If you live in one of the states where Costco doesn’t sell alcohol, you may not have had the opportunity to check out the warehouse store’s lower-cost liquor. However, if you have had the option of perusing the boozy aisles of the store that Julia Child loved you may have wondered who’s distilling the spirits being sold with a Kirkland label. When it comes to the Kirkland Signature Vodka, one thing is for sure — it isn’t Grey Goose, which dispelled the myth that it either produces or privately labels the product.
There are two Kirkland Signature brand vodkas on the shelves at Costco — one is American, and one is French (because they really do taste different). The answer to the question of who makes the Kirkland Signature French Vodka lies right on the label. Distillerie de Gayant, owned by the family-run Terroirs Distillers, is listed as the bottler. The distillery’s location in northern France is not far from Grey Goose’s Picardy-based distillery, which could account for some similarity in the flavors of the two brands.
It’s a little harder to crack the code on Kirkland Signature American Vodka’s maker. That bottle’s label points to Fairmont Ltd. in Mira Loma, California, as the bottler. However, a Certificate of Label Approval/Exemption (COLA) from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau indicates that the Kirkland Signature brand of vodka is registered to LeVecke Corporation, also in Mira Loma, California, suggesting that Fairmont Ltd. may just be LeVecke’s trade name.
Read more: The Best American Vodkas, Ranked
Details About LeVecke Corporation
The company’s production of the Kirkland Signature American Vodka was also publicly confirmed in 2023 when its president, Joe LeVecke spoke out about the product following a recall due to flavor issues. Additionally, since LeVecke Corporation is the only business linked to Kirkland brand vodka in the COLA database, it’s possible that it is responsible for the distribution of the French vodka as well.
LeVecke Corporation is family-owned and has been in the business of wholesale distribution and bottling for over seven decades. With an eye on sustainability, the company forms partnerships with others that work hard to minimize pollution and also takes care to recycle and use recycled products.
The American vodka that Levecke makes is popular with consumers for reasons beyond its price point. Smooth and neutral, it can be served up straight or easily shaken or stirred into your cocktail of choice. It also comes in a large format (1.75 liters), so there’s no need to keep running back to the store for more.
In addition to the Kirkland Signature American Vodka, LeVecke is involved with the production of a wide array of alcoholic beverages including spirits, wines, beers, and ready-to-drink products. It’s also responsible for the Signature Eggnog Liqueur and Kirkland Signature Golden Margarita, both of which won SIP Awards in an international competition in 2024 alongside many of the company’s other products, including Kirkland Signature American Vodka.
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