Kirkland Signature Small Batch Vs Bottled In Bond Bourbon: What's The Difference?

The bourbon industry is represented by quite a few cheap options in the alcohol section of your local Costco, and some even bear the in-house Kirkland Signature name. Two, in particular, are member favorites thanks to their high quality and affordable prices: the Small Batch and Bottled-in-Bond. Both Kirkland bottles make punchy, bourbon-focused cocktails like an old fashioned or a Manhattan, and either is a great addition to any bar cart. There are, however, a few major differences between them that even the most amateur fan of this spirit should know.

Both the Kirkland Signature Small Batch and Bottled-in-Bond bourbons are distilled by Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky in partnership with Costco. The company has been making bourbon since 1879 and operates almost 30 barrel-aging warehouses across 196 acres in the "heart of bourbon country," per its website. Costco describes both of its bottles as smooth and oaky. Each also comes in a 1-liter bottle and features "Barton" on the front label. The prices have remained basically the same between 2021 and 2026, but that's just about where the similarities end.

The term "small batch" means the bourbon is a blend from different barrels and is typically mixed to achieve a specific flavor. Additionally, "small" can refer to a large or small number of barrels, depending on the distillery's size. Bourbon is legally defined as liquor produced in the U.S. that's at least 51% corn, no more than 125 proof or 62.5% alcohol, aged in a newly charred oak barrel, and lacking any additional ingredients like coloring, flavoring, or sweeteners. Other than these criteria, a small-batch bottle doesn't have to hit any particular markers.

The Kirkland Signature Small Batch Kentucky Bourbon features a tan label, and Costco describes it as having typical rye notes, along with vanilla, caramel, and a sweet, lingering finish. This 92-proof bourbon is 46% alcohol, making it a bit softer on the palate than higher-proof options. The price is also typical of Costco alcohol — aka pretty affordable — but depends on your location. Some Costco members on Reddit revealed that a bottle can cost $20 in Kentucky and around $28 in other states like Michigan, but they still praise it, with one fan claiming it's "outstanding for a mixer bourbon."

Unlike small-batch bourbons, bottled-in-bond varieties must follow highly specific requirements. As dictated by the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, these bourbons must be produced in either the January-to-June or July-to-December distillation season, aged for at least four years in a government-approved warehouse, and must be 100 proof and 50% alcohol. Like with small batches, these bottles can't feature any additives. The act came to be because there were a ton of dupes on the market in the late 1800s, and consumers had no way of knowing what was or wasn't the real thing just by looking at the bottle.

Costco's Kirkland Signature Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon comes in a bottle with a green label. Per regulation, it's 100 proof and 50% ABV. The label describes it as "wonderfully balanced" with "candied fruit and honey" that's followed by a lasting finish "reminiscent of the aroma of the Kentucky barrel warehouses from which it came." Those who like their bourbon neat and strong should opt for this spicier version. A bottle typically costs around $25. Like the small batch bottle, this spirit has many fans who love the taste and the price. One Reddit user wrote that it "Drinks like a bottle twice its price," while another explained that for "well-balanced bourbons," the bottled-in-bond is a steal.