Costco - Kirkland Blended Whisky 1.75 L

Wine Review

Trying Kirkland Blended Whisky

*An honest take on Costco’s budget-friendly house blend*

1.75

Liters

35

Mizuwari Servings

~1

Month Duration

Section I

First Impressions and The Mizuwari Method

I’ve always wanted to give it a try and finally bought a bottle of Kirkland Blended Whisky. They only had the larger 1.75 L size, and the price is still a bargain. In short, you get what you pay for, and this whisky is best for mixers or my favorite, a Mizuwari. This Japanese-style highball consists of plenty of ice, water, and a bit of whisky, typically with two parts water for every one part whisky.

Mixing and Comparisons

I find that a lot of bottom-shelf liquor works well as a Mizuwari, and this Kirkland blend surpasses Black Velvet. However, it doesn’t hold a candle to other blended scotches like Johnnie Walker Red Label, Ballantine's, or Chivas Regal. Still, compared to other bottom-shelf liquors, it’s acceptable.

For the price, this is a phenomenal deal. I can make about 35 Mizuwari from this bottle, compared to maybe 15 from a bottle of Jameson or Johnnie Walker Red, yielding a savings of at least 2.3 to 1.

Whisky Brand	Servings per Bottle	Value Rating
Kirkland Blend	35	Excellent
Jameson/JW Red	15	Standard

Tip: While you would get bored drinking this all day, it’s good to keep it for mixers and splurge the savings on something nice like Highland Park 12 Year or Laphroaig 10. The best part is that drinking this cheap Kirkland whisky will make an HP12 or Laphroaig taste that much more incredible—it’s a night-and-day difference.

Section II

One Month Review

After a month, I’ve noticed that the taste has improved, and I wonder if it needed considerable time to breathe. I decanted it into two empty 750 mL bottles and have already finished one and am down to half on the second. I’m quite impressed with the taste now compared to my first dram.

• →Decanting — Moving the whisky to smaller 750 mL bottles helped the spirit breathe and improved the overall profile.
• →Serving Suggestion — While it won’t win against better blends or single malts, it’s quite palatable on the rocks and especially as a Mizuwari.

Given the price, I’m tempted to pick up another big bottle from Costco.

Stay tuned for more budget-friendly spirits reviews as I explore the Costco aisles.