What Brand Makes Costco's Kirkland Vodka?

Costco markets everything from baby formula to batteries under its private label, Kirkland. Over the years, Kirkland products have earned a reputation for being high quality and purchasable at a low price. One of the best examples of this is Kirkland Signature French Vodka, which for years faced rumors of being made by the high-end vodka brand Grey Goose. Considering Kirkland vodka costs less than half the price of Grey Goose, this seemed almost too good to be true, but maybe conceivable for a chain that can afford to lose money on every hot dog it sells. 

Costco sells two types of vodka under the Kirkland brand — French and American. While the latter has also received glowing reviews, the French vodka has earned cult status and led several sleuths looking for the company that makes it. 

Professionals have tasted it and discerned what kind of grain it may be made from, and Grey Goose even dropped a few hints about what goes into making it while clarifying that they have no connection to the Kirkland vodka. The label on the oversized Kirkland bottle attributes the vodka to the Distillerie de Gayant in Douai, France. The rabbit hole, however, goes deeper, and an air of secrecy continues to linger around the actual makers.

The company named on the back label of Kirkland French vodka bottle – Distillerie de Gayant – is a craft brand owned by the French-run company Terroirs Distillers, which has a portfolio of terroir-focused spirits from France and Scotland. Furthermore, Terroirs Distillers is part of Picard Vins & Spiritueux, which has everything from wine to tequila, as well as bitter and liqueur brands in its portfolio. None of these companies publicize a connection to Costco, and Kirkland doesn't appear in their list of brands. Distillerie de Gayant does claim that all its products are made only in France, using original recipes. Therefore, it appears that Kirkland Signature French Vodka, though not made by Grey Goose, is holistically French. 

While such secrecy may seem strange, several large retail chains have private or generic labels. Products sold under such labels are generally cheaper, like Trader Joe's pocketbook-friendly beers. Since the manufacturer could also be supplying to other, more expensive brands, they might not want their association with a retail chain's generic brand to be widely known. 

Kirkland Signature American Vodka's source is relatively easier to track down (as is the Kirkland tequila thanks to the transparent NOM code). During a product recall in 2023, after customers claimed its American vodka didn't taste as it should, Costco directed further questions to the LeVecke Corporation. The label on the bottle mentions Fairmont Ltd. but Fairmont is a trade name for the California-based LeVecke, which produces, bottles, and supplies several spirits brands.

The rumor that Kirkland's French vodka is made by Grey Goose has floated around for close to 20 years. The idea it was Grey Goose got so much attention that the French vodka brand posted a statement on its website discounting the viral claim. What it revealed about Kirkland Signature French vodka was interesting — that it possibly uses water from France's Cognac region and is made using wheat (vodka can be made from various grains, including wheat, corn, rye, and others).

Grey Goose also uses water from the Cognac region and sources it from its well in Gensac-la-Pallue. It also brought attention to the fact that Grey Goose is distilled only once to retain its natural flavors and that every part of the production process is done in France. Meanwhile, Kirkland French vodka is distilled five times, and Grey Goose claims their product is made with single-origin wheat. Kirkland's French Vodka doesn't make this claim, so for a brand that isn't Grey Goose, but, as one Redditor put it, "might as well be," it's one area GG feels like they have a marketing edge. However, going by what Distillerie de Gayant says about its products, it appears that the raw materials used in making Costco's French vodka, including the grain, are all sourced from within France.