Yes, it’s inexpensive but so are some super high quality vodkas, like Stalinskaya or Sobieski. More:4 foods and drinks to avoid before going to sleep. The move recognizes that flavored vodkas and other styles of vodka popular elsewhere in the world exist and opens the possibility for more styles of vodka to be produced in the United States. 3 Answers. 0 0. zmust01. For the price, that bottle is huge compared to my Russian vodka … “No, Grey Goose Vodka does not produce nor privately label Kirkland vodka,” Joe McCanta, Grey Goose’s Global Head of Education, told USA TODAY. Kirkland tequila is produced in the same distillery as Cielo tequila. Yes, it’s inexpensive but so are some super high quality vodkas, like Stalinskaya or Sobieski. Munchies also makes mention of the fact that Grey Goose and Kirkland are distilled some 800 kilometers apart, which translates to just under 500 miles. It costs less than 1/2 the price. They have issued one and only one Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) for Kirkland-branded vodka of any type, and that certificate states that all Kirkland vodkas from 2005 on (the database only permits a 15-year search parameter) have been produced … But is this rumor actually true? subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. The drink's production process remains largely a proprietary secret, but the difference may not matter as much given federal regulations. This brand is used only on merchandise sold at Costco stores or through its web sites. “Vodka is not about what you put in but what you take out before the final product,” Abou-Ganim said. Favorite Answer. The name comes from the location of Costco's original headquarters in Kirkland, Washington. But Grey Goose expressly denies the claims are true, citing the unique qualities and process of its brand. It is a French Vodka which was developed in the US specifically for Costco and produced and bottled in Cognac. “If all vodkas were the same we’d only have one vodka. Dave C. Lv 7. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, which regulates the sale and importation of alcohol, has approved only one Certificate of Label Approval for … “And hopefully, in turn, for the additional expense that you put in, the consumer will have a better experience at the end,” Abou-Ganim said. Are high-end vodkas outdone in taste by their cheaper, less prestigious peers? If this is true, does it mean that they are the same formula? “Is Costco’s Kirkland Brand of Vodka The Same As Grey Goose?” an article from the recipe site 12Tomatoes reads. It’s won over spirits aficionados both behind the bar and the byline, as they rave about its clean, silky flavor, and speculate about its origins. In the case of Kirkland's French vodka, Levecke may only serve as the bottler and distributor, as the spirit itself is evidently distilled in Europe. an article from the recipe site 12Tomatoes read, That certificate states the brand is produced by the LeVecke Corp. in Mira Loma, California, Bacardi to buy Patrón tequila in $5.1B premium spirits deal, The certificates issued for Grey Goose’s various American products, though a 2016 VICE report found that Kirkland Signature’s French Vodka also taps a well in the Gensac Springs region, Kirkland Signature French Vodka states on its bottle that it is distilled five times, 4 foods and drinks to avoid before going to sleep, and has regularly topped Grey Goose in blind taste tests, mandated that vodka must be distilled and treated, Fact check: It's true, U.S. government poisoned some alcohol during Prohibition, which is why the TTB recently redefined vodka, Joe McCanta, Grey Goose Global Head of Education, Interview with Tony Abou-Ganim, "The Modern Mixologist", VICE, Why Costco’s Vodka May Be Your Best Bet, Buzzfeed on YouTube, Costco Liquor Vs. Bottle … You can't get anything with that label anywhere else. From what I can tell, the bourbon is made by Jim Beam, but isn't necessarily identical to their white label. Had a great time with kirkland vodka! Kirkland Signature French Vodka is a popular drink among Costco shoppers, and has regularly topped Grey Goose in blind taste tests. Vodka enthusiasts contend that high quality ingredients and a more stringent process, like the one used by Grey Goose, justify its high price tag, Abou-Ganim explained. Is there an all inclusive list that shows what all Kirkland Signatures products actually are? Kirkland's French vodka regularly beats out Grey Goose in blind taste tests. “It costs more to produce a vodka with rye or wheat than with sugarcane, for instance. (Image credit: The Kitchn) Costco’s store-brand imported vodka has earned an impressive cult following — especially for such a bargain booze. That doesn’t mean that Grey Goose isn’t high quality, but that “you have to go and do the work to decide what’s the right taste for you,” Abou-Ganim said. The differences are subtle,” Tony Abou-Ganim, a mixologist and the author of “Vodka Distilled,” told USA TODAY. