Kirkland Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Bourbon by Barton 1792

Continuing the exploration of Costco selections with this Bottled in Bond offering. I tasted it neat and in a few different cocktails. A side-by-side comparison with Old Tub Bottled in Bond and 1792 Bottled in Bond is a good starting point for this review. Let's see how this measures up against something in a similar price bracket and also against something believed to be a close relative with a higher cost. On the nose, the Kirkland presents sweetness with floral vanilla (reminiscent of Tahitian rather than Mexican), caramel, and burnt sugar, a slight ethanol presence, and a trace of candy bar nougat. The Old Tub offers a richer, darker aroma (though Mexican rather than Tahitian) that follows similar impressions. They are alike, but not identical. The 1792 takes it a tiny step further, providing the most interesting nose with layers of pencil shavings and barrel char atop caramel and richer vanilla. In the mouth, the Kirkland has a pleasant texture, feeling silky but not oily. I find it slightly too thin to be a satisfying neat pour. There are some nice vanilla and sweet wood notes, with noticeable black pepper in the mid-palate and a drying, short finish. Overall, it's quite good, though not necessarily memorable or remarkable. The Old Tub leans towards a cake frosting sweetness, a similar thinness, and a trace of boiled peanuts on the exhale. It seems slightly less peppery and might be preferable as a neat sipper - but this is a very close decision. In an Improve Whiskey Cocktail (2.5 oz bourbon,.25 oz Maraschino liqueur, 1 bar spoon rich simple syrup, 1 bar spoon absinthe, 2 dashes Angostura bitters), they were indistinguishable and delicious. Sampled neat, the 1792 BiB significantly elevates the competition. It is notably richer, creamier, and more complex. The 1792 is a better neat sipper, period. Its moderate fade to a clean, barrel tannin finish has kept a bottle in my regular rotation for several years now. Frankly, I anticipate a $50 bottle to outperform one half its price. Kirkland Bottled in Bond bourbon is an excellent budget choice, ideal for mixed drinks and perfectly adequate to stand alone as a casual sipper. Would I queue up for this or travel across town to acquire it? No. It's solid and worth purchasing if you happen to be in the store and it's right in front of you (which is pretty much how Costco liquor shopping operates, to be honest).

To the platform administrators: I recently discovered I can use emojis, which I believe is a positive development. These are my 15 most frequently used emojis, in order: 🥃😁🤣😎❤️🕺✌️😂😱💃🏼🤞🥰🙀😸😭. I'm pleased to share them with this community, despite the odd cat emojis at the end. I also found out I can't say a certain word anymore. I typed it in my notes and I'm pasting it here. I'm not happy about this, but it makes me wonder what other profanity is acceptable. A close friend of mine recently had a terrible experience that almost ruined a spelunking trip in Michigan. Journeyman. Shit. Canadian whiskey is good. We'll discover together what gets past the filters. The nose presents roses, sugar, and lemon; it's delightful. The body has notes of honey, fruit punch, vanilla, a bit of red apple, honeysuckle, and sweet cream. I detect caramel. Wow. The finish features chocolate, fruit punch, and cinnamon, with lingering caramel. It's a massively sweet finish. My only critique of the Kirkland small batch was its lack of dynamism compared to the 1792 small batch. If the price is a major factor, what's the appeal beyond the volume? This bourbon eliminates that criticism. It stands proudly alongside its 1792 counterparts, offering a liter of quality bourbon for just $30. It's almost unbelievably smooth. While I admit I'm a big fan of 1792 (as previous photos might indicate), I can't fault this Kirkland whiskey. I'm particularly fond of the 1792 flavor profile. In my opinion, this is superior to both the 1792 small batch and 1792 bonded. That's incredibly odd when you consider it. They truly excelled with this release, and if you appreciate that fruit punch note in 1792, you absolutely must get a case of this.

First pour. This is significantly better on a large ice cube than when consumed neat. The Kirkland BiB (3.75/5) is much bigger, bolder, and spicier compared to the Kirkland Small Batch (3.5/5) even though the proof difference is minor (100 vs 92). Notes: almond croissant | a hint of vanilla | dark fruit | toasted marshmallow sweetness | honey (a darker variety, leaning towards maple syrup) | molasses / pecan pie / syrupy | it's quite warm [in a good "Kentucky hug" way] | subtle leather, damp tobacco, sweet finish. I believe this would work well in many cocktails that typically require a rye, and also for a Manhattan. I still enjoyed drinking it straight, especially considering the value, and I'll taste it neat a few more times at least. If you're seeking something light, soft, and sweet with classic caramel and vanilla bourbon notes, the Kirkland Small Batch would be a better choice. Note: As of this writing, the Kirkland Single Barrel for 2024 has not yet been released.

My immediate thought upon tasting this Bottled-in-Bond was, 'Damn, I should have bought more than one.' Having been somewhat disappointed by other Kirkland brand whiskeys, my expectations for this one were low, but they were greatly surpassed! It offers a vibrant burst of complex flavors with a very pleasing lingering finish. I typically drink my whiskey on the rocks, so the higher proof is appreciated for maintaining flavor integrity even with a little dilution. This is the first Kirkland brand whiskey that I would be genuinely happy to be offered at a party. I'll definitely be stocking up on more during my next Costco run. It's a fantastic value.

I conducted a side-by-side comparison between the Kirkland Barton BiB and the Kirkland Barton SiB (120 proof). The SiB is noticeably a few shades darker, with a redder hue. BiB Nose: Astringent, citrus, and caramel. Taste: Tangy sweet, light pineapple, citrus, and a bit of cereal. A medium, numbing, spicy finish. This is impressive for under $25 a liter. Score: 3.75 SiB Nose: Richer and smoother, with citrus and caramel notes. Taste: This significantly outperforms the BiB, nearly twice as good. Smooth caramel, citrus, cherry, rich and deep. For only $5 more ($29)? The finish is sweet, smooth, with a little spice. Score: 4.25, though I want to rank it higher for its value.

Increased to 3.75 to reflect the incredible value. Brought to me by a friend from WI. Bright straw/brass color. It clings to the glass, with slowly developing legs. Aroma is caramel, peanut, and a distinct rye spice. A subtle hint of green apple, honey, or golden raisin is also detectable. It's tart and warm initially, with a fruity note, followed by a sticky caramel sweetness on the mid-palate and finish. The heat and spice warm the mouth and throat, but not enough to reach the chest. There's vanilla and barrel char, which is pleasant. It tapers off, evoking memories of an old barn. Well-balanced and easy to sip... nothing extraordinary. An absolutely outstanding value.