Kirkland Signature Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
51.5% ABV/103 Proof
$20 per liter
Costco Exclusive
What the Distillery Says:
This Kirkland Signature “small batch: bourbon has been aged 7 years in charred American white oak barrels. Complex aromas of caramel, molasses, citrus, and spice with a faint smoky background and a long rich finish.
What Richard Says:
Nose: A little musty with hints of cherries.
Palate: Very sweet and peppery with a lot of oak. It gets a little tannic with water.
Finish: Very dry on the finish with a good bit of linger.
Comments: This little jewel from Costco is a Beam product although they try pretty hard to hide it. It’s listed as distilled and bottle by The Clear Springs Distilling Co. in Clermont and Frankfort, Kentucky. Clears Springs was a name owned by Beam until it was sold to Buffalo Trace right before this bottling was released. We had to dig up the federal filing for the label to ascertain that this was actually made by Beam. Looking at just the label and raw specs it looks like it would be Baker’s with just a bit more water. However, it actually tastes more like Knob Creek. I don’t actually know how they make this because bulk whiskey sales are kind of like the elephant in the room that nobody wants to talk about in bourbon circles. But to me this tastes like Knob and Baker’s love child. It’s as good as either but for less than half the price.
Rating: Stands Out, Great Value
Gonna have to head to Costco soon.
All the spirits under the Kirkland’s Signature brand are pretty darn good. I’ve grabbed their anejo tequila and their vodka too