Went to Costco the other day. They now have a spirits store. They are higher priced on the name brands, because, by law, they must purchase from the state store. However, they have their own brand of Canadian whiskey, They claim that it is made by the folks that make Crown Royal. I have a bottle of each sitting on the bar. Frankly, I can't tell the difference. The Costco brand is just about half the price of the Crown.
Anyone else try this stuff?

Yes. Their premium vodka is Grey Goose, I believe. Both are good sippin' likker.

State liquor store?
Are those still around?
Went in one years ago in Danville, Va.
It wasn't that easy to even find.
How many states still have them?

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Va still has them

Is their house brand labeled Kirkland? I'd like to try it.
Jim

Utah has state liquor stores. You can buy 3.2% beer in grocery and convenience stores but anything stronger, the state has a monopoly.

Costco, or more correctly Kirkland, liquors are outstanding for middle grade must have around the house bottles - Canadian whisky, bourbon, vodka, brandy ETC.... heck even the beer is ok for around the fire pit. Up here even the name brand stuff is 2/3 the price of any other store.

There base scotch is OK.
Tried the 12 year old, not worth it at all....
Same with any of the older scotches they have.
They do have some good buys even with all the tax's here in WA.
The AF base class six does better sometimes on all brands of whiskey.

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

Oregon isn't a free state (yet), so we get spirits only at liquor stores and Costco doesn't sell any. There's talk of another ballot measure freeing up the liquor market coming up.

Given that Crown Royal is now made by Diageo, the largest spirit conglomerate in the world, at one of the largest distilleries in Canada, Gimli in Manitoba, it's entirely possible they also sell wholesale whisky for house labels. Since Canadian whiskies, with only a couple of exceptions, are all mostly corn-based blends anyways, they can easily adjust the ratio of flavoring whiskies and base whiskies in the blend to make them cheaper for wholesale customers. I'd imagine Costco buys volume and gets good prices.

Since most of the stuff that I have bought at Costco's or Sam's was sold in large quantities, do the spirits come in 55 gallon drums with a spigot?

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Miss Buddies crsides & fat tom

Yes. Kirkland Canadian Whiskey. Here it's about $30 per 1.75 liter, vs nearly $60 for CR. The store employees will tell you with great confidence that it IS Crown Royal. Not sure that's actually true, but it sure tastes the same to me.

When I lived in Ohio, the state had a monopoly on liquor sales and anything other than beer or wine had to be purchased from a state-operated store at state-fixed prices - even bars had to buy from the state stores and I think there were no price breaks for them. That may no longer be the case.

Locally, the Costco stores have always sold liquors ever since I can remember. Actually, liquor is sold from a separate store, attached to the Costco building. I guess Costco has their liquor retailing operation set up as a separate entity. And you do not need to be a Costco member to buy there. At least here, you can get somewhat better liquor prices at the large chain liquor stores than at Costco. As Costco has a very liberal and anti-gun management, I do not shop there for anything.

It probably is made by Crown. Costco also has their own Tequila but on Tequila bottles there is a 4 digit code that tells you which distillery actually makes it. I've had it, it's ok. Googled the distillery. ....forget the name but the make many brands including their own and some high priced ones as well

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Ohio has loosened up some. The state still sets the pricing, but they no longer own the stores. The licenses are still limited so typically only 1 or 2 permits per zip code, but it is nice to go into the local grocery store and buy the good stuff there instead of driving over to a seedy neighborhood to get your bottle of hooch. Also, it is set up as a separate store within the store with it's own door and register and it does close at 9PM even if the main store is open 24 hours.

Back on topic, my local Costco does not sell hard liquor, only beer and wine.

Sounds good.

There's a Costco not too far from here in Ringold, GA. Unfortunately, they have Sharia law there. Not much better here... light weight version of the Taliban.

New Hampshire has state liquor stores - a good number of them, with good pricing. The state derives much of its revenue from them and also from highway tolls, which (in part) allows us to have no sales or income tax. The state stores have a monopoly on liquor - grocery and convenience stores sell beer. Wine is sold in both.

When I was living in Ohio, the state stores were not located in the best parts of town, and there were only a few of them (maybe only one) in most smaller towns. An experience much like buying auto parts - you walked up to the counter and asked the clerk for whatever you wanted, then he pulled it off the shelf and you paid for it at whatever the state-established price was. Never any "sales." No wandering through aisles of liquor bottles to select your own. The state stores were all very plain, dingy, and dark, and the clerks all chain-smoked.

There's a liquor store located about 4 miles from me, in a small shopping center. Walk in, find what you want, take it off the shelf and go to the cashier to pay for it. Nicely stocked too. If they don't have what you want, they will order it for you.

When I lived in Cincinnati, the best place to do your shopping was Jungle Jim's.

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Common sense isn't so common.

Come to visit or live in Utah. State liquor stores only, none sold in any other store. Beer? You can get it in grocery stores if you want the watered down version. We routinely drive to Nevada, about a 45 minute drive, to pick up real beer, wine and liquor. Yeah, it's probably illegal to bring it back over the state line but a lot of people do it. And, if you think liquor laws are strange, you need to check out underwear.

