JPBoston Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 Just a heads-up for any fellow AZ members/lurkers --- I called the local Costco and you do NOT need to be a member to buy alcohol here in AZ.I haven't tried the Kirkland bourbon yet... been meaning to though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rutter Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 Not available in Costco over here sadly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enoch Posted November 19, 2012 Share Posted November 19, 2012 I've seen it in a couple of liquor stores in SC. Not just Costco. SC has a law that says a single chain cannot have exclusive rights to a specific liquor so it is available to any store here in SC but not many carry it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2highcal Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 I tried this in Vegas last year. I believe it was 25 dollars a liter and here in WA though they want 35 bucks a liter and there are much better available at that price. IMHO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigPenguin Posted November 24, 2012 Share Posted November 24, 2012 I've seen it at the Costcos around me. I have a bottle of the Kirkland Vodka and it's pretty good. I want to try their bourbon. My wife's dad is a JB fan, and if they are making it for Costco, he'll probably drink it. I'll get him a bottle for Christmas probably and try some from his stash. If I like it, I'll get a bottle for myself later on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dementedavenger Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 I gave the Kirkland Small Batch Bourbon a ride when Costco began selling liquor in Washington over the summer. I have to say that it was the worst bottle of bourbon I've purchased in some time (excluding crappy bottles I purposely purchased). I knew immediately it was a Beam product. Thumbs down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigPenguin Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 I gave the Kirkland Small Batch Bourbon a ride when Costco began selling liquor in Washington over the summer. I have to say that it was the worst bottle of bourbon I've purchased in some time (excluding crappy bottles I purposely purchased). I knew immediately it was a Beam product. Thumbs down.isn't KC a Beam product? I'm pretty new to the bourbon thing, and I've had KC mixed with coke so I liked it. Figured the Kirkland stuff couldn't be much worse. But then again, we all have our own personal tastes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dementedavenger Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 isn't KC a Beam product? I'm pretty new to the bourbon thing, and I've had KC mixed with coke so I liked it. Figured the Kirkland stuff couldn't be much worse. But then again, we all have our own personal tastes.Yes, KC is a beam product. I'm not a fan of that either, but as you said, we each have our personal tastes. I drink a lot of stuff that many people likely find repulsive - Rebel Yell and Prestige (Kroger's in-house brand), among others - and I'm not one to judge. I think everyone has a different palate. I probably should have noted that in my original post. My issue with the Kirkland is that, to me, it tasted "burnt" and the head was just too much alcohol vapor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishnbowljoe Posted November 30, 2012 Author Share Posted November 30, 2012 Okay, so I finally got a chance to try this one. Thank you Chuckles for sending me a bottle from the Binny's get together via Vosgar . Much appreciated. About the only decent Beam product to me is Baker's. Now I can add another one to the list. :bigeyes: This bottle really surprised me. Great nose. Some eucalyptus and vanilla up front, and what I can only describe as "charred" cotton candy hanging out in the background. Very pleasant. The taste was a surprise too. You can tell it's a cousin of KC, but to me, the Kirkland is better. The Beam yeasty flavor is not as prevalent as it is in their other products. There are spicy and sweet flavors here that compliment each other pretty well. A rye, cloves flavor on entry followed by vanilla at mid palate. The finish is a nice warming mixture of the two, with a little smoky flavor to boot. I very rarely drink KC neat, but I don't think I'll have any problems sipping Kirkland straight. I do find it a little odd that Kirkland at 7 years and 103 proof, drinks easier (to me) than KC at 9 years and 100m proof. I guess that I'd have to say that the Kirkland doesn't have quite the edginess to it that KC does. All in all a pretty decent bourbon at a great price. One of the reasons I waited so long to post my thoughts on this, was that I also wanted to get some "other" input. :skep: I took a sample to the bowling alley last night to share with my team mates, and a couple of other guys that imbibe with us. It was unanimous. We all liked it. Add another good value pour to the list. Cheers! :grin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigPenguin Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 Hm, maybe it is worth checking out. I mean, you're gonna like it or not. Might as well give it a shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mosugoji64 Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Had a bottle of this when it came out and enjoyed it quite a lot. Tasty on its own but cheap enough to mix without feeling guilty. I also did a direct comparison with KC. The KC had more oak but they were otherwise equally enjoyable, though the price difference pushed Kirkland ahead. I think a more appropriate comparison would be with Baker's. Kirkland wins hands down for me there. A little more flavorful and a lot cheaper! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckles Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 You're welcome, Joe. Glad to help out with the BOTM. Coincidentally, Baker's is my favorite Beam product, and I like it a lot. Over the years, I had developed a soft spot in my liver for Jim Beam. It ain't what it used to be, but if there's no other choice, I can still drink it (guess the Beam yeasty profile doesn't bother me that much). Still, I haven't bought a bottle of JBW in years. So many great bourbons to choose from these days. Keep up the good work on the BOTM page. -Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HighInTheMtns Posted December 9, 2012 Share Posted December 9, 2012 I've had a couple pours of Kirkland tonight (thanks Charlie, in an indirect way) - one of which was accompanied by a pour of Knob Creek. I think this is very good. My impressions of it compared to KC are similar to Joe's - despite the extra couple years of aging and lower proof of KC, the Kirkland is an easier drinker, less alcohol burn. Beyond that they're very similar to each other. KC is a little drier and more tannic.KC is a pretty regular pour for me, but if I had regular access to Kirkland, it very well might supplant it on my shelf.Also, I didn't ask her any details, but KC is one of my wife's favorites; her initial impression when she had some Kirkland was "Wow, this is good!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infidel Posted December 9, 2012 Share Posted December 9, 2012 (edited) I tried to put the purchase on my MasterCard, and the clerk said Costco Card only.What they mean is their American Express, or any other American Express, but debit works. It's good that they want to be sure someone buying a 60" TV is actually in financial shape to pay for it (or a bottle of Jefferson's Presidential) but I'm sure it comes down to a discount they have with American Express. The discount is probably big enough to make the difference between treating their employees like human beings, there is a well documented differenece between Costco and Sam's employee's quality of living... damn off topic there...Good to hear the various reports of the kirkland product, might look a little harder while I go there to pick up my holiday present to myself of Taylor Rye they have for sub $70 Edited December 9, 2012 by Infidel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffrey r Posted December 9, 2012 Share Posted December 9, 2012 I pass by pallets of this stuff every time I'm at Costco. May need to pick up a bottle next time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boneuphtoner Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 They just moved a Costco into my area, and I bought a bottle of this. My initial read is similar to fishnbowljoe's....better than Knob Creek. Less astringent and tannic. I saw somewhere on the internet that called this KC and Baker's love child....good descriptor me thinks! I like it...still not sure if it is better than my favorite ~100 proofer, Old Forester Signature, but a great pour that won't break the bank! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 Next time I travel to Costco country I'm stopping by. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parkersback Posted May 25, 2013 Share Posted May 25, 2013 I can't imagine not liking it, especially at that price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waiahi Posted May 27, 2013 Share Posted May 27, 2013 This has replaced EWB as my bottom shelf, everyday pour. Fantastic Bourbon at that price, proof and age. And I too think it tastes better than KC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowdery Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 I enjoyed this review of the Kirkland bourbon. "Three grown men, whiskey drinkers all, could stomach no more than a total of about 6 ounces of the stuff. At first sip, I glanced sideways at one of my cohorts only to find him doing the same to me, each of our faces frozen in disgust. The third wasn't so subtle: he actually reared his head back, grimaced, and pushed the glass away." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted May 28, 2013 Share Posted May 28, 2013 From a reviewer who likes Red Stag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mosugoji64 Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 From a reviewer who likes Red Stag.Well, if he likes cough syrup ...He also says in one of the comments that he doesn't like KC, so it makes sense that he wouldn't like the Kirkland bottling either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyfish Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 I enjoyed this review of the Kirkland bourbon. "Three grown men, whiskey drinkers all, could stomach no more than a total of about 6 ounces of the stuff.."It took them 6 oz to figure out they didn't like it? They sound like the kind of guys who send their disgusting restaurant dinners back to the kitchen--after they have eaten 95%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 They must've run out of mixers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWC Posted May 29, 2013 Share Posted May 29, 2013 I liked his book on Moonshine. A good read. But I noticed a very particular attitude in his initial post. If you simply read his review, he spoke in a general sense on how the whole of Kirkland's Bourbon was poor quality. In fact, he was grandiose in his criticism, which is dead giveaway for someone who doesn't know what he is talking about (not that I'm saying he doesn't, but his tone wasn't helping his credibility). Yet, in the comments section, all this generalizing went away. He was talking about batch variation and how the bourbon could change from batch to batch. One bad batch? No problem, just review it again in a few months and stop rushing to conclusions. Kirkland Bourbon by its very nature will be a different animal from time to time. I picked up my second bottle the other day. It cheap and drinkable. We can't slug Blantons every night. That's only for rich people, like Chuck C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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