The history of the Sazerac Company
The Sazerac Company boasts a rich history that traces back to the 1630s, starting with the establishment of a distillery in the Cognac region of western France. In the late 18th century, Bernard Sazerac de Forge began producing Sazerac Cognac, a highly esteemed spirit that eventually made its way to New Orleans, paving the way for the creation of the Sazerac cocktail, a mixed drink reminiscent of an old fashioned.
In 1900, the Sazerac Company secured a trademark for the cocktail, which was subsequently recognized as the official cocktail of New Orleans. However, in the 20th century, the original cognac in the Sazerac cocktail was substituted with Sazerac rye whiskey due to a shortage of brandy and cognac caused by a pest outbreak in French vineyards.
Today, Sazerac operates several distilleries around the globe, including locations in France, Canada, India, the historic Sazerac House in New Orleans' French Quarter, and the award-winning Buffalo Trace bourbon distillery in Kentucky. Sazerac is also the exclusive seller and distributor of Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon, a rare bourbon that some fortunate Costco shoppers have purchased at half the usual price. Other products from Sazerac include Southern Comfort Whiskey, Fireball Whiskey, Eagle Rare Bourbon, Parrot Bay Rum, and Corazón Tequila.
Other favorite Kirkland spirits
Kirkland spirits are typically praised for their quality-to-price ratio, with some even receiving prestigious accolades. For instance, Kirkland's Spiced Rum earned a bronze award at the International Spirits and Wine Competition (ISWC) in 2019. The ISWC is a global competition for wines and spirits, judged by a panel of seasoned tasters, including master distillers and industry leaders. Tasting notes for Costco's rum highlight its "spices on the nose, hot and spicy on the palate, and a nicely balanced profile" (via ISWC).
Another well-known Costco spirit, Kirkland Signature Silver Tequila, also secured a bronze award at the IWSC in 2019. While the exact producer of Kirkland's Silver Tequila is not definitively confirmed, it is listed as being produced by the Sazerac Company on the ISWC website. However, it is known that other Kirkland tequilas have been bottled by Corporate Distillery Santa Lucia, located in Tesistán, northwest of Guadalajara.
Additionally, Kirkland Signature Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon, which is bottled at Sazerac's Barton 1792 distillery in Kentucky, received a bronze award at the ISWC in 2022. The Barton 1792 Distillery, situated in Bardstown, Kentucky—the heart of the bourbon industry—was established in 1879 and acquired by Sazerac in 2009. It is evident that Sazerac has significantly contributed to the strong reputation of Costco's liquor offerings.
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