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Lawsuit Alleges Costco's Kirkland Tequila Falsely Advertised as 100% Agave
15 Nov
Summary
- Lawsuit claims Costco's Kirkland tequilas contain non-agave ethanol
- Testing found tequilas had material amounts of sugar, disqualifying them as tequila
- Lawsuit seeks damages for consumers who paid premium prices for 100% agave tequila
On October 31, 2025, a class action lawsuit was filed against Costco in the Southern District of Florida, alleging the company falsely advertised its Kirkland brand tequilas as being made with 100% Blue Weber agave. According to the lawsuit, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance testing confirmed the tequilas contained material amounts of sugar and ethanol not derived from agave plants, meaning they did not qualify as authentic tequila.
The lawsuit claims Costco is violating both Mexican and U.S. laws by selling adulterated tequila products. Under Mexican law, tequila must be made from at least 51% blue agave, with 100% blue agave tequilas considered higher quality. The lawsuit alleges Costco's tequilas contained ethanol from other sources, in violation of these regulations.
Consumers who purchased the Kirkland tequilas under the belief they were 100% agave-based may be entitled to damages, as the lawsuit states they "would not have purchased the products or would have paid less for them" had they known the truth about the ingredients. Costco has not yet responded to a request for comment from USA TODAY as of November 14, 2025.