I think it depends on how the state sets up the system.

Here in Oregon the state liquor stores are run by concessionaires who still are little capitalists, not state employees; they have to order from the state list and charge state prices, but what they order and how much and how they market themselves is up to them.

There are dumps that seem to mostly deal in 1.75 liter plastic bottles of cheap tequilla and vodka, and both the employees and the clientele look accordingly. But I've found a few outlets in "upscale" neighborhoods whose managers specialize in whisky, that have great selections nicely presented, and the folks will even call me if they get bottlings in that are on allocation and they know I'm interested in.

There are approximately 19 states that are considered "control states" (Alcoholic Beverage Control) where the state sells the distilled spirits. The remaining are considered "license states" where the state regulates who gets a license and where but doesn't actually sell product. Either way, the state generates revenue.

Now that you mention it- I have seen the state liquor stores in Utah.
When you go down to Bryce Canyon, and if you haven't gone you should.
It's one of the prettiest places on the planet!
The big tourist trap there is Ruby's.
It started as a ranch that took in roomers and gave buggy rides down to see the canyon.
It's now a huge operation near the entrance.
In the main lodge, in a hall between the lobby and dining room, there is a booze store.
It's like a large closet with a half door, open at the top, closed at the bottom.
A desk clerk will sell you it to you , I think.

Lodging in Bryce Canyon

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

In Japan you can buy beer, wine and hard liquor — e.g., Jim Beam and Jack Daniels — in 7-11s and other convenience stores, grocery stores, discount supermarkets, etc. You can even buy beer out of vending machines, and I have seen, although not recently, vending machines selling whiskey.

I think about ten or so years ago the beer vending machines started requiring a driver's license to be inserted in the scanner to prove the buyer is of legal age. (Twenty in Japan.) Prior to that, anyone capable of stuffing money into the machine could buy.

That actually turned out to be one of the pitfalls when Washington voters abolished the state system and allowed commercial liquor sales a few years ago. To compensate the state for the lost revenue from liquor sales, the ballot measure contained an increase in the state liquor tax. The result: Fairly significant price increases per bottle. The unintended result: Lots of folks from SW Washington driving across the river to stock up on cheaper booze at Oregon state liquor stores.

In many states that allow private liquor sales, the municipalities may still opt to allow only city-run stores. Once, at a gas stop in Kadoka, SD, I asked where a guy could get a bottle of whisky. We were planning to camp in the Badlands, and I wanted something for around the camp fire.

"You will have to ride into town, to the City Club". Well, it turns out the City Club is just how the locals refer to the municipal liquor store. So I got fixed up with a traveler of Beam; my buddy, who doesn't drink alcohol, asks what they have in the way of NA beer.

"Oh, we can't sell that here."
"Why not?"
"Because nobody will ******* buy it."

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Not in jail.

their small batch bourbon is distilled by KnobCreek and is a very drinkable bourbon for $20 a bottle

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

" The unintended result: Lots of folks from SW Washington driving across the river to stock up on cheaper booze at Oregon state liquor stores. "

Those Ohioans living across the Ohio River from Kentucky (like me) often just crossed over the bridge and bought their liquor and cigarettes there. Better selection and lower prices. Especially cigarettes. KY had no state tobacco tax at that time, and cigarettes were about half the price vs. Ohio. That was technically illegal, but I never saw anyone checking cars crossing the bridge to Ohio for contraband booze or cigarettes, nor heard of anyone being caught for doing it.

Let me know when Costco starts selling their own ammo in bulk at cheap prices.

Hey, Folks,

Ever notice how when anything is any fun, and citizens enjoy it, the government wants to get in there and regulate it? Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms? Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to regulate and tax them, and knowing the government, they'll probably want to create some kind of "Bureau" just for that purpose!!! Just wait and see!!!

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

They've always got their hand in the till

Maybe soon?? LOL.. My Costco is now selling AMMO cans bundled in two's of course And their safe assortment has increased.

Also they are carrying this little item..

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

Knob Creek actually isn't a distillery or company. It's a label under which Jim Beam sells its standard recipe distillate that has been extra-aged (9 years; regular JB white is bottled at 4 years) and barrel-selected for the premium label, and is bottled at a higher proof (between 100 and 120). But it's all distilled at Clermont. So $20 could be a good or bad price depending at what age and proof they bottle it, and how selective they are about the barrels.

Cut out the middle man and the revenuers:

Attached Images

image.jpeg (35.6 KB, 44 views)

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No school like the old school.

Thank you for the clarification. Having tasted both the knob creek and the Kirkland small batch, believe they're the same bourbon.

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

I've HEARD, but have no direct knowledge, that there USED TO BE places right here in West Virginia where scenes such as that WERE ALLEGED to have occurred. Long, long ago, longer than any statues of limitations would have expired, I think I may remember tasting a product similar to that which is shown ALLEGEDLY being produced in that photograph. No tax, so I heard, and no middlemen. If I remember correctly, and I have no proof that I do, it may have been pretty good liquor too.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

That sounds really good. If you taste the real Knob Creek in comparison, it should be obvious if this were substantially younger and/or thinner. While regular JB isn't nearly as bad as whiskey snobs like to make it sound, I find the improvement to KC significant. Does the Kirkland label reveal anything about age or proof?

