Kirkland Vodka vs Grey Goose (2023 Updated)
Last Updated on December 29, 2022 by Lydia Martin
There are speculations that Kirkland is the same as Grey Goose vodka. Some say that Costco’s vodka tasted the same as Grey Goose’s during blind tastings, but both brands deny being related. However, are they really the same?
Let’s find out as we compare all details between Costco’s Kirkland vodka vs Grey Goose.
Comparing Kirkland Vodka & Grey Goose
Kirkland is often mistaken for Grey Goose vodka because of its taste and texture. Speculations say it was just packaged differently. However, looking more closely, Kirkland’s is creamier and less watery to the palate than Grey Goose’s.
The price is also a big difference between the two. Kirkland is way cheaper than Grey Goose, intentionally produced as a luxury vodka.
Grey Goose has been an established brand since 2004. As Joe Mccanta, its Global Head claimed, they have the best tasting and smoothest luxury spirit. It is because of their high-quality ingredients and meticulous methods of manufacturing their product.
Their Main Differences
Company
Kirkland is a product of Costco Wholesale Corporation. This establishment is a membership-only chain of retail stores that sells luxury brands and other products. They do not have their own distillery, but private labels manufacture their liquors.
Kirkland Signature American vodka is made by LeVecke Corp, while Gayant Distillery manufactures Kirkland Signature French vodka. On the other hand, Grey Goose was manufactured by the Bacardi Group after they acquired it from Sidney Frank in 2004.
Taste
Kirkland brand frequently defeated Grey Goose brand, based on random blind taste tests results, according to Business Insider. Both have a silky, creamy, and smooth texture. But Kirkland’s have that extra viscosity [1], almost similar to white wine.
On the other hand, Grey Goose has been a favorite of many vodka enthusiasts because of its subtle sweetness and creaminess. A bottle contains a clean, crisp, smooth spirit from nose to palate.
Color
Like other vodka brands, Costco’s Kirkland spirit is colorless and clear. Kirkland American vodka and Kirkland French vodka are clear in color, the way any other spirit should be.
Grey Goose also has the same crystal clear spirit. These vodkas are carefully crafted to look like a traditional colorless, odorless, and supposed-to-be tasteless spirit.
Base Ingredients
The manufacturer produces Costco’s Kirkland blend with American heartland grains. On the other hand, Grey Goose’s recipe uses single-origin Picardy winter wheat sourced in the same neighborhood before sending it to Cognac for distillation. But how many times is Grey Goose vodka distilled?
However, Kirkland and Grey Goose use water from Gensac Springs in France’s Cognac region. The difference is that the latter have exclusive access to their private well.
Popularity
Kirkland brand vodka is very popular with Costco shoppers. It may be a cheap spirit, but based on Business Insiders, the rave reviews during the blind taste tests are chosen by many vodka enthusiasts.
Grey Goose relied on purely marketing when its then-maker, Sidney Franks, introduced it. Famous rappers and celebrities promoted it as a high-quality vodka using premium ingredients.
Read: Who Makes Kirkland Vodka?
Certificate of Label Approval
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau only approved one certificate for Costco’s Kirkland Signature vodka. It is issued to Le Vecke Corporation as the producer of this brand from Mira Loma, California.
On the other hand, Grey Goose was issued a certificate stating that all their products are from France. They also stated that they complete harvesting, milling, distillation, and bottling at their France facility.
Price Point
Some consider Kirkland a cheap product because it is a Costco vodka. However, Costco’s Kirkland vodka tastes very similar to what the Bacardi group was manufacturing.
The only thing is, a 1.75-liter bottle is priced three folds if you do not pick Kirkland’s. Bacardi’s product is not a cheap vodka, but you are basically paying someone’s fat salary for the same size bottle of Grey Goose.
Are There Any Similarities?
The similarities between the two vodkas are in their appearance and their flavors. Both have the same color because these spirits are supposed to be clear and colorless. Both taste creamy and sweet, which a lot of vodka drinkers like.
We can give credit to the ingredients that they are using. The water contributes highly to the texture, which is the same stuff they are using. However, spirits expert Fred Minnick said that vodkas are supposed to be tasteless.
Read: Will Vodka Evaporate?
FAQs
Why do people think Kirkland vodka and Grey Goose are the same?
People think that Kirkland and Grey Goose are the same because they use the same water source, influencing their spirits’ taste similarity.
Is Kirkland vodka considered top-shelf?
No, Kirkland is not considered a top-shelf spirit. It is a good vodka with a low price, but it is considered a bottom-shelf and discount product.
The Secret Is Out
So, everyone knows now that Kirkland vodkas are not the same as Grey Goose. Both have bottles of extraordinary quality, but the other is selling at a much lower price. As consumers, we have various bases in choosing when we buy vodka.
For the case of Kirkland vodka vs Grey Goose, many would pick Kirkland’s because it is easy for the pocket. But for some, spending a few bucks won’t be a problem as long as they get the smoothness and luxurious flavor notes of Grey Goose.
It all boils down to what your preferences are.
Reference:
- http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Tables/viscosity.html
Lydia Martin hails from Redmond, Washington, where you’ll find some of the best cocktail bars and distilleries that offer a great mix of local drinks. She used to work as a bar manager in Paris and is a self-taught mixologist whose passion for crafting unique cocktails led her to create Liquor Laboratory. Lydia can whip up a mean Margarita in seconds! Contact at [email protected] or learn more about us here.
