If you’ve ever perused the liquor aisle at Costco and passed up their 1.75 liter bottle of Kirkland Signature Canadian Whisky because you thought it belonged on the bottom shelf, you’d be sorely mistaken—especially if you passed it up for Crown Royal.
Kirkland Signature Canadian Whisky, which retails between $19 to $30 depending on where you live or how you buy it, has been my go-to ever since I found it, and I’ve been equally intrigued by its rumored connections to another favorite, Crown Royal.
This isn’t a standalone event, either. Costco shoppers are all too familiar with rumored tie-ins to name brands for their house products. Apart from the whisky’s rumored connections to Crown Royal, equal rumors abound that Grey Goose is behind their vodka. Costco, however, is notoriously hush-hush about its production sources, especially when it comes to liquor. Considering Starbucks officially custom roasts the Kirkland house blend coffee, though, it might not be too far of a wander for a guess.
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But how, if Crown Royal handles retail for almost $40 at Costco, can Kirkland get away with selling it for half the price, and how well does the store brand hold up to its competition?
To find out, I set up a side-by-side tasting of the two to see if Kirkland’s Signature Canadian Whisky is really a Crown Royal dupe, or if it stands out on its own.
You can see the immediate similarities between the two by simply looking at the bottle. Crown has a very distinct purple color, and the standard bottles often come in purple bags. A hex code reading on an image of both bottles showed that any shade of purple found on either bottle was a variation of Russian violet. They also each have their own custom font, but a reading of each bottle identified Ludoyica Regular as an optional font for either, which at least shows the fonts are in the same wheelhouse.
Andrew Stillman
Looks aside, it all comes down to the taste. To perform the tasting, I put a splash of whisky into a snifter, smelled it, inhaled the aromas with an open-mouth, and took a sip, which was a pivot from my usual shot or cocktail. After the initial taste, I put in two drops of water to open the whiskies up and repeated the process.
The two whiskies are surprisingly similar. The distillation process for Crown Royal involves five different recipes and twelve distillation columns and is aged in a white oak barrel. Although the detailed information for Kirkland’s production is private, the bottle shares the white oak cask aging process, though the end result is slightly darker.
The biggest difference between the two lies predominately in the start and the finish. On the nose, Kirkland’s whisky renders more butterscotch flavors, like the toffee hard candy you find in your grandma’s purse. Crown Royal, on the other hand, has a signature Canadian maple aroma, reminiscent of the syrup you’d put on your pancakes or waffles.
The actual taste, though distinct, also hints at familial bonds. On the palate, Kirkland’s whisky delivered a slightly spicy kick as opposed to the smoothness Crown Royal's made a name for. Adding drops of water highlighted the smooth brown sugar sweetness of each, as well as the unique butterscotch and maple flavors, respectively.
Both whiskies let vanilla take center stage, but the spicy hint in Kirkland’s had more bite. Whereas Crown Royal blends its vanilla with a more cinnamon flavor, Kirkland’s taste is more smoky-sweet with remnants of clove, in line with the taste of Pike Creek.
Despite their similarities, Kirkland Signature Canadian Whisky still stands on its own, but it’s clear why people think it’s at least made in the same facility as Crown Royal. A few drops of bitters for an old fashioned or a mixture with Coke may even throw off the most loyal Crown fan. At the price point, those who prefer complex spice over outright sweetness may even prefer the Kirkland alternative.
Regardless, whisky lovers who want a quality taste without the premium price tag should think twice the next time they see a Kirkland Signature Canadian Whisky hanging out on the shelves. If I were still bartending and able to serve it, I’d recommend it to all my guests. It may share the white oak barrel aging process and hints of vanilla with Crown Royal, but its spicier, bolder character sets it apart. It stands on its own as a versatile, flavorful Canadian whisky that fits any occasion.
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