Kirkland Vodka Selector
Which Kirkland Vodka Is Right for You?
Answer a few questions to find your best match between the French and American Kirkland Signature vodkas.
Your Recommendation
When you pick up a bottle of Kirkland Signature vodka at Costco, you’re not just buying a cheap drink-you’re grabbing one of the most talked-about spirits in the U.S. market. For under $13, you can walk out with a 1.75-liter bottle that rivals premium brands in blind tastings. But who’s actually behind the bottle? And why does one version cost nearly double the other? The answer isn’t simple, and it’s not what most people think.
Two Vodkas, Two Different Factories
Kirkland Signature vodka isn’t one product. It’s two. And they come from completely different places.
The first is Kirkland Signature French Vodka. Launched in 2018, this one is made at the Gayant Distillery in Douai, France. Gayant has been around since the 19th century and specializes in high-volume, high-quality spirit production. They use five-column stills, distilling the vodka five times-more than most premium brands. The water comes from the Cognac region, the same source used by Grey Goose. The result? A clean, smooth spirit with subtle citrus notes that hold up in cocktails and even taste good neat.
The second is Kirkland Signature American Vodka, introduced in 2020. This one is distilled in the United States, using American grains. But here’s the catch: Costco hasn’t named the distillery. It’s a private arrangement, common in the industry. What we do know is that it’s distilled six times, bottled at 80 proof, and labeled gluten-free. It’s cheaper-$12.99 for the same 1.75-liter size-and designed for mixing, not sipping.
Why the Price Difference?
The French version costs $19.69. The American version? $12.99. That’s a 34% gap for the same size bottle. Why?
It’s not just about where it’s made. The French vodka uses a more complex distillation process, higher-quality water sourcing, and a flavor profile that’s been fine-tuned through blind taste tests. In a 2023 tasting by Liquor.com, the French Kirkland vodka scored 92/100-tied with Ketel One and outperforming Belvedere. It cost less than half the price.
The American version scored 85/100. It’s not bad-it’s just simpler. It’s the kind of vodka you use in a Moscow Mule, a Screwdriver, or a Bloody Mary. It doesn’t need to shine on its own. And at $0.0074 per milliliter, it’s the cheapest decent vodka you can buy in bulk.
Grey Goose Has Nothing to Do With It
For years, rumors swirled that Grey Goose made Kirkland vodka. People said the water was the same. The distillation was similar. Maybe they were even made in the same place.
Grey Goose has been clear: “This viral claim is completely false.” Their official FAQ from January 2024 explicitly denies any connection. They distill once to preserve the character of their French winter wheat. Kirkland distills five times to strip out impurities and create neutrality. They’re philosophically opposite.
Yes, both use Cognac-region water. But that’s like saying two bakeries use the same flour-doesn’t mean they make the same bread. Grey Goose is about terroir. Kirkland is about efficiency and consistency. They’re not rivals-they’re different species in the same ecosystem.
What the Experts Say
F. Paul Pacult, the respected spirits reviewer and founder of Spirit Journal, gave the French Kirkland vodka a “Classic” rating-90 to 95 points. He wrote: “Five distillations create a remarkably clean spirit with just enough character to distinguish it from neutral grain spirits.”
Wine Enthusiast’s Kara Newman rated it 92 points in 2023, calling it “the smoothness expected from premium vodkas at half the price.”
On the other side, David T. Smith of The Whiskey Wash called the American version “one-dimensional,” but added, “for $12.99, it’s the most cost-effective option for large gatherings.”
Even mixologists have weighed in. The Bartender Atlas recommends using the American vodka only in cocktails with strong flavors-like those with at least 30% juice. Otherwise, the harsh aftertaste comes through. The French version? Use it straight, in martinis, or in simple sodas. It holds its own.
Real People, Real Tastings
Reddit’s r/cocktails ran a blind test in December 2023 with 87 participants. Nearly half-48%-couldn’t tell the difference between Kirkland French Vodka and Grey Goose. One user wrote: “I genuinely couldn’t tell the difference in a martini-Kirkland’s $20 price tag makes Grey Goose’s $33 seem ridiculous.”
On Trustpilot, the French vodka has a 4.6/5 rating from over 1,800 verified Costco buyers. Common phrases: “tastes like $40 vodka,” “no burn,” “perfect for parties.”
