Costco liquor stores carry two different kinds of Kirkland Signature vodka. Today I’m reviewing both of them – the more expensive French one and the cheaper American version. This was a tricky review for me as I’m not a big vodka drinker but I shared my vodka with a few friends to get different opinions. Kirkland Signature products are usually great value for the money, so I wanted to find out if that was true for their vodka as well.
Other Kirkland Signature liquor products I’ve reviewed are the Costco Kirkland Signature Traditional Holiday Egg Nog, Costco Kirkland Signature Premium Golden Margarita, Costco Kirkland Signature Strawberry Margarita, Costco Kirkland Signature Silver Tequila, Costco Kirkland Signature Prosecco, Costco Kirkland Signature Sangria and the Costco Kirkland Signature Anejo Tequila.
Location in Store
You can find both the French and American Kirkland Signature Vodka in the Costco liquor store. The item number for the French Kirkland Signature Vodka is the 999910 and the number for the American Kirkland Signature Vodka is 349025.
Taste
Is Costco French vodka Grey Goose in Disguise?
There’s been major speculation the French Vodka at Costco is made from the same company that manufactures Grey Goose, however, this is not true. I found an article on Vice that points to the only similarity being that Grey Goose and the Kirkland French vodka are produced in France using the same water from a spring in the Cognac region.
Costco Kirkland Signature French Vodka versus Costco Kirkland Signature American Vodka
We made Moscow Mules with both vodkas and also tried them straight.
The French vodka from Costco tastes much more premium in flavor and viscosity. It’s not watery like some vodkas. It has a richness that the American vodka doesn’t, and is inoffensive and easy to drink. The vodka is smooth and doesn’t have that sharp alcoholic bite that vodka usually does.
Of course this is all relative – I’m sure many people won’t find any vodka easy to drink, smooth and lacking a sharp bite when they drink it straight.
The American is six times distilled tastes more watery. It has a strong alcohol bite, and the alcohol flavor lingers in your mouth and chest. Our friend described it as, “tasting similar to the big bottle of $17 dollar vodka I’ve been buying”.
Hands down the Costco Kirkland Signature French Vodka beats the Costco Kirkland Signature American Vodka in a taste test, at least when you try them alone. Things are more competitive when you use them in cocktails/mixed drinks. We made Moscow Mules for our friends using both types of vodka and nobody could tell the difference in a blind taste test.
Cost
The price of the French vodka is $49.99 Canadian for the 1.75 liter bottle. The price of the American vodka is $44.99 Canadian for the 1.75 liter bottle. I think the French vodka is a really great deal, and for such a small difference in price, I recommend choosing it over the American one.
If you’re only going to use your vodka in mixed drinks, it might be harder to justify the extra $5. The premium French vodka is probably worth it for stronger cocktails, but you may not notice the difference in weaker mixed drinks (our Moscow Mules weren’t exactly “weak”, and we couldn’t tell the difference).
Serving Suggestions
Some people out there may enjoy straight vodka, but I’m definitely not one of them! For me, vodka needs to be mixed into some sort of cocktail or drink. We both of these vodkas in Moscow Mules using a recipe from Cookie and Kate.
I enjoy vodka in cosmopolitans and various flavored martinis as well. Currently my favorite way to enjoy a bit of vodka is mixed into a hard seltzer like White Claw or Truly, it’s easy and adds a little extra to a pretty mild hard seltzer.
Scoring
Taste: French – 10/10 American – 7/10
Cost: 9/10
Overall
Must buy!
If you’re looking for a premium vodka at a great price, you can’t go wrong with the French vodka. The American vodka is even cheaper and still fine in cocktails and mixed drinks.
Have you tried either of these vodkas from Costco? What did you think of them?
Please note that this review was not paid for or sponsored by any third party. This product was purchased by Costcuisine for the purpose of producing this review. The opinions in this review are strictly those of Costcuisine. Costcuisine is not affiliated with Costco or any of its suppliers. In the event that Costcuisine receives compensation for a post from the manufacturer of a product or some other third party, the arrangement will be clearly disclosed (including where the manufacturer of a product provides Costcuisine with a free sample of the product).
The taste has been awful…last 4 bottles purchased!
