Sommelier Tries Every Costco Liquor | World Of Wine | Bon Appétit

Summary

In this engaging review, Sommelier Andre Hueston Mack explores Costco's Kirkland Signature line of spirits, comparing their quality and value to name brands. He taste-tests a range of products including vodkas, whiskeys, tequila, gin, cognac, and Irish Cream Liqueur, highlighting their unique characteristics and flavors. The video reveals that Costco's offerings often match or exceed expectations, providing great value without compromising on quality.

Takeaways

• 🍷 Andre Hueston Mack, a sommelier, is reviewing Costco's Kirkland Signature liquors to determine if they offer value compared to name brands.
• 💰 Costco is known for selling its Kirkland Signature line at a fraction of the cost of well-known brands, and is the largest purchaser and retailer of spirits and wine.
• 🌾 Kirkland Signature American Vodka is made from corn and is priced significantly lower than comparable size bottles of other brands, like Tito's.
• 🔄 The vodka is distilled six times, which can make it smoother but also potentially strip away desirable flavors.
• 🥃 The French Kirkland Signature Vodka is more expensive and has a distinct, slightly perfumed smell with a hint of fruit, making it more refined than the American version.
• 🥃 Canadian whiskey from Costco is a blend with a six-year age statement, offering a reasonable price but lacking the roundness and complexity of more expensive brands.
• 🥃 The Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch Whiskey has a peaty, medicinal smell and a caramel taste with notes of nutmeg and cinnamon, providing a good value for its price.
• 🥃 The 12-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whiskey offers a more complex and nuanced flavor profile due to its longer aging period, justifying its higher price.
• 🍸 The Kirkland Signature Irish Whiskey is light, smooth, and offers a good value compared to more expensive Irish whiskeys like Jameson.
• 🍹 Costco's Tequila Blanco is 100% agave and offers a great value, with a taste profile that includes cooked agave, freshly cut grass, and citrus.
• 🍾 The Kirkland Signature London Dry Gin is flavored with natural botanicals, mainly juniper, and offers a soft, pleasant taste at an affordable price.
• 🥃 The Spiced Rum from Costco has a sweet, warm, and spicy profile, reminiscent of eggnog, and is priced reasonably for its size.
• 🥃 The Rum XO from Guatemala, aged for six years, offers a sophisticated taste with notes of toffee and caramel, and is matured in a unique combination of bourbon and cognac barrels.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the video featuring Sommelier Andre Hueston Mack?

The purpose of the video is to taste and review the Costco line of Kirkland Signature liquors to determine if they offer good value and quality compared to name brand spirits.

Why does Costco sell its own line of spirits and wines called Kirkland Signature?

Costco sells Kirkland Signature to offer customers an alternative to name brand products at a significantly lower cost, while still providing quality and value.

What is the significance of the number of times a vodka is distilled?

The number of times vodka is distilled affects its smoothness and cleanliness. More distillations can result in a smoother vodka, but overdistillation might strip away desired flavors and characteristics.

How does the American Vodka from Kirkland Signature compare in price to Tito's Vodka?

The Kirkland Signature American Vodka is priced at $13.99 for a 1.75-liter bottle, which is about half the price of a similarly sized bottle of Tito's Vodka, which is around $32.

What does the French vodka's packaging suggest about its marketing strategy?

The French vodka's packaging, resembling luxury brands like Grey Goose, suggests a marketing strategy that capitalizes on the perception of French products as high-end, potentially influencing consumers to purchase it.

What is the difference between the regular Kirkland Signature Vodka and the imported French option?

The regular Kirkland Signature Vodka is distilled six times and made from corn, while the imported French option is distilled five times and may be made from unspecified grains. The French vodka also has a more distinct, slightly perfumed smell and a refined taste compared to the regular option.

Why is the price of the Kirkland Signature Canadian Whiskey lower than other brands?

The lower price can be attributed to Costco's grocery store model, which relies on high volume sales. Even with a smaller profit per bottle, selling millions of bottles adds up to significant earnings.

What is the significance of the age statement on a bottle of whiskey?

The age statement on a whiskey bottle indicates the minimum age the whiskey has been aged in casks, which affects its flavor, complexity, and quality. Older whiskeys typically have more depth and are more expensive due to the longer aging process.

What does the Kirkland Signature 12-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whiskey offer that the younger Scotch does not?

The 12-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whiskey offers a more complex and nuanced flavor profile due to its longer aging period in casks, which contributes to its higher price compared to the younger Scotch.

How does the Kirkland Signature Irish Whiskey compare to Jameson in terms of price and taste?

The Kirkland Signature Irish Whiskey is priced at $28.99, which is about half the price of a bottle of Jameson. It has a light, smooth taste with caramelized apple and vanilla notes, offering a good alternative to Jameson without the brand name price.

What is the meaning of '100% agave' in the context of tequila?

100% agave means that the tequila is made exclusively from the agave plant, without any added sugars or glucose, which is considered a mark of quality and authenticity in tequila production.

Why does the Kirkland Signature Tequila Anejo have a different taste profile compared to the Blanco?

The Kirkland Signature Tequila Anejo has a different taste profile because it is aged in oak casks for up to three years, which imparts flavors like vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg, adding complexity and sweetness not found in the younger Blanco tequila.

What is the main difference between gin and vodka according to the script?

The main difference between gin and vodka is that gin is vodka flavored with botanicals, with the key ingredient being juniper, which gives gin its distinct taste and aroma.

What makes cognac unique compared to other spirits?

Cognac is unique because it is made from grapes, distilled, and aged in specific regions in France. It has a taste that is a sophisticated blend of whiskey and rum, with warming spices and a smooth finish.

Why is the Kirkland Signature Spiced Rum priced at $13.99 considered a good value?

The Kirkland Signature Spiced Rum is considered a good value because it is a large 1.75-liter bottle for $13.99, offering a flavorful and versatile spirit at a low price point.

What is the significance of the XO designation in rum?

The XO designation in rum signifies that the rum has been aged for an extended period, typically a minimum of six years, resulting in a more refined and complex flavor profile.

What does the script suggest about the quality and value of the Kirkland Signature line of spirits?

The script suggests that the Kirkland Signature line of spirits offers a range of products with good quality and value for money, with some items being comparable to more expensive, name-brand spirits.

What is the role of the oak casks in aging spirits like whiskey and rum?

Oak casks play a crucial role in aging spirits as they are porous, allowing air to pass through and enabling the spirit to extract flavors and compounds from the oak, contributing to the complexity and character of the aged spirit.