Kirkland 20 Year Speyside Single Malt Sherry Cask Finish

It’s time for another Costco store brand whisky, this time it’s a 20 year old, Speyside single malt scotch. It’s bottled under the Kirkland brand for Costco and it’s believed to be ex-bourbon cask Mortlach or Longmorn whisky that’s been finished for around 6 months in an ex-sherry barrel that previously held Macallan. It typically sells for around $55-60 and bottled at 46% ABV. Thanks to Virginia liquor laws, I’m unable to buy it locally and I have to rely on a sample from a friend. Thanks @dubz480 for the generous pour. It’s a wonderful sunset copper in the Glencairn. It’s also seriously oily and thick appearing, with fat legs and slow running drops. The nose begins with a delicious grape jam note that segues into buttery, rich sherry. There’s a surprising heavy oak cask bite that acts as a backbone to all of the sweetness. It even gives off a new, virgin oak vibe- sawdust and biting wood that’s peppered and lightly charred. There’s no heat, even at 46%, and I think that’s due to the spirit taking on the properties of one that’s been triple distilled, even though I’m sure this one wasn’t. The palate is also butter smooth, which is no surprise to something that’s been in a quality cask for two decades. Again, the grape must and sherry note leads the way before relinquishing it’s hold on the tongue for the late, back end vanilla and toffee flavors. The transition seems timed and there’s a lingering, vine-ripened fruit and berry note that permeates the finish. It’s a rich, warm finish at that- medium in length with some oak tannins and cask tones that reveal a well-aged whisky. Overall, for $55 this can compete in just about any value for money competition. It would even hold its own in a Speyside sherry-finished whisky contest, regardless of age. The two decades it spent are noticeable, the sherry finishing is apparent, but it doesn’t mask the ex-bourbon properties either. This is a very fine whisky and one Alexander Murray and Costco should be very proud to offer. 4 stars with a bump for the price point. 4.25 stars, quite easily. Cheers.

#Whiskybattle of #Costco white-labeled #singlemaltscotch (#KirklandSignature). Both were distilled by @alexandermurrayco and matured for final 6 months in Oloroso sherry casks at 46% ABV. Reviewed on 8/6/2018. ....…......….…........................................................................... Nose: The 18 year-old (on the left) has notes of creamy vanilla, green grapes, and raisins...with a slight hint of sulphur. Score: 88. The 20 year-old has stronger notes of vanilla (bean vs. cream), fresh pineapple, and honey. Better nose than the 18 without the sulphur. Score: 91. ....…......….…........................................................................... Palate: The 18 has notes of raisins, plums, and all the lovely dark, dried fruit. Slight alcohol burn. Score: 87. The 20 has more complexity; I can pick out notes of dried apricots, sweet caramel, honey, and brown sugar all in a smoother dram than the 18. No alcohol burn despite the same ABV of 46%. Score: 90. ....…......….…........................................................................... Finish: The 18 has a slightly sweet medium finish for a score of 86. The 20 has a nicer, lingering oaky dry finish with more flavor and depth. Score: 89. ....…......….…........................................................................... Overall Experience: It’s amazing how 2 more years in the barrel makes such a difference in every aspect (except for color, which are both tawny orange). The 18 gets a score of 87 and the 20 gets a score of 90. ....…......….…........................................................................... Value for Money: The 18 year old sells for a good value at $55 USD but the 20 year old is a more compelling value for just $3 more ($58). That’s 1 point for each $1! There’s a big difference between a 90 and an 87 in the way I rate my scotch. ....…......….…........................................................................... #whiskyreview #Speyside #scotch

Damn, I’m happy I stopped into Costco today. It’s been a brutal week and was in need of some good news. I guess I consider this a solid, small victory as they just got this Scotch in a day ago. I heard good things about the Kirkland 18-year-old Scotch and had been looking for it to no avail, and was excited to see my Costco was offering a 20-year-old Speyside single malt with a sherry-cask finish. It was $56, and it’s proved to be a damn-good offering. I’m sure you’ll find better tastings in the 18-20 year range, but I’d put this up against any 15-year old Scotch that I’ve tried...and it’s the price of a good 12-15. Nose: Sweet, bready with waves of vanilla, honey and lemon icing. Almost reminds me of Sprite with the intense sweetness and citrus flavor. Definitely some notes of dried fruits with a touch of saltiness as well at the end. It’s truly a pleasant nose. Taste: It keeps changing. To me, that’s a sign of a top-tier whiskey. Or at least that's a quality I value in whiskey. I’ve gotten about nearly a dozen different tastes, and they all are cohesive with the nose. At various times I’ve gotten honey, mango, pear, coffee, a touch of cherry, green apple and sweet rolls (a la any Roadhouse restaurant where they throw peanuts on the floor)...oh, and I also get peanut brittle, too! Finish: At 46%, there’s a little burn at the end...but it goes with the entire drink. This doesn’t fight you, but rather takes you for a straightforward and enjoyable ride as that slightly burns complements the sweetness throughout. Overall/Value: If you can get it for $55-$60, jump on it. I’d pay $75-$80 for this, comfortably. It’s a fun experience without doing anything crazy. I could easily see comparable Scotch going in the $100 range.

Nose - Sweet bing cherries, blackberry cider, spiced apple cider, sweet dough after a while. Taste - Sweet fruity peppery spice/heat/tingle, lightly oaky cherry/berry cider, orange zest/pith bitter, light ginger. Finish - Lingering spicy tingle, cherry/blueberry/blackberry sweet, bitter ginger beer tingle. Score - 83/100 Final Thoughts - Not sure if I'm having an off day or because the weather has finally cooled off & it's actually sprinkling/drizzling today but this wasn't as good as I expected it would be. Had a nice fruity/sherry nose but it seemed a bit off balance on the palate. Had this almost metallic fruity note but not quite there, similar to hints of metal I occasionally get in super dense/syrupy dried fruits. Overall, a very decent sipper that seems to have things mostly balanced, but there's just this intangible I can't pinpoint. If I was looking to sip on something sherried without thinking too much, this would fit the bill. I think this might also work very well in a sweeter highball. I think the flavors are strong enough that they would get complemented very well by some soda water. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - Not another

Don’t be fooled by whiskey snobs on here who have convinced themselves that throwing relative value to the wind is an acceptable practice- for $55 this is a great 20 year staple scotch that eclipses many scotches at the $100 price point - And I should end this rant there; however: It’s spicy, has and above average complexity, it’s a little softer than the 18, the mouth feel is ... meaah, but the finish is quite satisfying. All n’ all the flavors are just a little disjointed in comparison to say... a center cut macallan at 7 times the price, but for the money you can’t go wrong. This is definitely worth picking up a few bottles next time you’re at Costco. 👍🏼

Amber color, clear, viscous. Nose is delicate, mature, with forward notes of Sherry, almonds, cinnamon, vanilla, caramel, Maple, and honey, no smoke. Palate is sweet, with salty and bitter notes, full body, and round texture. Aftertaste is long and strong, with oak, vanilla, butterscotch, and more Sherry. A few drops of water open more nuts on the nose, and pallet suddenly gains Apple, raisin, and cherry tones. Finish gains some cocoa notes. Overall complex and well-balanced dram, definitely worth the money and very enjoyable.