Costco offers refunds for vodka after complaints

Wholesale retailer Costco has offered to reimburse customers who purchased Kirkland Signature American Vodka after some batches failed to meet “quality expectations”.

Following customer complaints on social media, which saw posters complain that their bottles of Costco’s Kirkland Signature American Vodka had a foul and off-putting chemical odour and flavour, with tasting notes of “diesel fuel” and “bathroom urinal puck,” the members-only retailer has acknowledged a ‘quality issue’ with certain batches.

Taking to social media site Reddit, one customer commented: “It’s terrible. Couldn’t get past the first sip. I knew it smelled off, but the taste was even worse. Never again.”

In a product information notice sent out to customers who purchased bottles of the vodka between 12 June and 10 August, the retailer wrote: “It has come to our attention that the taste profile of units marked with certain lot codes may not have met the expected profile normally consistent with this product.

“While not a food safety issue, this does not meet our quality expectations.”

Costco went on to say if customers had purchased a bottle from one of the 27 affected lot codes, they could return it to their local store for a full refund.

Costco provided the number of the Levecke Corporation in its statement for people to reach out to with questions concerning the vodka, confirming that it is the company behind Kirkland’s production.

While the reason for the flavour profile of the affected bottles has not been confirmed, one Reddit user who claimed to work at a Costco regional office said that rum might be to blame for the strange taste.

The alleged employee claimed that the affected vodka batches were transported in a container that wasn’t completely cleaned, so the drink took on some of the rum flavours.

According to a recent report by Research and Markets, the global vodka market is estimated to be worth US$40.25 billion by 2030.