BUYING SMART: SPIRITS

COSTCO CONNECTION

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Tanqueray London Gin 1L Item 41953

When it comes to spirits, it’ s not just about age, it’ s also all about accumulated knowledge.”

talking thousands of new distilleries, many of them making small-scale, interesting bourbons,” says Drinks Adventure podcaster James Atkinson.“ That’ s led the big guys – the Jacks, the Jims, the Wild Turkeys – to innovate as well.”

Scotch is structured, with flavours that feel deliberate and harmonious, whether smoky, sweet, spicy or fruity, without any single note dominating.”

Whiskey

Whiskey – note the‘ e’ – typically denotes a spirit made in the style of triple-distilled Irish whiskeys. This results in a spirit lighter, cleaner and smoother to sip, making it an easier entry point into the whisky / whiskey world than, for example, a strongly flavoured, peaty single malt.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch Whisky 700ml

Item 12099

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Vodka

Vodka is classically distilled to be as clear and neutral as possible. This makes it an ideal blank canvas for cocktail makers, albeit without much charisma. Rather, look for purity.“ While there are distillation techniques that can draw out nuance, the actual individual differences between each vodka are pretty minor,” says James.

Whisky

Whisky is perhaps the spirit that’ s moved furthest from its former cliché as a drink for gentlemen in smoky, wood-panelled rooms, with James noting its broadening appeal to women and younger drinkers.

Kayla agrees.“ Technically, we know a good Scotch must be made in Scotland, aged for a minimum of three years and produced using specific methods, but beyond regulations, great whisky is about how all of its elements come together to play in the glass,” she says.“ A well-made

Gin

This classic spirit has evolved over the years – it’ s quick to make and requires only a neutral grain spirit that is then flavoured by juniper berries and other botanicals.“ Most gins should be able to work well in a gin and tonic,” says James.“ For a while there, gins just got a bit weird and extreme. Now people are reaching back for some of the tried-andtested, proven bottles.”

Rum

Rum’ s Australian history stretches centuries, from the Rum Rebellion to Queensland’ s Bundy Rum-producing canefields. It’ s now undergoing its own renaissance involving production techniques, such as cask finishing, drawn from whisky making.“ Rum is really versatile for mixing,” says James.“ White and dark rums can often be interchangeable in cocktails, although dark rum brings much more richness.”

Singleton 12YO Single Malt Scotch 1L Item 266035

BEN SMITHURST

is an outdoors, lifestyle and feature writer, plus a dad of two kids.

COSTCO CONNECTION JUL / AUG 2026 | 11