Kirkland Signature 15 Year Highland Sherry Cask Finish

Review by: zSolaris

Distillery: Undisclosed.

Bottler: Alexander Murray & Co for Costco.

Region: Highland.

Age: 15 Year.

ABV: 46.0%.

Cask Type: Sherry cask finish..

Price: ~$53.

Color: 1.5, Auburn/Polish Mahogany.

This is the 1st installment of this years’ Christmas Countdown. You can check out previous editions as well (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022).

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Nose: It’s a bit boozier than expected. Cherry liqueur is the main note along with a some coffee grounds from a lighter roast. A bit of marzipan wraps things up.

Palate: Things are a bit weak here, though fairly easy to drink. As the color suggests, you do get a a lot of sherry from the start. Golden raisins are perhaps the biggest note. After letting it sit on the tongue for 20-30 seconds, some notes of very dark cherries and marzipan come out as well.

Finish: Pretty short. You get a hint of sherry and a hint of marzipan and that’s about it.

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Conclusion: I’ve reviewed a number of Costco’s Kirkland Signature scotch whiskies at this point. They seem to have found a formula with Alexander Murray to deliver fairly good-for-value whiskies, even if they are a bit predictable. This 15 year old Highlander seems to be a continuation of that. For the price, I would be hard pressed to find something anymore that delivers better on the value proposition. The flavors are ultimately quite pleasant, it even has a bit more complexity than just being a big dumb sherry bomb, though it is a bit weak. If this was bottled a touch higher, perhaps at 50% ABV instead of the 46%, I have to wonder how it would have done. A bit more punch and this might have been legitimately quality stuff rather than just being quite decent and value driven.

Rating: 79.

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
• 50-59: Save it for mixing.
• 0-49: Blech.