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Costco has historically worked with Barton 1792 for it's bourbon line, putting out a small batch, bottled-in-bond, and single barrel edition in liter bottles in waves over the last few years. This new 1.75L edition debuted in Spring of 2026 and mysteriously lacks a named distiller. The label proudly states that it was distilled and aged in Bardstown, Kentucky before being bottled in Columbia, Tennessee by DC Flynt MY Domaines & Estates (never heard of them). Flynt appear to be more wine focused and have led a number of wine bottlings for Costco historically in addition to some Gins. Distilleries at scale in Bardstown include Jim Beam, Barton 1792, Heaven Hill (though primary production is at Bernheim in Louisville), Lux Row, Willet, and Bardstown Bourbon Company. I doubt it is Barton 1792 since they proudly label their existing collaboration and I suspect it may be a producer without a 1.75L bottling line (would justify the move better than just adding logistics for secrecy). Tennessee Distilling Group (a somewhat secretive contract producer that has just started to go to market under their own brand) produces and bottles the Kirkland Tennessee Whiskey in 1.75L and just so happens to be located in Columbia, TN. With the bottler known, my guess for most likely distiller would be Bardstown Bourbon Company. They have historically been a heavy contract producer and given broader industry factors it is not hard to imagine one of their contract parties may have gone out of business or left them with a gross of unplanned inventory, potentially of a recipe that differs from their standard lineup. BBC also doesn't have a low-end brand to dump stock into if they did have an undesired surplus of one of the house recipes. Lux Row would be the other candidate as they typically have mass bottling in St. Louis and MGP has already written down a good bit of inventory for glut pricing. The other Bardstown area distillers lack the economics, scale, or clear motive.
🛒Sourced: $26.59 for 1.75L from Costco Perimeter, GA - $11.36 per 750ml standard, very cheap. The .59 indicates that this is a special promotional price, potentially a subsidized or one-off deal from the manufacturer.
🧪Proof: 92 proof, 46% ABV - Around the minimum where you can get away with NCF and not have cloudiness on the shelf.
🎨Color: Y5 - Deep yellow, not very leggy
🥔Mash Bill & Production: With literally no details whatsoever from Costco, we are left with only our tongues to sus out the truth. My money is on a very high corn bourbon mash bill with a minority rye and malt component. Bardstown regularly distills a 78% Corn / 10% Rye / 12% barley mash on contract which at just four years could potentially be this corny. I could see it being an even higher corn percent though.
- Age - No Age Statement, at least four years
- Distillation Proof - Unknown
- Barrel Entry Proof - Lower than standard bulk entry proof suspected due to thickness
- Char - Unknown
- Batch Size - Large
- Chill Filtered - No, labeled as such
👃Nose: Mild bite, sugarcane, saltwater toffee, and the slightest hint of cranberry.
😜Palate: Pretty darn creamy for the proof, there are a LOT of grain oils still present in this. Circus peanuts, creamed corn, peanut brittle, and popcorn. There is a bit of fruit lurking towards the finish that ranges from sip to sip, between dark berry or cherry. Not a crazy dynamic palate, but it successfully avoids the bitterness and raw peanut sometimes found in corn heavy mash bills.
💦Finish: Short but full with a gentle warming sensation, lingering peanut brittle sweetness.
🏆 Overall: 6.25/10 - Darn Good & Funky - This is probably my favorite Kirkland whiskey to date, though I suspect it will be polarizing. I blinded it alongside Mellow Corn and there are pretty stark differences between the two, more than just proof and reused cooperage. I'm in love with the rich texture and cost efficiency of the Kirkland Kentucky Bourbon. If you like cream and nuts in your mouth ("phrasing"), this is a steal of a bottle. I'm sticking with my guess of Bardstown Bourbon as the producer (though if somebody at the company wishes to confirm or deny I'd be over the moon excited, tap that "contact us" on the sidebar).
💵Would buy again? Absolutely, I'm going to have to bunker a few. This is probably a one time run if my suspicions are correct. This might just be the best value in all of bourbon if you're into the flavors.
⚖️Rating Scale:
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume it by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws | Struggle to get through the bottle
4 | Serviceable | Mixing or ice recommended.
5 | Good | Drinkable Neat | An agreeable dram indeed.
6 | Very Good | Any flaws offset by interesting flavors | A cut above.
7 | Great | You find yourself reaching for this one often | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Serve to Impress Guests | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite | You guard this bottle jealously
🙈Blind Tastings:
- 6/17/26 - Kirkland Kentucky Straight Bourbon (this) > Four Roses Small Batch > Mellow Corn