From Teslaquila to Tesla Tequila - the full story

From Teslaquila to Tesla Tequila - the full story

Tesla Tequila is a real product that was actually launched by the car brand Tesla. Elon Musk, the visionary CEO of Tesla, is known for his ambitious projects and sense of humor. This humor led to an announcement on Twitter (now X) in October 2018 that left the world in awe: As an April Fool's joke, he tweeted a photo of himself with the message that he had been found unconscious leaning against a Model 3, surrounded by Teslaquila bottles.

Teslaquila, a tequila from Tesla, was supposed to come out of this joke. Two years later, this promise became a reality and Tesla Tequila appeared in the Tesla online store in a spectacular lightning-shaped bottle. Despite the hefty price of $250, the tequila sold out immediately.

In 2022, the second edition was released for $420 in a limited edition of only 420 bottles, each engraved with numbers from 1 to 420. These bottles are now being traded for well over €1,000. While Tesla Tequila is not available in Germany, at least the iconic bottle is now for sale.

In this article, we show you the funny origin story and how Elon Musk came to want to sell a tequila.

The Essentials

  • Elon Musk announced Tesla Tequila in 2018 following an April Fool's joke
  • In 2020, Tesla Tequila was released in a limited edition and sold out immediately
  • A second limited edition was released in 2022 for $420
  • The tequila is a real Mexican premium Añejo tequila
  • In Germany, only the empty bottle is available as a decanter

The Origin Story of Tesla Tequila

Tesla has often been critically viewed in the media, and every new electric car from another manufacturer was promptly labeled a "Tesla killer." The media wanted to communicate that Tesla would go bankrupt as soon as someone else launched an electric car.

Elon Musk, however, took these challenges with a great sense of humor. This is how the idea of launching a tequila under the Tesla brand with the tongue-in-cheek name "Teslaquila" came about.

The Name: Why Not Teslaquila?

The funny name Teslaquila could not be used. The Mexican Tequila Regulatory Council CRT has strict rules for the production and marketing of tequila and saw "Teslaquila" as a dilution of the name tequila. Tesla tried to save the name as a wordplay from "Tesla" and "Quila," but the CRT remained firm. So the tequila had to be simply called "Tesla Tequila." The product still came to market, even if not with the original funny name.

Is Tesla Tequila Real?

Yes, Tesla Tequila is indeed a real Mexican premium Añejo tequila. Made from 100 percent sustainably grown highland and lowland agaves, it ages for 15 months in French oak barrels. With an alcohol content of 40 percent, it promises a noble taste experience with aromas of dried fruits, vanilla, cinnamon, and pepper.

The Price of Tesla Tequila

A 750-milliliter bottle of Tesla Tequila cost a hefty $250 (about €211) in the pre-sale of the first edition. The entire batch was quickly sold out. In 2022, the limited second edition cost $420. Speculators are now trying to resell the bottles on eBay for multiples of the original price. The bottles are often offered for over $1,000 (€843). Tesla's Añejo tequila has thus become a real collector's item.

Fun Fact: The price and number of 420 are not chosen randomly. 420 seems to be Elon Musk's favorite number. Not only does the number stand for cannabis use, but Elon has also incorporated it into numerous Tesla products, such as the Model S price of $69,420.

Can You Buy Tesla Tequila in Germany?

Unfortunately, Tesla Tequila was only available to American customers in some selected states. German visitors to the US website received the disappointing message that the tequila is not available here. But for all fans, there is a small consolation: The lightning-shaped bottle is now also available in the German Tesla shop for €215 – but without content.

Elon Musk explained that the limited distribution of the tequila is due to laws on shipping alcohol across state borders. The logistical effort also plays a role. Europe will have to wait a bit longer. However, those who value an extraordinary piece of Tesla history can at least secure the iconic bottle and bring a piece of the Tesla feeling home.

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