What Company Makes Costco's Kirkland Brand Vodka?

Costco has a bit of a cult following, with devotees of the members-only wholesale club swearing by its in-house selections. From the chain's much-loved Kirkland brand bottled water to its food court hotdogs and pizza slices, there is seemingly nothing that Costco can't produce (and in bulk). Two of the most beguiling and beloved of its products are the bulk retailer's Kirkland brand vodkas. Among the store's most popular products, these bottles are also the subject of one of Costco's most persistent rumors. For many years, word has spread that Costco's vodka is manufactured by none other than Grey Goose.

However, this is simply not the case. Even so, rumors have persisted to the point that Grey Goose had to post a thorough debunking of the rampant speculation, indicating that it is not, in fact, the brand behind Kirkland's clear spirits. And though Costco is relatively tight-lipped regarding many of the brands behind its Kirkland label, there are a few things that we do know about Kirkland vodkas.

For one, Costco hasn't officially announced the exact company behind Kirkland's vodkas. However, we do know that the brand's imported French vodka is bottled by Gayant Distillery in Douai, France  (a northern city not far from the Belgian border), and transported to Costco locations via Misa Imports in Texas. Kirkland American vodka, meanwhile, is made by the California-based LeVecke Corporation, one of the largest producers of spirits globally.

Although we know that Kirkland brand vodkas are not made by Grey Goose, the core of these rumors reveals the quality level behind the booze. Grey Goose is one of the best vodkas on the market right now, after all, and both Kirkland's American vodka and its French counterpart have come out on top in blind taste tests.

Kirkland's vodkas, like many Kirkland products, have a cult following among Costco members, with numerous shoppers praising the spirits' clean, high-quality taste. And it doesn't hurt that Costco's Kirkland products are often much more affordable than their name-brand counterparts. Their relatively low price point offers yet another benefit to Kirkland brand vodkas and Kirkland brand products in general. Beyond their low price points, Kirkland's vodkas are also, like many of Costco's offerings, sold in bulk sizes, combining quality with quantity to give customers the most bang for their buck while also providing the best possible quality product.

But this is not to say that Costco's Kirkland brand vodkas are without fault. In fact, in 2023, the American version of the cult favorite product was the subject of some controversy among Costco customers. Users on Reddit complained about the vodka's change in taste, calling out its "horrible" odor and taste. In response to these complaints, Costco wound up pulling its Kirkland brand American vodka sold between June 12, 2023, and August 10, 2023, from store shelves. Additionally, the retailer offered refunds to customers who purchased the vodka during this time.

No official cause for the vodka's change in taste and smell was revealed, however. But Costco is still selling its Kirkland brand vodkas, and the change in taste and smell in the product appears to have been a temporary blip. Luckily, Kirkland vodkas remain some of the brand's most popular products, and now we're one step closer to knowing who to thank for the cult favorite items.