This Store Brand Whiskey Stands Up to Kentucky Competitors—for a Fraction of the Price

Much to my surprise, it's also made by one of the most famous bourbon companies in the world.

Life's too short to drink bad whiskey. Thankfully, good whiskey doesn't have to break the bank, but the challenge is always finding that rare perfect bottle where top quality and a killer deal come together. Unless you have a Costco membership. Then you're in luck.

The big box store's name brand, Kirkland, has a line of whiskey that's commonly dismissed as inferior by connoisseurs—and, I'll admit, I've been one of them. I've been guilty of scorning friends who've pulled out that giant jug of Kirkland, and thinking—how can something like hand-crafted whiskey be so mass-produced and still be any good? In the case of Kirkland Signature Single Barrel Whiskey, I stand corrected. It’s great—period. Especially for a whiskey under $40.

The bottle is part of a series released by Kirkland that includes a bottled-in-bond bourbon and a small batch bourbon. But the Single Barrel Whiskey is the best, clocking in at a massive 120-proof and holding its own against other Kentucky whiskeys.

"Single barrel" means that the whiskey is bottled from one barrel, as opposed to blending various barrels together. In theory, no two bottles are the same, as barrels age and taste differently. 

After opening the bottle and letting it breathe for a moment, I poured a modest glass and found the color to be a dark copper hue with hems of gold. The nose is deep oak with vanilla and peppery notes. Impressed by the color and scent right off the bat, I was excited to try a sip.

The taste stood up to the nose—sweet with some heat and deep oak char. I picked up strong notes of vanilla, caramel, and a touch of orange peel. The overarching taste was akin to a Werther’s caramel candy. The finish was smooth, with a bit of heat from the strong proof and some peppery notes. 

After my initial tasting, I let the bottle breathe a bit more before adding a dash of water to mellow the massive 120-proof. This improved the whiskey, as it smoothed the rough heat and spice characteristics, while bringing forward more of the fruit and sweet sugar tastes. In all, this is an extremely good whiskey for the price. In fact, it's comparable to many other Kentucky whiskeys that sell for a whole lot more. 

Here’s the not-so-secret reason why: It's made by Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, KY, in the heart of bourbon country. Barton is owned by Sazerac Company, which makes Buffalo Trace and Blanton's. The Barton name is printed right on the bottle, so there’s no confusion about where this bottle originated. Barton 1792 master distiller Danny Kahn’s signature is also on the bottle, marking his impact on the single barrel reserve project.

The fact that Costco sources its whiskey from a tried and true Kentucky distillery speaks volumes. Barton 1792 Distillery has been making whiskey in the heart of Kentucky since 1879. I’ve been to Bardstown and can attest to the fact that 1792’s 196-acre distillery with 29-barrel aging warehouses is steeped in bourbon history and prestige.

Curious to get a second opinion and see how the Kirkland single barrel bottle stands up to some other whiskeys, I headed down to my local whiskey bar, The Whisk(e)y in Fort Collins, CO, which is home to more than 2,200 bottles.

There I met up with certified master of whiskey, Sam Wright, who weighed in on the standard 1792, 1792 full-proof bottle, and 1792 full-proof single barrel bottle.

“1792 is everything you want in a bourbon,” Wright said.

After tasting the Kirkland single barrel, he deemed it a whiskey that would score high in any reasonable competition. He tasted sweet, fruity elements and a fantastic finish. He added some water to open up the oils in the spirit, noting it brought out some deeper dark sugars in the whiskey.

“There's nothing to complain about here,” he noted. “That is a high-quality bottle you can share with friends—and everyone will love something about it.”

We then compared it to the 1792 full-proof bottle and 1792 full-proof single barrel bottle, both stellar Kentucky whiskeys in their own rights. They shared some similar characteristics, such as sweetness and fruit flavors. The full-proof single barrel was perhaps a notch above the Kirkland bottle in terms of smoothness. But for half the price, Kirkland is hard to beat.

Overall, for the money, Kirkland’s Signature Single Barrel Whiskey is a superb choice at a nearly unbeatable price. Being a limited-edition bottle, this offering does come and go at various Costco stores. So, if you're a member and find this bottle gracing the shelves, grab one—or two—when you see them. They won't last.

Related: This Bottle Was Bourbon’s Greatest Mystery—and Worth a Fortune. Then They Drank It