What Company Makes Costco's Kirkland Brand Tequila?
If you're a Costco fan, you're there for the sale. The wholesale giant sells bulk groceries, electronics, clothes, and, luckily for us, booze. Costco offers its own private-label brand, Kirkland Signature, which includes a variety of alcoholic beverages, including tequila. These products are competitively priced and are usually a great bang for your buck when it comes to quality. Because of that, Costco has quickly become one of the largest retailers of wine and spirits.
But Costco keeps its cards close to its chest. The chain is known to keep its producers under wraps regarding Kirkland Signature branded alcohol. In the case of tequila, however, we know that Costco carries a blanco, a reposado, and an añejo tequila. Blanco tequilas do not age in wooden barrels but are rested in stainless steel tanks, offering a crisp, clean taste. Reposado and añejo tequilas, on the other hand, gain color and character from wood aging. Reposado tequilas age in wooden casks for two to 12 months, while añejo tequilas age in barrels anywhere between one and three years. But where exactly are the Kirkland Signature tequilas made?
Made in Mexico
According to Forbes, as of 2022, Kirkland Signature tequilas are made in the Santa Lucia Corporate Distillery in Tesistán, a town located northwest of Guadalajara. The tequila is made from 100% blue Weber agave and bottled in Mexico.
The corporate distillery is responsible for making several tequila brands, including 3 Fusiles, Amate, and Kirkland Signature. The recipe for each brand is different, but think of Santa Lucia as the primary chef. The distillery was tracked down using the NOM number 1173 printed on the tequila bottles. And just what is that crucial piece of information?
The NOM (Norma Oficial Mexicana) number is a regulatory designation assigned to tequila producers in Mexico. It is an official standard that ensures the quality and authenticity of tequila. The NOM number is prominently displayed on the label of each bottle of tequila. Consumers can use the NOM number to verify the legitimacy of a tequila brand. Consumers can confirm the producer by cross-referencing the NOM number with the official database website. In this case, for Kirkland Signature tequila, the NOM number 1173 is assigned to Santa Lucia. Mystery solved.
Smart consumers
It is important to know where our food comes from — if it was made in a lab or grown in the open air under the care of a reliable producer. The same goes for any alcohol. Wine bottles will generally tell you the countries and towns they come from, or there are specific codes to look for when reading hard alcohol labels.
When purchasing tequila, it's a good practice to check the NOM number on the label to understand more about the origin and production standards of the tequila you're interested in. Keep in mind that different tequila brands may be produced at the same distillery, so the NOM number provides insight into the producer rather than the brand.
Kirkland Signature has used other distilleries in the past for its tequila, including Fabrica de Tequilas Finos and La Madrileña in Tototlán. The only way to recognize these switches in production is by tracking the NOM number. And now that you're armed with producer information, go ahead and make that classic frozen margarita stress-free with your Kirkland Signature tequila.