Who Makes Costco's Kirkland Signature Irish Whiskey?

Kirkland Signature brand spirits are earning a reputation as great affordable options to keep a large party well-watered or furnish a home bar. Its Irish whiskey is no exception. While Kirkland might not be the most sophisticated option for a pour served neat, many critics agree that when it comes to mixing whiskey cocktails, Kirkland quality is perfectly decent and the price is unbeatable. Costco has not publicly disclosed the origin story of its beloved bargain bottle of Irish whiskey, but sleuthing by The Irish Whiskey Lad asserts it is the product of Terra Spirits and Liqueurs. Located in the town of Bailieborough in Ireland's County Cavan, Terra Spirits and Liqueurs also makes the festive Molly's Irish Cream Liqueur.

At around $28 for a 1.75-liter bottle, Kirkland Irish Whiskey shakes out to an astoundingly affordable 72 cents per 1.5-ounce pour, the serving of a standard shot. Just one bottle could make about 40 cocktails (depending on how stiff they are), whether you're shaking classic whiskey sours or warming up with a hot Irish coffee. Kirkland's own label describes its spirit as having aromatic notes of licorice, caramel, orange, and toffee and a sweet caramel taste with a spicy finish. The Irish Whiskey Lad reported vanilla, fruit, and brighter, more citrusy notes, but agreed on the pleasant spicy finish. In his own pleasantly surprised words, he said, "Yeah. Not bad at all."

The fact Kirkland's Irish whiskey possesses a respectable flavor despite its relatively low cost can be attributed in part to the strict standards set by Irish and European law regarding what qualifies as an Irish whiskey. To be an Irish whiskey, the spirit must be distilled on the island of Ireland from water, yeast, and a mash of malted cereal grains — which may also contain unmalted grains, depending on the style — then matured for at least three years in wooden casks. Irish whiskeys tend to be triple distilled, giving them a lighter color and smoother flavor, which is different than nearby-distilled Scotch whiskies. Before bottling, producers may add water and plain caramel coloring, but the finished whiskey must contain at least 40% alcohol by volume.

Although Kirkland's Irish whiskey might not be the most refined bottle on the market, its popularity is a testament to the enduring global enthusiasm for Ireland's centuries-old whiskey making craft, and its relevance to everyday American drinkers. Reviewers have agreed the Kirkland spirit isn't a direct comparison to longtime Irish labels, but it gets the job done at a price worth admiring. One Redditor said, "I think [Kirkland Irish Whiskey] gets too much hate, yeah, it's not for drinking neat, but for the price, it's really good for mixed drinks!" Another commenter defended the spirit, "In an elaborate taste test of Irish whiskeys by some of the snobbiest whiskey drinkers I know, Kirkland carried the day." Another whiskey-enthusiast commented, "Wow. I don't mind a little burn in my booze, which seems to be the main concern, so I'm sold."