The American version? Mixed reviews. 3.2/5 on Beverage Ratings. Complaints: “harsh when sipped neat.” Praise: “I use it for 50 cocktails at a time and never run out.”
A Recall and a Fix
In July 2023, Costco recalled batches #A23-114 through #A23-147 of the American vodka. Less than 1% of bottles were affected-0.87%, to be exact. Customers reported off-flavors, described as “chemical” or “plastic-like.”
The FDA logged it as Recall #V-1142-2023. Costco didn’t make a big fuss. They just pulled the batches, worked with the distiller, and fixed the issue. By September 2023, Food Republic confirmed: “The issue has been remedied, and this vodka wasn’t bad.”
That’s the thing about private labels: they’re agile. If something goes wrong, they fix it fast. No PR team. No stockholders. Just Costco and their supplier.
Why It’s Winning the Market
In 2023, Costco sold 14.7 million liters of Kirkland vodka. That’s 3.7% of the entire U.S. vodka market. Sales grew 28% year-over-year-while the rest of the category barely moved at 1.2%.
That’s terrifying for brands like Absolut and Stolichnaya. In early 2024, Pernod Ricard (Absolut’s owner) cut their mid-tier prices by 8.5%. Their earnings call explicitly cited “competitive pressure from private label value propositions.”
Gayant Distillery is even expanding. In December 2023, they announced a €4.2 million investment to boost Kirkland French Vodka production by 35%. They’re running at 65% capacity just for Costco. That’s how much demand there is.
How to Buy It (Without a Membership)
You don’t need a Costco membership to buy alcohol in most states. That’s right. In 2023, Costco updated its policy: if you’re only buying liquor, you can walk in without a card. You just pay the cash price.
There are exceptions. Maryland and Pennsylvania don’t allow alcohol sales at Costco at all. If you live there, you’ll need to drive at least 78 miles on average to find it, according to Liquor.com’s 2024 analysis.
What’s Next?
Industry analysts predict Kirkland Signature vodka could hit 5.1% of the U.S. market by 2025. That’s more than Smirnoff. More than Tito’s. More than many national brands.
It’s not about prestige. It’s about value. People aren’t buying Kirkland because they think it’s fancy. They’re buying it because it’s smarter. You get 90% of the quality of a $30 vodka for $20-or 80% of the quality for $13.
And that’s why it’s not going away. It’s not a fad. It’s a shift. The days of paying premium prices for brand names are fading. The future belongs to brands that deliver real quality at real prices. Kirkland Signature vodka isn’t just a product. It’s a statement.
Is Kirkland vodka made by Grey Goose?
No. Grey Goose has repeatedly denied any connection to Kirkland Signature vodka. While both use water from the Cognac region, Grey Goose distills once to preserve flavor, while Kirkland French Vodka is distilled five times. They are made in different distilleries by different companies.
Which Kirkland vodka is better?
It depends on how you use it. The French version is smoother, more complex, and better for sipping or in simple cocktails like vodka sodas or martinis. The American version is cheaper and works well in mixed drinks with strong flavors, like margaritas or Moscow Mules, but has a harsher finish when drunk neat.
Why does Kirkland vodka taste different from other brands?
Kirkland French Vodka is distilled five times, which removes impurities and creates a clean, neutral base with subtle citrus notes. The American version is distilled six times and uses American grains, resulting in a simpler, more neutral profile. Most premium vodkas distill once or twice to preserve flavor, so Kirkland’s multiple distillations make it taste different-cleaner, but less character-driven.
Is Kirkland vodka gluten-free?
Yes, both the French and American versions of Kirkland Signature vodka are labeled gluten-free by Costco. Distillation removes gluten proteins, so even vodkas made from wheat, rye, or barley are considered gluten-free by FDA standards.
Do you need a Costco membership to buy Kirkland vodka?
No, you don’t need a membership to buy alcohol at Costco in most states. Since 2023, Costco allows non-members to purchase liquor without a membership card. The only exceptions are states like Maryland and Pennsylvania, where Costco doesn’t sell alcohol at all.
Has Kirkland vodka ever been recalled?
Yes. In July 2023, Costco recalled specific batches of the American vodka (A23-114 to A23-147) after a small number of customers reported off-flavors. The issue was fixed, and post-recall batches have been consistent. The recall affected less than 1% of production and was handled quietly by Costco and the distiller.
