Kirkland Signature, 12 YO Blended Scotch Whisky Photo, courtesy Alexander Murray … are made up of a mixture of both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks where the label states sherry cask finish, the whisky in the bottle has gone through an additional round of maturation in fresh, first-fill (sherry) casks.īelow are tasting notes on the core range of Costco’s Kirkland Signature Scotch whiskies. Stylistically, says Johnston, most batches of the Speyside sourced single malts: high strength or addition of water to suit individual preferences. Bottled at 46% in order to give the consumer the choice of strength, i.e. The objective is to deliver exceptional and remarkable examples of single malt from a wide range of individual distilleries, whose origin – the best part of the time – remains unnamed. In short, as experienced Costco shoppers know well, if you like the product buy extra since there is no assurance that it will ever be available again. Future year’s 22 YO single malt might come from a completely different distillery than this year’s expression. Moreover, according to Johnston, there’s no guarantee that similar age expressions would continue to be drawn from the same distillery. That’s why the 20 YO, 22 YO and the 23 YO single malt expression were drawn from different distillers. Per Johnston, the similar but different age statements simply reflect the fact that there was no single distillery that had enough inventory to bottle sufficient stock of that expression to meet Costco’s needs. To carry the designation single malt, a malt whisky has to come from a single distillery. The names of the distilleries are not disclosed, although all three are located in the Speyside region of the Highlands. The 22 YO is currently in store, and the 23 YO will be available in store from December 1. The 20 YO was offered in 2019, and some remnant stock may still be in store this year. For example, according to Cameron, the 20 YO, 22 YO, and 23 YO single malt Scotch whiskies were all drawn from different distilleries. Each age statement is drawn from a particular distillery and changes from year to year. Chivas, on the other hand, a premium priced blended Scotch, is around 50% single malt.Ĭostco offers several expressions of single malt Scotch whisky. By comparison, most Scotch whisky blends are between 10% to 15% malt whisky and the balance grain whisky. According to Johnston, the NAS expression is 20% malt whisky and the 12 YO is 25% malt whisky. If Kirkland Signature Blended Scotch whisky is reminiscent of Dewar’s that’s not because it’s really Dewar’s in Kirkland packaging, but because Alexander Murray’s blenders have deliberately crafted a facsimile of the aroma and flavor profile of Dewar’s, the best-selling blended Scotch whisky in the US.Ĭameron Johnston - Alexander Murray Marketing Manager Photo, courtesy Alexander MurrayĬurrently Costco offers a No Age Statement (NAS) blended Scotch whisky (this is presumed to be approximately three years old) and a 12 YO expression. The philosophy of our blended products is to produce a layered and complex flavour profile that is similar to that of market leaders in the category, and yes in this case market leaders are those leading in the US market. Alexander Murray does not disclose where the whisky is sourced except to indicate broad geographic designations like Speyside or Islay.Īccording to Cameron Johnston, Brand Manager at Alexander Murray & Company: The sourcing of Costco’s Kirkland Signature whiskies has been a topic of incessant speculation by consumers, and sometimes even critics.
The company sources and bottles Scotch whisky for several different retailers, including Trader Joe’s and Total Wines & More. It was founded in 2004 by Scottish expatriate Steve Lipp.
In fact, Alexander Murray is based in Calabasas, California. With a name like Alexander Murray you would imagine a historic Scottish bottler tucked away in a back street of Edinburgh or a hamlet in the Highlands. The Kirkland Signature Scotch whiskies are sourced by independent bottler Alexander Murray. Most stores would typically only carry one expression of the Speyside sherry cask finish whisky. A 23 YO is slated for release in December and a No Age Statement Islay single malt Scotch whisky next year. Currently there are four Scotch whisky expressions in the Kirkland Signature Range: blended Scotch whisky, 12 YO blended Scotch whisky and a 2o YO, and a 22 YO Speyside Sherry cask finish, single malt Scotch whisky.
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