There are few things I enjoy more than a budget bottle of whiskey. I’m constantly looking for bottles of whiskey that run $30 or less out the door. Alie and I are known to partake in a nightly pour or two, so we drink our whiskey relatively quickly. The BiB labeling and the $27 price for a liter are what drew us to Kirkland Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
Kirkland is the well-known store branding used on a number of products sold by Costco. Most Kirkland products are made by another company and then labeled with the Kirland brand name. The benefit to consumers is that you get a quality product under a generic brand name. The same applies to the Kirkland Bottled-in-Bond.
Although Costco has sold a number of alcoholic beverages under their Kirkland Brand, their sources are rarely disclosed. For instance, Costco sells a Tennessee Whiskey, but the source is not disclosed. There has been much speculation about the distiller, but as a consumer, it isn’t clear who made the whiskey. This is not the case with Kirkland Bottled-in-Bond.
Kirkland Bottled-in-Bond is distilled by Barton 1792. Another tag on the bottle states the alcohol by volume, the proof, and the distiller number. It is D.S.P. KY 12, the Barton distillery located in Bardstown, Kentucky. This begs the question of whether the Kirland Bottled-in-Bond might be similar to the more expensive and hard-to-find 1792 Bottled-in-Bond.
Barton Brands
Barton 1792 distillery was established in 1879 and is one of the longest-running distilleries in the U.S. In addition to the 1792 line of bourbon, they also produce Very Old Barton and Kentucky Tavern. Additionally, they also make Skol vodka and the 99 line of schnapps, which we’ve been known to use in our cocktails.
Today, Barton 1792 is owned by Sazerac, which has allowed 1792 to be more widely recognized around the world. 1792 Bourbon won the 2020 World Whisky of the year, which resulted in me being gifted a bottle for Christmas. It is a large part of why I was hopeful that the Kirkland Bottled-in-Bond might be as delicious as 1792.
About Kirkland Bottled-in-Bond
Kirkland Bottled-in-Bond is made under the BiB requirements of 1897. It is aged for at least 4 years and bottled at 100 proof. It is found in a full-liter bottle and can only be purchased at Costco. A quick look at other reviews stated it tastes like everything from cherry to caramel, wood, and banana. Since there are no official distiller notes, we figured we’d just have to decide for ourselves.
Tasting Notes
I noticed hints of caramel and oak, with a touch of fruit on the nose. Alie picked out the faint whiff of apple. On my first sip, I noticed a little oak, followed by the sweetness of a light caramel. It finished with a pleasant mint tingle on my tongue.
Alie picked out the apple taste on her palate. She noticed more of the taste of apple wood, more than a fruity apple taste. We both noticed that it had a nice, moderate intensity, leaving a warm tingle on our tongues. It turned out to be a really nice sipping whiskey that lingers between sips.
We tried Kirkland Bottled-in-Bond with a splash of water. The addition made it a little spicier and a little sweeter. Contrary to other reviews, a dash of water does improve this whiskey.
Our Ratings
Drinkability: 3.5
Intensity: 3.5
Personal Preference: 3.7
Beginner Friendly: 3.2
Availability: 4
Overall: 3.8
Final Thoughts
Kirkland Bottled-in-Bond turned out to be a pretty good bottle of whiskey. It won’t blow you out of the water, but it is a good, budget whiskey that is pleasant to sip or mix in a cocktail. We liked it best in our Bourbon Peared Cooler. You can find the recipe here.
The best part about the Kirkland Bottled-in-Bond was the price. At $27 for a liter, it is relatively affordable. Although it isn’t the cheapest option, it is reasonably priced for what you get with a bottled-in-bond whiskey made by 1792. It isn’t quite as refined as its cousin, the 1792 Bottled-in-Bond, but there are similar tasting notes between the two.
If you have a Costco membership, snagging a bottle of Kirkland Bottled-in-Bond should be a no-brainer. Be aware that it doesn’t always seem to be in stock. I’ve noticed it on the shelves about every other visit and we tend to go to Costco monthly.
Kirkland Bottled-in-Bond is a solid, mid-shelf whiskey, that runs about $15 less than you might expect to pay for a mid-tier bourbon. The next time I see it at Costco, I won’t hesitate to pick it up as a change of pace daily drinker from time to time.
Happy Exploring!
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