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Kirkland American Vodka is made by the LeVecke Company in California. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, which regulates the sale and importation of alcohol, has approved only one Certificate of Label Approval for Kirkland Signature vodka. While no one has done such a thorough investigation of Kirkland's American vodka, it may well be produced as well as bottled in Mira Loma. That certificate states the brand is produced by the LeVecke Corp. in Mira Loma, California. Kirkland vodka is made from the same water source and by the same employees that Grey Goose uses. They always ask what brand of vodka I use! One of the most fun rumors to ever come out of Costco is that its generic Kirkland brand vodka is actually the same exact liquor that ends up in Grey Goose bottles. The proof is on the packaging, with … abv. Distilled from any agricultural product, most commonly grains or potatoes. Haha before you said it I was going to say, screwdrivers. These questions are central to a viral claim that’s circulated online for years. Experts say... probably not. Kirkland tequila is produced in the same distillery as Cielo tequila. Typically distilled to 95% ABV. Click to see full answer Just so, who makes Kirkland silver tequila? Thanks. Kirkland is Costco's store brand, and it is known for being relatively cheap but also unusually high quality. More:Bacardi to buy Patrón tequila in $5.1B premium spirits deal. They have issued one and only one Certificate of Label Approval (COLA) for Kirkland-branded vodka of any type, and that certificate states that all Kirkland vodkas from 2005 on (the database only permits a 15-year search parameter) have been produced by the Levecke Corporation in Mira Loma, California. age. The source of your water could factor into the price, and then there’s importation costs,” he said. “This is a viral claim that has circled Grey Goose for many years and it’s completely false.”. Claims that comparable products are being sold under brands with wildly different price tags is nothing new. I absolutely love Kirkland Vodka. from todayilearned. Grey Goose, which is owned by Bacardi, has, naturally, denied that it also produces the Kirkland variety. Vodka is such a versatile spirit that many keep it in the house for entertaining or to make an occasional cocktail at home. What makes a good vodka anyway? Kirkland Signature Vodka has trounced the expensive name brand in multiple blind taste tests despite being a fraction of the price. Kirkland Vodka has a very great taste that even a person who has never taken alcohol will notice it. Does anyone know more about this. Kirkland American Vodka is made by the LeVecke Company in California. Please don't answer unless you are sure of your facts and only answer with the source of the facts. 1 decade ago. Grey Goose, of course, denies it emphatically, while Costco is going the "no comment" route.. Unflavored Vodka. © 2021 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Other factors, including the production and origin of the vodkas, mean that while the two products may taste similar for some, they are different drinks. Costco does not disclose its ingredients' origins, though a 2016 VICE report found that Kirkland Signature’s French Vodka also taps a well in the Gensac Springs region. At its core, vodka is distilled alcohol and water, but the ingredients and process used to make the alcohol vary by brand and country. Everyone's heard the rumors about Costco's Kirkland-brand vodka — that it's really actually the same stuff as Grey Goose, just poured into a generic bottle instead of a designer label one. It is not produced by Grey Goose. To address the first issue regarding the Grey Goose rumor, there are actually two types of Kirkland vodka: a cheaper American version and a pricier French version. You get a lot of bang for your buck. People who take vodka tend to look at the quality and the taste of the beer as opposed to the price that it … In my humble opinion it’s a very ordinary vodka. “It’s OK to like and use more than one type of vodka!”