We have bought Kirkland Vodka for at least 10 years and it seemed to be a very good quality Vodka. We bought a case of Vodka on 7/7/2023 and it tastes awful. It has a
vitamin taste which is awful. I took it back and they agreed to exchange four unopened bottles and they taste just as bad. They have received a large batch of bad Vodka or they have changed the supplier.
I totally agree. I too have been drinking Kirkland Vodka for years. Just got a couple of bottles and they are terrible. They taste like Tahoe Blue which I do not like at all.
I noticed the same thing. Something has changed! I initially thought it was bad ice but noticed it . with a bottle I bought yesterday. Absolutely undrinkable.
I agree as well. Tastes like wood and it has always been good before.
I agree same here baught about the same time, awful
Which one did you buy? American or French?
We have had the same problem .we brought the 1st case (6) and they refunded 5.. several weeks later we tried a bottle and it was ok. Now we bought another case and the very 1st bottle taste like crap..going to take it back today, if they won’t refund our money I am going to cancel my cards and save our $100 membership fee and just go to Sams
Does anyone know what the alcohol content (proof)is?
Have bought Costco American and love it in Vodka-tonic. Smooth and delicious. Like the price and taste better than Grey Goose..
Great vodka, lousy bottle design!!!
I love the American Kirkland vodka mixed with Masters of the mix Margarita mix and diet tonic – fewer calories and tastes fantastic!
i love THE AMERICAN KIRKLAND VODKA WITH MARGARITA MIX AND TONIC!
REALLY REFRESHING AND SMOOTH!
I am a vodka drinker. I drink it on the rocks with fresh lemon juice. bought my first bottle today. I started with sipping straight to test. Not typical burn or aftertaste. I do many cruises where the drink packages include everything. I have had a lot of Grey Goose, which I love. I rate this right there with it. Great job Costco.
I got the one made in France at Costco for 20.99 not 49.99. It does taste very different from the American. I bought it before I read your review. The taste is smooth and less alcohol smell. I did Vodka Orange (Greenwise orange), I was amazed by it.
Alas, BC Costcos don’t sell liquor! I sure wish they did. This looks interesting – thank you for your review.
I know! I hear this often from BC shoppers.
I thought I recall buying in Richmond?
But the cost in BC as well as Washington is crazy. Much less east coast U.S. I95 New York, New Jersey, Penn down to Florida. Seattle tax is insane.
Grey Goose is well known as an inferior vodka among connoisseurs. Watch a few vodka taste tests, you’ll learn a lot. It never wins awards in blind taste tests.
Its marketing is great, so it’s heralded.
I believe your assessments, though they didn’t sound extremely precise or scientific!
Can I buy Kirkland Vodka in OKC ?
I’ve been buying Costco vodka for years and both are great values (I actually feel kind of guilty now when I indulge and get “name brand” vodka lol).
Whenever I go into their liquor store I always notice at least one other person buying Kirkland vodka.
I just can’t believe the price difference in Canada!
I live in Atlanta and at my Costco the American one is $12.99 and the French one is $19.99
Yes! That’s Canada for you, that’s why we love coming to the US on vacation!
We just purchased our first bottle today for $12.99 in Indiana. Can’t wait for our Moscow Mule test this weekend. 🤔
We did a taste test with my sister in law, who is a Grey Goose on the rocks drinker,and Kirkland French vodka.There were 3 cups. 2 Kirkland, I Goose. She picked the 2 Kirkland first, and didn’t care for # 3 at all, which was the Goose.She now drinks Kirkland and saves a lot of money!
Love reading all your reviews!
Ahhh! That’s amazing and too funny! Thank you for sharing this story with me, love it 🙂
So….which Kirkland is the #2? American?
Yep!
I was standing in front of the vodka’s at Costco, looking at the prices. I needed vodka to make vanilla extract and limoncello. A customer walks by, and says to me – this Costco vodka is very good, pointing at the large bottle. He grabbed a bottle. So I have one also – the bottle is very large.
It is!
Great review! But I’m jealous, no alcohol is sold in Ontario Costcos 🙁. I would definitely buy the French one at only $5 more since it leaves one with more options and my husband likes a very dry vodka martini. Maybe you and your friends could do a taste test with the French and Grey Goose?
Cheers!
Thanks Jan! That’s actually a great idea.