Costco using refunds on Kirkland vodka following grievances over taste, smell

( NEXSTAR)-- Costco has actually removed multiple lots of its popular Kirkland-brand vodka from racks in the middle of accusations that the spirit is leaving a bad taste in clients' mouths.

In an e-mail sent to consumers last week (and shared to Reddit), Costco admitted that current batches of Kirkland Signature American Vodka offered in between June 12 and Aug. 10, 2023, did not fulfill the business's standards for quality.

" It has actually come to our attention that the taste profile of units marked with certain lot codes may not have actually met the anticipated profile normally constant with this product," reads a declaration shared with Nexstar, and also included in the email. "While not a food security problem, this does not satisfy our quality expectations."

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The email appeared to show that Kirkland Signature American Vodka bearing any of 27 various lot codes was affected by the quality issue. (An agent for Costco did not provide the affected lot numbers in a preliminary declaration shown Nexstar.).

The big-box merchant is also offering refunds for purchases of Kirkland Signature American Vodka bearing those lot codes, according to the email.

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Costco is offering refunds of its Kirkland Signature American Vodka after identifying a "quality" issue with specific batches. (Getty Images).

Costco acknowledged its sub-standard vodka batches recently, after consumer complaints began circulating on social networks. One consumer who grumbled on Reddit said the vodka "tasted terrible" while others alleged it was "hardly drinkable" and had a "awful" smell.

Oddly enough, more than a few consumers declared the vodka had tasted like a "vitamin" or a multivitamin.".

One Reddit user who determined themselves as a Costco staff member, on the other hand, declared that the issue was caused by the vodka being polluted with tips of rum "due to a container not being entirely cleared prior to it was utilized for vodka during transportation.".

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In its declaration to Nexstar, Costco did not divulge any reasoning for the recent quality issue impacting Kirkland vodka, but verified all affected lots were removed from sale.

" All of the particular lot codes are not in the market," Costco's statement concludes.