Costco Liquor?

[AlohaStyle]

Hey fellas,

The great State of Washington residents voted recently to kick the state government out of the liquor business... gone are the state run liquor stores and the high prices! Costco (and other stores) just started selling liquor this past weekend and now I want to hear your opinions on Costco/Kirkland brand liquor... what's good, what brands are they really etc?

Tequila (I mainly drink Reposado in margaritas but they didn't have a Kirkland branded Reposado, only Anejo and a Silver)
- I was told by an employee their Anejo is made by Herradura. Is this a good tequila for margaritas, or mainly sipping?
- Silver tequila... I was told this is made by Cabo Wabo. I've never been a buyer of silver tequila, how is this compared to a Reposado for margaritas?

Scotch:
- They are selling the 15 year. This is made by Macallan correct?

Vodka
- This is made by Greygoose?


Any other Kirkland branded liquors I should know about? What's good, what should I stay away from?

Thanks!

 

[ironchefscott]

I live in portland.....what are the price points for such bottles?

 

[AlohaStyle]

I live in portland.....what are the price points for such bottles?

I didn't have my phone on me like I normally would to take pics of prices. So I don't know off the top of my head. But as usual for Costco, damn good. I will be going back again soon and can report back.

 

[GoingPostal]

Remember costco doesn't mark up anything more than 15% so don't judge quality by price. My costco has Cuervo at good prices and it may not be goood for sipping but will do the trick for your margaritas.

 

[KPP]

I've researched the vodka only, but have only heard (here I believe) that the Scotch is Macallan 15.

From what I found on the vodka, it's not made by GG..but is made in the same city in France...using the same process/water etc. From a few places I read comparison reviews, folks actually preferred the Kirkland over Grey Goose. I also found out some of the marketing hype behind GG in the process. Didn't realize it was started by an American, using the guise of it being "French" to have a higher perceived value and thus charge more for it. Never bought GG really before, and certainly won't ever now that I can get the Kirkland stuff. I'm all over that and the Scotch for sure. Maybe the Tequila too! Nice time to be a booze lover in the State of WA..lol.

 

[zirotti]

Costco here doesnt sell liquor

 

[KickinD]

Vodka is meant to practically go away and not taste or smell. Are you drinking your Vodka straight? No, then why pay higher prices to combine it with a significant amount of juice or mix? There was a news show that did some blind tasting in New York of people who supposedly could discern GG from the cheap stuff...no one really could. FWW.

 

[tsimonitis]

Not til the next morning when the cheap stuff had time to ferment in your belly...then move to your head. :barf:

Vodka is meant to practically go away and not taste or smell. Are you drinking your Vodka straight? No, then why pay higher prices to combine it with a significant amount of juice or mix? There was a news show that did some blind tasting in New York of people who supposedly could discern GG from the cheap stuff...no one really could. FWW.

 

[KickinD]

Not til the next morning when the cheap stuff had time to ferment in your belly...then move to your head. :barf:

Yes, we have used something a little more distilled than the cheapest stuff due to the 'roughness' it can have. However, it has been a while since we drank enough to have any effects the next day.

 

[AlohaStyle]

Okay, back to topic rather than discussing hangovers from vodka!?! LOL

Costco/Kirkland branded liquor, who are they made by, and what tequila is good for my damn margaritas? LOL

 

[Fia]

Their bourbon looks interesting too. Not sure who makes it.

 

[Cigary43]

One of my vodka commonsewer buddies in work said a Costco employee tipped him to buy the Kirkland brand voddie last night because they will no longer carry it when it runs out. It seems it is actually Grey Goose repackaged for Costco and Grey Goose is pissed because they sell the Costco stuff for $30 and the Grey goose for $50 and guess which one is moving off the shelves quicker? That's a 1.75 for $30.

This is just one of the many posts I've found attributing that Kirkland Brand is actually GG in disguise. The only way to really know for sure is by taste...I love GG and if I see the Kirkland brand at Costco this week I'll buy a bottle...run to the car...taste it..and if it's the same I'll buy a few bottles of it.

 

[AlohaStyle]

Who cares who makes it if it tastes good, right?

Sure. But I haven't tasted it and that's why I'm asking. If it's made by Boones Farm, I highly doubt I will run out to Costco to buy it unless I have multiple friends tell me it's good stuff. If it's made by a well respected company and I've had personal experience with them, you bet I will go buy it and try for myself.

I like to know what I'm smoking/drinking before I do it for my own knowledge, partly so I can be educated and partly just because I want to know. Why should I do anything blind when I should be able to know what/where things are made of/from.

 

[AlohaStyle]

Their bourbon looks interesting too. Not sure who makes it.

It's made by Jim Beam, but it's debated on what it actually is from what I've read/heard. Knob Creek, Booker's, Basil Hayden's etc...

https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do?action=publicDisplaySearchBasic&ttbid=11005000000034

 

[pnoguy]

I'll be trying the costco scotch for certain when I get back in town. If it's Macallan 15, I can definitely live with that. Not my favorite scotch, but no slouch either. So, I take it they are selling brand name booze as well? What's the savings like?

 

[Herfin' Harg]

My Costco locally carries some Kirkland wines, but not their own liquors (the thought of which i find really strange, actually, but I can't exactly say why). They have a fairly respectable selection of name brand liquors, though... and even get a fair amount of HTFs.

 

[Fat_Risling]

You can look up who makes it. That doesn't mean that it is made exactly the same way as premium spirits sold ie grey goose but by the same distiller.
https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/publicSearchColasBasicProcess.do?action=search
This is a link hopefully it works... To the website listing all of their spirits and wine made by other companies I am still trying to figure out a better way of sifting through it all but a place to start if you want a little busy work looking

 

[Fat_Risling]

You can look up who makes it. That doesn't mean that it is made exactly the same way as premium spirits sold ie grey goose but by the same distiller.
https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/publicSearchColasBasicProcess.do?action=search
This is a link hopefully it works... To the website listing all of their spirits and wine made by other companies I am still trying to figure out a better way of sifting through it all but a place to start if you want a little busy work looking

After clicking my own link realized it didn't show search results so what I have done so far is search Kirkland brand only and it comes up with over 200 items all alcohol but idk how to narrow it down more hope it helps.

 

[pmd]

I just called the Costco in Vancouver, WA and the women told me that although they do stock liquor now, the state found some loophole to charge an additional 27% tax on top of the price listed. I'd still be curious to head up there and check it out.

 

[Fia]

It's made by Jim Beam, but it's debated on what it actually is from what I've read/heard. Knob Creek, Booker's, Basil Hayden's etc...

https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do?action=publicDisplaySearchBasic&ttbid=11005000000034

All good ones..sounds like it is worth trying!!!