Once again, a popular item from Costco is falling from grace. Months after Costco customers complained of a "chemical flavor" in the store's rotisserie chicken, they've now noticed that Kirkland Signature American Vodka also has a strange taste.
Compared with the rotisserie chicken, customers have been a lot more colorful in their descriptions of the vodka. In a recent Reddit thread titled "What is going on with the Kirkland brand of Vodka?," someone said that it "tasted like #2 diesel fuel."
And in another Reddit thread calling out the vodka, one person said the spirit now tasted like lighter fluid. Another customer added that the taste was "Not exactly a toothpaste aftertaste, possibly more of a bathroom urinal puck vibe."
The complaints have apparently become so bad that Costco issued an email to customers who purchased the vodka, saying that they can receive a refund.
"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," read the email, which was shared on Reddit.
Although Costco has not offered any information on why certain bottles of the vodka have a strange taste, a handful of people on Reddit have claimed that contamination from rum is to blame.
"What I've heard is that some lots had to be pulled because of cross contamination with rum. Apparently some vats weren't completely cleaned after having rum in it. So now we have Kirkland Limited Edition Pirate Vodka," said one commenter.
"What happened I hear is that the vodka was transported in containers that previously held rum. Which weren't properly cleaned after transporting rum," another added.
As long as this gets resolved in time for our Labor Day cocktails.
