I was at my local Costco yesterday (Northern California) and saw, to my amazement, Macallan 18 year scotch with a Kirkland label. It was $59.99 per bottle. Just to put it into perspective, Macallan 18 (distilled and bottled by Macallan) is about $150 per bottle.
Costco has done this before. Earlier in the year, they had a 19 year old Macallan with their label on it. Many reviewed it quite favorably to the Macallan labeled variety.
This particular scotch is finished in sherry casks. From what I've read, Macallan often has surplus of liquid which they sell. A third party likely did the bottling for Costco.
Macallan distills the very best single malt Scotch whiskies, particularly if you are looking for a classic Highland Scotch whiskey. IMO, the 18 year old is a sweet spot in the Macallan line in terms of price and quality. The 12 year old is cheaper, but less refined, while the 25 year old is much more expensive but only minimally better (I own all three maturities of Macallan).
This is a great price if it is true 18 year old single malt Macallan. However, the Kirkland label on the bottle somehow detracts from the cachet of this outstanding Scotch whiskey. If you can get beyond that issue, then this is a great deal.
Edit: Not available at Costco's in Virginia due to state law.
This is a good deal, but it may not be the same EXACT as the real whiskey. The distilleries sell their batches that don't come out PERFECT to other labels. Again, good price for an 18 year, but you're not really getting the Macallan quality whiskey.
This is true. If a distillery is dissatisfied with a batch of their whiskey, it is sold to companies that blend the whiskey with other imperfect batches from other distilleries to make blended Scotch whiskey. This is where Chivas and Dewar's blended whiskies (among many others) come from. The distilleries are getting rid of their "bad" whiskey which is repackaged and sold under another name.
I would think that if Macallan allowed its name to be used on this whiskey being sold at Costco, it is probably very close in taste to real 18 year old Macallan of the same vintage. However, I still wonder why Macallan, a premier distiller of Scotch whiskey, is selling its whiskey through Costco.
em3ti8 said:This is a good deal, but it may not be the same EXACT as the real whiskey. The distilleries sell their batches that don't come out PERFECT to other labels. Again, good price for an 18 year, but you're not really getting the Macallan quality whiskey.
msgodec said:Macallan distills the very best single malt Scotch whiskies.
That's one opinion. Do a little more sampling and you might discover some more sophisticated options beyond the Macallan ho-hum mainstream taste.
msgodec said:This is a great price if it is true 18 year old single malt Macallan. However, the Kirkland label on the bottle somehow detracts from the cachet of this outstanding Scotch whiskey. If you can get beyond that issue, then this is a great deal.
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I own over 50 single malt Scotch whiskies, several of which are not available in this country, with maturities up to 75 years. I've been on the Whiskey Trail in Scotland on several occasions and I have visited a couple dozen of the distilleries.
Most connoisseurs of single malt Scotch whiskies would agree that Macallan is probably the premier Highland (Speyside) single malt Scotch whiskey, though everybody has their own taste. I particularly enjoy 21 year old Springbank, a Campbeltown Scotch whiskey, and I like it more than Macallan. My comments are for anyone who is interested in trying single malt Scotch whiskey. You can't go wrong with Macallan.
With regard to the label, of course it makes no difference to the taste of the whiskey. However, the distilleries of single malt Scotch whiskies go to great effort to present their product in truly beautiful bottles, often with elaborate boxes. I think Macallan has a particularly elegant label and bottle throughout its line. The packaging adds to the attractiveness of the product, and the distilleries know it. If you prefer drinking your whiskey from a dirty bottle with a torn label, feel free.
Fauntleroy said:msgodec said:Macallan distills the very best single malt Scotch whiskies.
That's one opinion. Do a little more sampling and you might discover some more sophisticated options beyond the Macallan ho-hum mainstream taste.
msgodec said:This is a great price if it is true 18 year old single malt Macallan. However, the Kirkland label on the bottle somehow detracts from the cachet of this outstanding Scotch whiskey. If you can get beyond that issue, then this is a great deal.
LOL. Trader Joe's has the same Macallan 18 yr trick for $40+. Don't remember the exact price but it wasn't as good as the regular Mac 18. Costco normally has the Glenmorengie 18 for $56. That's a better 18 yr scotch.
I'm not sure I understand the relevance of your comments. You just seem pissed off and angry.
No one has to spend alot of money to enjoy a single malt Scotch whiskey, and the deal the OP presents is a way to buy Macallan at a very good price. It's an outstanding single malt Scotch whiskey. If you prefer something else, that option is always available.
This is probably the best solution to the problem of the Kirkland label. Everyone's satisfied.
luv2ctheworld said:I'm tempted to get a bottle of this and pour it into my near empty Macallan. Cheap, yes, but technically I'm still serving my friends a fine Macallan.
msgodec said:Macallan distills the very best single malt Scotch whiskies, particularly if you are looking for a classic Highland Scotch whiskey. IMO, the 18 year old is a sweet spot in the Macallan line in terms of price and quality. The 12 year old is cheaper, but less refined, while the 25 year old is much more expensive but only minimally better (I own all three maturities of Macallan).
This is a great price if it is true 18 year old single malt Macallan. However, the Kirkland label on the bottle somehow detracts from the cachet of this outstanding Scotch whiskey. If you can get beyond that issue, then this is a great deal.
Edit: Not available at Costco's in Virginia due to state law.
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