Costco opened its first store here in So. Nevada in 1990. I joined right away. About mid 1991 I found a whole pallet of Handgun Range Bags in the tool section. I bought one and am still using it today. I wish I had bought two of them. When they were gone, Costco never has featured any other product aimed at shooting sports. I don't believe that they knew what they were selling at the time. ... :-)

Many moons ago I lived in the CINCLANTFLEET BOQ. It was a huge building with at least three bars and there were beer machines like soft drink machines scattered around too.

Most distilleries and wineries limit their production runs. Costco buys over runs which cannot be legally sold as the original product. They may blend some wines but in general their spirits are from major distillers that have hit their production caps. If you sell too much of a speciality item you cannot control price. In good years Costco may resale $75 bottles of wine for $7.95 and make a profit. Other years they may sell $12 bottles of wine for $9.99 and make a profit. This from a co-worker who was on a flight with a high up Costo VP.

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Front sight and squeeze

The Kirkland vodka is not Grey Goose that's an urban legend. Try each back to back and you'll quickly see Titos is better than Kirkland vodka. I recently tried the Kirkland anejo tequila and it is no sipping tequila. Kirkland liquor is best for mixed drinks when being a less than gracious host at your own party.

From another Vodka thread and I'm not Andrew.

(Thank you for your inquiry, Andrew. We do not bottle Kirkland Vodka, and no other vodkas are produced in the same facilities as GREY GOOSE. Kirkland is produced at the Distillerie Traditionelle De La Seuge in Pons, France. We have no relation to Distillerie Traditionelle de La Seuge or KIRKLAND Vodka.

I said thank you then asked where goose was bottled and their response was.....


The GREY GOOSE distillation facility is located in Picardie with a special blending and bottling facility in Cognac, both of which are dedicated solely to the creation of GREY GOOSE vodka.

pons france and cognac france are 26 miles apart. Kirkland is distilled in pons and goose is distilled in picardie then trucked 5 hours to cognac to be blended and bottled. My bacardi friend confirmed and then called me to express her disgust for the constant bull**** rumor that haunts them daily. She even mentioned about a possible law suit against costco (which confirmed what I read on the net) for marketing their vodka the way they have been. So this info is enough for me to believe that kirkland is not goose. My info is credible and enough for me.)

I used to think the Kirkland brand was some cheap knockoff then I was a documentary describing how rigid Costco is with their vendors and how high their quality standards are.
I would not hesitate to use anything branded by Costco.

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Back to back World War Champs.

I dont drink liquor, but if you can find something at a good or discounted price, good on ya. Just wish S&W's model 10s could still be found for $300...guess Im cheap, but I digress.

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Rather be outdoors

And.... that provides all the excuse needed by a whisky nerd to remind everybody of the legal definition of vodka. This usually upsets vodka fans, who feel their quality discussions aren't being taken seriously. They have a point.

27 C.F.R. 5.22
....
(1) “Vodka” is neutral spirits so distilled, or so treated after distillation with charcoal or other materials, as to be without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color.
....

So basically, vodka is a grain mash distilled out to 190 proof (95% ABV), which then gets the heck filtered out of it. What you think of as the "taste" of vodka is basic ethanol, plus the quality of the water used to down-proof it. Any significant flavor differences between cheap and expensive brands are largely psychosomatic, based on the price and clever marketing.

I always buy Wolfschmidt. 9 bucks a bottle, as good as any. Love the name. How can you not like a vodka named Wolfschmidt? It evokes just the right combination of Russian melancholy and German menace. Wintry landscapes, howling wolves, bearded guys in fur coats, prison camps in the forest .... classic Eastern European charme.

any idea if Costco has a home brand of Blue Label?

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John 14:6, Luke 21:11

Agree. Vodka is supposed to be nothing more than diluted ethanol, unless flavoring is added, and it is not aged. So how can different vodka brands possibly be different in taste, aroma, etc., assuming that they have the same percentage of ethanol? Ethanol is pretty much ethanol, no matter whether it starts out from fermented corn, wheat, potatoes, or any other carbohydrate.

Costco is the largest single importer of wines in the U.S. I have no reason to believe they aren't high on the list of beer and liquor buyers as well. I like their bourbon and it's a great buy. Their beers used to be brewed by Gordon Biersch, a well-known micro-chain. Not sure who makes them now. My experience with anything branded Kirkland has been nothing but positive.

No but they do carry a " Home Brand" of MACALLEN'S aged in sherry casks.

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

I've never had anything with the Kirkland brand that wasn't top shelf. My main bitch with Costco is that the only men's clothing they carry with a 30" waist is jeans. I have worn those exclusively for several years. All the dress slacks and shorts start at 32". In my old age, my waist has shrunk and I have no hips. Gonna have to start wearing suspenders to keep my britches up!

Tell me your secret!! I'm 82 and sport a 52 inch waist. I'd sure like to lose a bunch of it.