between a lager and a rosé) so we're certainly not complaining.

This is a variety pack so you'll get to enjoy three refreshing flavors: Strawberry Freeze, Lime Drop, and Watermelon Hibiscus. Each popsicle is only 100 calories and contains nary an artificial sweetener. While previous versions were made with vodka, the current offering uses Other Than Standard orange wine as the boozy addition.

Since this is a Costco purchase, you can expect plenty of pops (18 pouches in each $13.99 package). But If freezer space is an issue, not to worry. These are ready-to-freeze so you don't have to load them all in at once unless you're throwing a party, in which case, clear out plenty of room.

Kirkland Signature 7-Year Small Batch Bourbon simply misses the mark where other liquors sold at Costco hit it. It is rumored to be sourced from the Buffalo Trace distillery in Frankfort, KY, but, there's also some proof that it may be manufactured by Jim Beam, and others claim it's recently started being manufactured by George Dickel. Either way, reviewers agree that it tastes more like Jim Beam — that is, it's OK. Just OK. 

At 51.5 percent alcohol by volume, it's very "hot," meaning it has that harsh, alcohol burn that generally turns people off from a liquor. And while it's strong, it's not complex at all. This 7 Year Small Batch Bourbon lacks the various sweet and spicy notes that make a spirit interesting. After all, that's what people like about bourbon — that while it's strong up front, it generally mellows out on the palate to showcase other flavors, making it enjoyable to drink. 

Bourbon is America's native spirit and is taken very, very seriously in certain circles. While Costco can provide an cost-friendly option and there will certainly be people out there willing to buy it, in all honesty there are better bourbons out there that are maybe a buck or two more if they cost more, at all! According to A Bar Above, Kirkland Signature Small Batch Bourbon is similar in price to brands like Maker's Mark and Bulleit Rye — and those options taste better. Other bourbons that combine quality with affordability include bartender-suggested Old Grand-Dad, Old Forester, Buffalo Trace, and Eagle Rare.

The third type of booze included in Buzzfeed's blind taste test was the Kirkland Signature Spiced Rum versus Captain Morgan Spiced Rum. And while panelists commented that the Costco version is darker, sweeter, and tastes "like a drunk gingerbread man," they generally preferred The Captain which they claim tastes like "honey" and "eggnog without the egg." Of course, one panelist said it best with, "being an elitist about alcohol is stupid. Everybody's trying to get to the same finish line. We're all trying to get f***ed up." Touché.

With that being said, Kirkland Signature Spiced Rum isn't the best buy on the Costco liquor shelves because at around $20 for 1.75 L, you're not really saving that much money for a product that is, well, meh. If you've tried the Kirkland Spiced Rum and love the flavor, by all means — buy away. However, if you're looking for a steal with quality that will blow you away á la their French Vodka, you're not going to find it here. 

At around $25 for 1.75 L, the price is right for Kirkland Signature London Dry Gin. But like the other "worsts" on this list, it simply doesn't stand out enough among its competition. After all, depending on where you buy it, you can get the same amount of New Amsterdam for a pretty similar price. So while Kirkland Signature gets points for its "satiny, crisp, dry light body" and "effortless, medium-length finish," it's not going to blow you away as far as value goes. 

Furthermore, the Kirkland Signature London Dry Gin is a poor choice for certain cocktails. If you like to throw back a few gin and tonics with lime every now and then, you're looking for something to mix into your Pimm's cup, or you want to experiment with making negronis, it's fine. However, a decent martini needs the right gin... and this ain't it. You want something with more complexity and additional floral and citrus notes to balance out the juniper. Tanqueray, Boodles, and Hendrick's are all great choices and at $20 to $35 a bottle, they aren't going to set you back much more than the Costco stuff. 

There are plenty of haters who love to neg the nog but we are not among them. Why exactly fruit cake remains a yuletide tradition is a question worth asking (the likely answer is somehow connected to a pact made with the devil). When it comes to eggnog, though, there is no denying the drink deserves recognition as a Christmas cocktail standard. When done right, as in using fresh eggs, milk, and nutmeg, the creamy, frothy, not too sweet concoction is bound to be a holiday hit.

And then there's the seasonal Kirkland rendition which is about as fresh as a "that's what she said" retort. The good news is that the former wine-based beverage is now made with actual hard booze, a blend of whiskey, spiced rum, and brandy. Unfortunately, they are still being sold alongside the rest of Costco's liquor selection which means it's just sitting out there in the room temperature warehouse which is a pretty good indicator that fresh eggs and milk are not part of the equation.

Is it drinkable? Yes. And if you're throwing a holiday get-together we understand the impulse to take the premade route. But if you can carve out some time, going D.I.Y. will yield far jollier results.