Who Makes Kirkland Tequila in 2024: An In-Depth Look

Kirkland tequila has become wildly popular at Costco for its surprising quality and ultra-affordable price point. But who‘s actually producing this liquor juggernaut?

A Tequila Powerhouse: La Madrileña

While Americans may think of Kirkland as a Costco brand, its tequila expressions originate from one of Mexico‘s largest spirit producers, La Madrileña (or "The Woman from Madrid").

Founded in 1959, La Madrileña operates multiple distillery facilities in the core tequila-producing state of Jalisco. They have over 250 aging warehouses holding thousands of oak barrels at a time across over 580 acres of property.

As one of the pioneers in export tequila production, La Madrileña has long supplied liquor brands across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Costco‘s Kirkland label is just one of many.

This massive production capacity and history of catering to foreign brands is why Costco selected La Madrileña as their Kirkland tequila producer. They had the ability to meet Costco‘s high-volume demands at a competitive price point for the US market.

How Does Kirkland Tequila Compare?

While it won‘t stand toe-to-toe with artisanal brands, Kirkland tequila consistently earns praise for its quality and drinkability relative to other affordable tequilas in the $20-30 range.

"For a bottom-shelf liquor that costs less than twenty dollars, Kirkland’s tequila is shockingly good," writes spirits analyst Bill Jensen. "The reposado in particular provides nice oak complexity well beyond other low-cost mixing tequilas."

Rising Popularity of Value Brands

The high quality-to-price ratio has clearly attracted many converts in recent years. According to industry sales data:

• US tequila volume sales have risen 49% over the past 5 years.
• Value brands under $25 have grown 64%, significantly outpacing premium labels.
• Industry experts cite the growth in private labels like Kirkland as a key trend that has made tequila affordable as an everyday liquor.

"With producers like La Madrileña ramping up mass production capabilities while keeping costs low, brands tailored to retailers like Costco have completely changed buyer expectations around price in the tequila market," notes Stacey Morris in Forbes.

This value brand boom has in turn fueled the rise of tequila-based mixed drinks like margaritas that utilize lower-shelf spirits.

The Verdict: A Surprising Bargain

As both a spirits writer and Costa Rica resident where tequila culture abounds, I‘ve seen my share of tequila expressions at all price points. And I can conclusively say Kirkland is shockingly good for the price tag. The silver makes killer margaritas without breaking the bank. Meanwhile, the reposado sips smoothly neat or on ice for under $30.

So next time you need tequila for a party or just want to stock an affordable home bar, head to Costco and grab some Kirkland. You‘ll be thrilled that La Madrileña helps this brand overdeliver on quality and drinkability. ¡Salud!