. The question breathed life back into a years-old belief among many that the big box store's less expensive and reportedly high-quality vodka was actually the prestigious vodka brand in different packaging. The proof is on the packaging, with the Reynolds logo proudly displayed on the shiny blue boxes. The final word on this question of vodka origin comes from the U.S. government's own Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). ". ", More:Fact check: It's true, U.S. government poisoned some alcohol during Prohibition, Some argued the regulation flattened the range of tastes that vodkas available in the U.S. could have, which is why the TTB recently redefined vodka as any “neutral spirits” that can include “up to 2 grams per liter of sugar and up to 1 gram per liter of citric acid.”. Sep 19, 2009 12:15 PM 102 I heard from a person who works at a winery that Grey Goose and Costco's Kirkland brand vodka are made at the same plant. As Business Insider notes, Kirkland vodka frequently beats Grey Goose in blind taste tests in spite of retailing for much less money (1.75 liters of Kirkland costs $19.99, while a similar-sized bottle of Grey Goose goes for around $60). Only Grey Goose uses single origin Picardy wheat and water from our natural limestone well in Gensac-la-Pallue to craft a gluten free spirit of exceptional character,” McCanta told USA TODAY. Kirkland vodka is made from the same water source and by the same employees that Grey Goose uses. Kirkland bourbon and rum is produced by Jim Beam. Like Kirkland’s vodka, I guarantee you this works well with soda water or tonic as well as fruit-juice-forward cocktails like a gimlet or Collins. As to the origin of Costco’s Irish whiskey, your guess is as good as mine. The distillery is Fabrica de Tequilas Finos, S.A., located in the city of Tequila, Mexico.Other known tequila, like Stallion, Agave 99, Tonala, and Tenoch are also produced here. Vodka enthusiasts say this is … Regardless, consumers can decide for themselves which is the better vodka. Even Smirnoff is just a few bucks more, is high quality, and is available everywhere. ! TIL that Costco's Kirkland Signature Vodka is made in the same region, using the same water, as Grey Goose and scores higher in blind taste tests. It’s smooth and mixes well with my cocktails. 1 decade ago. Cheers! Kirkland Signature is Costco's proprietary trademark for its house brand merchandise. Answer Save. who makes Kirkland Vodka? You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. The company WX Imports, develops ultra-premium quality spirits and wines. I usually drink my vodka straight, but mixing it with orange juice is the way I go when I mix it. “Really, the only way to learn more is to taste.”. Now there has been a long time rumor that this Vodka is actually just Grey Goose Vodka & that it is just bottled under the Kirkland brand. Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. Kirkland Signature Vodka has trounced the expensive name brand in multiple blind taste tests despite being a fraction of the price. Kirkland American Vodka (not to be confused with their French imported vodka) is produced out of California by the LeVecke Company (according to the 2012 filing with the federal Tax and Trade Bureau). Relevance. The Kirkland bottle has a CRT NOM number of 1472, the same number that appears on the bottle of Cielo. “From harvest to milling to distillation to bottling, every step is done in France. All of the Kirkland Signature Dry Dog and Cat Foods are made by Diamond Pet Foods in five company-owned manufacturing facilities in the U.S. Grey Goose argues its investments and exclusive access to ingredients gives its brand “a richer, deeper taste profile,” according to McCanta. I plan on doing a blind tasting some day- maybe after I finish the Fris. It was at that moment that I made a supremely life-changing discovery: Kirkland Signature, the Costco store brand, makes incredible vodka. It's "distilled six times" from an undisclosed base or distillery. We guess and hope that, since it's American, it is made from a base of corn grain (as opposed to the French version, which is wheat). Grey Goose told USA TODAY its vodka is distilled only once “in an effort to preserve the quality natural ingredients and profiles of its ingredients.” Kirkland Signature French Vodka states on its bottle that it is distilled five times. Kirkland Vodka is one of the vodka brands that every person needs to taste before they leave planet Earth. In fact, spirits expert Fred Minnick told Business Insider that, in his opinion, "Vodka is purely marketing — there is nothing special about it [since] it is meant to be thrown in with something else and take on the character of whatever it is mixed with. Even if you opt for the lower-priced American Kirkland vodka, it's still considered one of the best Costco-branded liquors for sale. Brand-Name Liquor Blind Taste Test, Cornell Legal Institute, Labeling and Advertising of Distilled Spirits, Food & Wine, Vodka Can Finally Have a ‘Distinctive Character’ Thanks