BrewDog Unveils First Tequila; Quickly Accused of Knocking Off Fellow UK-Based Spirits Brands

(Photo: BrewDog)

Scottish producer BrewDog Distilling Co. is adding to its expansive, occasionally controversial spirits catalog with a new blanco tequila.

Made in partnership with the acclaimed Orendain family of Jalisco, Casa Rayos is said to combine hearty flavors of lime, orange zest and spicy black pepper into a budget-friendly $40 package. In addition to beer, BrewDog produces the likes of whisky, vodka, gin, rum and pre-mixed cocktails.

However, within a day of unveiling its latest spirit, BrewDog was accused of ripping off its bottom-heavy, light-blue bottle design from Scottish distiller Lind & Lime.

“First, I thought Lind & Lime Gin was on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch over the weekend,” said Ian Stirling, co-founder of the brand in a press release.

“Then I realized it wasn’t Lind & Lime. It’s a knock-off. Finally, I discovered it’s a tequila bottled by a fellow Scottish company called BrewDog. And that really ruined my weekend. I know we are all inspired to some extent by other brands, but this crosses that line with two middle fingers waving merrily in the air.”

Lind & Lime Gin, established in 2017. (Photo: Lind & Lime)

Hours after Stirling’s statement, BrewDog was separately accused of appropriating its name from London-based tequila brand El Rayo. The “Rayo” in both names pays homage to the legend of the lightning bolt; in Aztec folklore, the first agave spirit was created when a fiery bolt thundered a Blue Weber agave plant into boozy pulp.

“I liked Brewdog, (I even invested in them!) and felt that up until recently they generated often unwarranted negative press,” said El Rayo founder Jack Verecker. “Those opinions, as is hopefully obvious, have now changed significantly. If anyone is looking to buy any BrewDog shares at a significant discount then please get in touch.”

El Rayo Tequila, established in 2019. (Photo: El Rayo)

Neither Lind & Lime nor El Rayo have indicated any legal action in response.

Last year, BrewDog was threatened with a lawsuit from Scotland-based Jump Ship Distillery after the brand teased a “Shore Leave” IPA that appeared to mimic Jump Ship’s flagship product. Months prior, BrewDog was embroiled in a failed Willy Wonka-esque gold beer can promotion that saw CEO James Watt pay $500,000 out of pocket to customers.

BrewDog — valued at around $2 billion — claims to be the “#1 Craft Brewer in Europe.” Since its founding in 2007, the company has established over 100 brick-and-mortar bar locations, been featured in its own TV show and expanded worldwide thanks to a deal with Budweiser.

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