Review #694 - Kirkland Signature 15 Year Highland Single Malt Sherry Cask Finish
The Kirkland brand, widely available at Costco, is known for its reasonably priced whiskies, especially in the Scotch realm. They use independent bottler Alexander Murray and Co. to bottle their Scotch whiskies; AM&C sourced the single malt in this bottle from an undisclosed Highland distillery.
While we don't know which distillery this comes from, we do know that it was aged for 15 years in total. The first portion of that aging took place in ex-bourbon barrels, after which a finishing period of 9 months in Oloroso sherry casks was used to add a fruity influence to the spirit. In terms of 15 year age-stated single malts, this is as cheap as it gets ($55 here in the US) - how does the flavor stand up to that price?
Kirkland Signature 15 Year Highland Single Malt Sherry Cask Finish
Scotland/Highland - Single Malt
Price: USD 55 (2025)
Age Statement: 15 Years
Strength: 46% ABV
Cask Makeup: Ex-bourbon casks, finished in Oloroso sherry casks
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 10% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Fruity, with oranges and a bit of musty purple grape. It's relatively mellow overall; soft leathery oak builds with time, and we get a bit of vanilla from those bourbon casks. Time brings blackberry, and it's quite a rounded nose, lacking any sharp edges.
Palate: The mouthfeel is medium-thin. Prunes and blackberries lead the way, bringing that dark fruit from the sherry, and we do get a bit of oak spice from the extended maturation time. Starchy vanilla can be found as well; overall, it's a bit simple and mild.
Finish: Wood spice and hints of cinnamon; bread crust flavors bring back a bit of a malty side. The fruits have mostly died off now; it's a medium length finish.
Final Note: There's nothing really wrong with this single malt - no off notes, and the flavors are essentially exactly what we expected from a typical Highland single malt with a sherry finish. Our biggest issue with the bottle is the lack of complexity and the mildness of the flavors; overall, it was quite soft, a bit too mellow. Perfectly drinkable, just a tad bit dull at times.
Value is okay; for the age statement, it's hard to beat this price, but we also think there are younger whiskies in this price range that offer more in terms of actual flavor.
Our Average Rating: 5.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 5.79
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other reviews of 15 year Highland single malts:
Review #594 - SMWS 66.229 'Tarred and Re-Feathered' - Ardmore 15 Year
Review #575 - Oban 15 Year Cask Strength
Review #571 - Dalwhinnie 15 Year
Review #538 - GlenDronach 15 Year Revival (Pre-2015)