to U.S. While differences in the prices of wheat, water and the machinery used for distillation may be individually small among products, those initial costs can compound to produce wide variations in price. I love making cocktails and having friends over. Costco partnered with New Zealand-based Reynolds of aluminum foil fame to produce its Kirkland Signature Foodservice Foil. Kirkland Signature American Vodka is the Costco label vodka. Costco partnered with New Zealand-based Reynolds of aluminum foil fame to produce its Kirkland Signature Foodservice Foil. Cost. Who makes Kirkland French vodka? We rate this claim FALSE. While the brands may have some similar ingredients and distillation practices, these are not coordinated efforts. Source(s): https://shrink.im/a8MUb. Does it ultimately matter who makes the stuff, though? 40.0. Thank you for supporting our journalism. For years, the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Code mandated that vodka must be distilled and treated until it is "without distinctive character, aroma, taste or color. Who Makes Kirkland Vodka. “Everyone has some type of perspective on Grey Goose; it signifies something. This Vodka is a step up, at least in price, from the Kirkland Signature Premium Domestic Vodka USA 1.75L.It comes in a nicer looking bottle and is a product of France. Kirkland Scotch are distilled by either Alexander Murray and Macallan Distillery. I heard from a person who works at a winery that Grey Goose and Costco's Kirkland brand vodka are made at the same plant. All current evidence indicates that Kirkland Signature French Vodka, nor any other products sold by Costco, are in any way affiliated with the Grey Goose brand. Despite these differences, the Kirkland-made-by-Grey Goose claims raise questions of how different luxury brands really are from their cheaper counterparts. In my humble opinion it’s a very ordinary vodka. If this is true, does it mean that they are the same formula? Kirkland Signature Vodka has trounced the expensive name brand in multiple blind taste tests despite being a fraction of the price. Both vodkas are made in the Cognac region of France. They’re quite surprise when I tell them Kirkland and shocked by the affordable price as well! NAS. Kirkland's French vodka, according to Vice's Munchies column, is made from water that comes from the same Gensac Springs in France's cognac region where Grey Goose gets their own water — although the pricier brand does, of course, claim to use an "exclusive" well, as well as using wheat milled via a proprietary method. Regulations Change. The internet’s opinion: Goldfarb notes that “it’s believed that Kirkland’s Canadian whisky comes from Crown Royal.” We might never be able to confirm … It is true that Grey Jake Thompson says: February 5, 2018 at 6:34 am. It is only the French vodka that is really comparable to Grey Goose, and what's more, Grey Goose categorically denies the rumors, as does the Bacardi brand that owns Grey Goose, according to Thrillist. Even Smirnoff is just a few bucks more, is high quality, and is available everywhere. I know that Costco contracts other brand-name items and puts the Kirkland Signature name on it. There has long been a rumor that a Costco Kirkland-brand vodka imported from France is produced by the high-end brand Grey Goose. Does anyone know more about this. Topping the list, however, was Kirkland's French (red label) vodka, perhaps one of Costco's all-time best buys.While it is not actually repackaged Grey Goose, it is sourced from the same waters — the Gensac Springs in France's Cognac region (via Vice). The certificates issued for Grey Goose’s various American products all state the products originate in France, confirming Grey Goose statements to USA TODAY. Kirkland’s vodka, for instance, is said to come from the same French hands and water source that make Grey Goose, while its bourbon is believed to share a birthplace with Jim Beam. But if you put six vodka glasses in front of people and ask them to taste for the best, they’re not always going to pick it,” Abou-Ganim said. While rumors have persisted for years that Kirkland Signature Vodka, aka Costco's house brand, is really the same as Grey Goose, this rumor is not just an oversimplification, but it's evidently just not true. And while some feel you need to buy higher-end Vodka if you're going to make a quality drink, Kirkland's Signature Vodka continually astounds taste testers with … They make lots of products, from food to alcohol, including beer, vodka, bourbon, Scotch, and tequila. These are ones that I've heard of but haven't confirmed: Kirkland Vodka is Grey Goose Kirkland beer is Gordon Biersch Kirkland dishwashing detergent is Cascade.