4 Cocktails Perfect For Costco's Kirkland Signature Scotch Whisky

Costco sells many popular liquors under the Kirkland Signature brand. Some of the more notable offerings include smooth and versatile vodka, balanced gin, small-batch bourbon, and blended Scotch. This latter spirit can be sipped neat (or with a bit of ice or water), but true whisky lovers likely know that Costco's Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch can work just as well in cocktails. Drinks such as the Rob Roy, Rusty Nail, Penicillin, and Blood and Sand stand out as excellent options.

Before exploring those cocktails, it's vital to understand a bit about what makes the Kirkland Signature liquor a good fit for them. Like all true Scotch whiskies, it's produced in Scotland. In this case, it comes from Aberdeen, courtesy of Alexander Murry & Co., which describes itself as "one of Scotland's leading independent bottlers." It's sold at 80 proof (40% alcohol by volume) and described on the label as "a smooth and rich blend with notes of dried fruit, vanilla, and cedar with a lightly peated finish." This makes it a versatile choice that could shine in sweet and simple cocktails. The options below epitomize that potential.

The Rob Roy is a historic Scotch cocktail that suits Kirkland Signature well. Records suggest the drink was first poured shortly before the turn of the 20th century. It was purportedly named after a then-popular operetta of involving a Scottish folk hero. Many accounts point to New York City's famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel as the birthplace of the cocktail.

In some respects, you can think of it as a Scotch version of a Manhattan. The whisky and sweet vermouth are used at a two-to-one ratio, along with a few dashes of Angostura bitters. They're combined in a mixing glass and stirred with ice to chill. This similarity is why some believe it's older than the Rob Roy name, perhaps dating as far back as the invention of the Manhattan around 1880. The mixture is then strained before serving, often with brandied cherries as a garnish. With just three ingredients, the drink allows the quality and characteristics of the Scotch to come through, rather than concealing it under mixers or multiple types of alcohol.

The name of the game is simplicity when it comes to the two-ingredient Rusty Nail. It consists of just Scotch and Drambuie at a roughly two to one ratio. For folks who aren't very familiar with the latter ingredient, it is a liqueur made from a base of Scotch that's been part of drinking culture for hundreds of years. It's created by flavoring a blend of Scotches with heather honey, then infusing it with a mixture of herbs and spices thought to include cloves, saffron, and more. This makes the Rusty Nail a somewhat unusual cocktail that relies solely on a base liquor and a liqueur crafted from that same spirit.

The unappetizing name is one of the many interesting parts of Rusty Nail cocktail's mysterious origin story. It appears to be linked to a U.K. drink from the 1930s called the B.I.F. (an abbreviation for the British Industries Fair where it was invented). The current name dates to the 1960s. During that decade the beverage had a variety of monikers until Drambuie's chairwoman helped establish Rusty Nail as the official one. No matter what it's called, it's a solid choice for Kirkland Signature Scotch, giving drinkers another opportunity to experience the character of the whisky front and center.

The Penicillin cocktail sounds medicinal, and folks who sample one may feel that it cures what ails them. In this beverage, Scotch is joined by honey, lemon juice, and ginger (either muddled fresh or integrated as a syrup). All of these components have reputations as helpful foods that can treat everything from headaches to colds and upset stomachs. While the base is usually made from a blended Scotch (like Kirkland Signature's), making a traditional version also requires a peatier single malt Scotch to float or spritz on top.

Unlike the Rusty Nail and Rob Roy, which have been enjoyed by generations of Scotch lovers, the Penicillin is a relatively new invention. Mixologist Sam Ross developed it in the mid-2000s at New York City's Milk & Honey bar. The concoction has spread to other establishments in the years since. However, it's also easy to make at home, as it relies on everyday pantry and staple ingredients, rather than a selection of hard-to-find liqueurs, mixers, or other additions.

Those looking for a fruitier use for Kirkland Signature Scotch will find what they're looking for in the grimly dubbed but delicious Blood & Sand. Created in the mid-to-late 1920s, the vibrant red drink takes its name from a film about bullfighting.

This beverage combines Scotch with sweet vermouth, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and Cherry Heering. The latter element is an over 200-year-old Danish and Dutch cherry liqueur with notes of almond, herbs, and spices. The ingredients are stirred, strained, and served in a martini glass. It may sound like a lot of flavor, but the four components complement one another to produce a robust, bright, and well-rounded cocktail perfect for a workhorse Scotch like Kirkland Signature.

Although not every bottle of store-brand booze is worth a spot on your bar, there's little doubt that this Scotch is among the best Kirkland liquors to buy at Costco, alongside American vodka, Canadian whiskey, and XO Cognac. With this list handy, even new Scotch drinkers will find they've got a great start on exploring how to best use this often underrated spirit in a wide selection of cocktails.