Kirkland 20 Year Speyside Single Malt Sherry Cask Finish

It's time to try another store-brand whisky from Costco, this one a 20-year-old Speyside single malt scotch. It's sold under the Kirkland brand and is thought to be Mortlach or Longmorn whisky that spent about 6 months finished in an ex-sherry barrel previously used by Macallan. It generally costs around $55-60 and is bottled at 46% ABV. Due to certain state liquor regulations, I couldn't purchase it myself and had to rely on a sample from a friend. My thanks to the individual who provided the generous pour. It has a lovely sunset copper color in the Glencairn glass. It also appears quite oily and viscous, with substantial 'legs' and slow-moving droplets. The aroma begins with a delightful grape jam scent that transitions into rich, buttery sherry. There's a surprisingly robust oak cask influence that supports all the sweetness. It even gives off a vibe of new, virgin oak – like sawdust and sharp wood, with hints of pepper and light charring. Despite being 46% ABV, there's no noticeable heat, which I attribute to the spirit potentially having characteristics of triple distillation, even though I'm sure that's not the case. The palate is also exceptionally smooth, which is expected from a spirit aged in a quality cask for two decades. Again, the grape must and sherry notes are prominent initially before giving way to late-arriving vanilla and toffee flavors on the back end. The transition feels deliberate, and a lingering note of vine-ripened fruit and berries permeates the finish. It's a rich, warm finish that's medium in length, with some oak tannins and cask characteristics that suggest a well-matured whisky. Overall, for $55, this whisky is competitive in any value-for-money assessment. It could even stand up in a Speyside sherry-finished whisky competition, irrespective of age. The two decades of aging are evident, and the sherry finish is apparent, yet it doesn't obscure the original ex-bourbon qualities. This is a very fine whisky that Alexander Murray and Costco should be proud to offer. I rate it 4 stars, with an additional boost for its price point, making it a solid 4.25 stars. Enjoy.

A head-to-head comparison of Costco's white-labeled single malt Scotch, both distilled by Alexander Murray & Co. and finished for the last 6 months in Oloroso sherry casks at 46% ABV. Reviewed on 8/6/2018. Nose: The 18 year-old exhibits notes of creamy vanilla, green grapes, and raisins, with a subtle hint of sulfur. Score: 88. The 20 year-old presents more pronounced vanilla notes (bean rather than cream), fresh pineapple, and honey. It has a better aroma than the 18 and lacks the sulfurous note. Score: 91. Palate: The 18 year-old features notes of raisins, plums, and typical dark, dried fruit flavors. There's a slight alcohol burn. Score: 87. The 20 year-old offers greater complexity, with notes of dried apricots, sweet caramel, honey, and brown sugar, all in a smoother dram than the 18. Despite the same 46% ABV, there is no alcohol burn. Score: 90. Finish: The 18 year-old has a slightly sweet, medium finish. Score: 86. The 20 year-old delivers a more pleasant, lingering finish that is oaky and dry, with enhanced flavor and depth. Score: 89. Overall Experience: It's remarkable how just two additional years in the barrel significantly impact every aspect (except for the tawny orange color, which is consistent for both). The 18 year-old receives an overall score of 87, while the 20 year-old earns a 90. Value for Money: The 18 year-old is a good value at $55 USD, but the 20 year-old represents a more compelling value for only $3 more ($58). That's essentially one point of score for each dollar spent! There is a substantial difference between a 90 and an 87 in my rating system.

I'm so glad I visited Costco today. It's been a tough week, and I needed some good news. I consider this a definite small win, as they just received this Scotch yesterday. I'd heard positive things about the Kirkland 18-year-old Scotch and had been searching for it without success. I was thrilled to find my Costco had a 20-year-old Speyside single malt with a sherry-cask finish. It cost $56 and has proven to be an excellent offering. I'm sure you can find better tasting selections in the 18-20 year range, but I would compare this to any 15-year-old Scotch I've tried, and it's priced like a good 12-15 year old. Nose: Sweet and bready, with waves of vanilla, honey, and lemon icing. It almost reminds me of Sprite due to the intense sweetness and citrus flavor. There are definitely notes of dried fruits with a hint of saltiness at the end. It's a truly pleasant aroma. Taste: It continually changes. To me, that indicates a top-tier whiskey, or at least a quality I value. I've detected nearly a dozen different flavors, all of which are consistent with the nose. At different times, I've tasted honey, mango, pear, coffee, a hint of cherry, green apple, and sweet rolls (like those served at a Roadhouse restaurant where they toss peanuts on the floor)...oh, and peanut brittle too! Finish: At 46% ABV, there's a slight burn at the end, but it complements the overall drink. It doesn't fight you; instead, it provides a straightforward and enjoyable experience as that mild burn enhances the sweetness throughout. Overall/Value: If you can get it for $55-$60, grab it. I would happily pay $75-$80 for this. It's an enjoyable experience without being overly complex. I could easily see a comparable Scotch priced around $100.

Aroma: Sweet bing cherries, blackberry cider, spiced apple cider, sweet dough after some time. Taste: Sweet, fruity, peppery spice/heat/tingle, lightly oaky cherry/berry cider, orange zest/pith bitterness, light ginger. Finish: Lingering spicy tingle, sweet cherry/blueberry/blackberry, bitter ginger beer tingle. Score: 83/100 Final Thoughts: I'm unsure if it's an off day for me or because the weather has finally cooled and it's actually drizzling today, but this wasn't as good as I anticipated. It had a pleasant fruity/Sherry aroma, but the palate seemed somewhat unbalanced. There was this almost metallic fruity note, but not quite there, similar to metallic hints I occasionally detect in very dense/syrupy dried fruits. In general, a very decent sipper that seems mostly balanced, but there's an intangible element I can't quite identify. If I wanted to sip something Sherried without much thought, this would be suitable. I also think it would perform very well in a sweeter highball. The flavors are strong enough that they would be well complemented by 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 swayed by the purists here who believe disregarding price for quality is acceptable. For $55, this is a solid 20-year scotch that surpasses many costing $100. It's spicy, shows above-average complexity, and is a bit milder than the 18-year expression. The mouthfeel is unremarkable, but the finish is quite pleasing. Overall, the flavors are slightly disconnected compared to, for instance, a premium Macallan that costs seven times as much, but for the price, it's an excellent value. Definitely worth stocking up on during your next visit to Costco. 👍🏼

It has an amber hue and appears viscous. The aroma is subtle and aged, featuring prominent notes of Sherry, almonds, cinnamon, vanilla, caramel, maple, and honey, with no smoke. The taste is sweet, balancing salty and bitter elements, with a full body and smooth texture. The finish is lengthy and robust, with hints of oak, vanilla, butterscotch, and more Sherry. Adding a few drops of water enhances the nutty scents on the nose, and the palate suddenly reveals tones of apple, raisin, and cherry. The finish also gains some cocoa. Overall, it's a complex and well-balanced drink, absolutely worth the price and very pleasing.