Costco offers full refunds to people who purchased store-brand vodka in the past two months

National wholesaler Costco recently offered customers who bought certain lots of its store-brand Kirkland Signature American Vodka a full refund after receiving complaints about the taste.

In an email from the company to customers posted on Reddit, Costco offered a refund on the alcohol, specifically the product sold from Jun. 12 to Aug. 10.

“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 wrote.

Consumers were instructed to return the bottles to their local Costco for a full refund.

The applicable lot codes, found on the bottom of each bottle, are 23-0942, 23-0944, 23-0953, 23-0956, 23-0966, 23-0973, 23-0976, 23-0979, 23-0985, 23-0988, 23-1030, 23-1058, 23-1037, 23-1042, 23-1044, 23-1048, 23-1059, 23-1060, 23-1068, 23-1069, 23-1075, 23-1076, 23-1072, 23-1081, 23-1078, 23-1080 and 23-1079.

Costco did not specify what might have caused the bad taste. Another Reddit user commenting on a post regarding the vodka in late July claimed to work for the company’s regional office and alleged that an incompletely cleaned container had left the aftertaste of rum in the affected vodka.

The refunded lots have also been taken out of stores and are no longer for sale, Costco told Nexstar Media. Kirkland Signature American Vodka is made by LeVecke Corp.

In a statement to The Washington Times, LeVecke Corp. President Joe LeVecke dispelled the rum rumors and explained that “there was a small amount of specific batches that had a slight variation in the profile.”

“This was an isolated issue in June that affected only the lots specified on the notice to Costco Members and was corrected quickly.  Only bottles with the specified lot codes are available for returns.  It was not a food safety issue. The liquid was not rum, nor was the variation derived from a tank that was previously filled with rum. It was solely a flavor profile variation and the vodka is safe for consumption. All affected lot codes were quickly replaced in the market with product Costco Members have grown to trust,” Mr. LeVecke continued.