The Casamigos & Don Julio Lawsuit You Might Already Be Part Of

If you bought Casamigos, Don Julio, Teremana, 818, Luna Azul, or Kirkland tequila, you may be eligible for cash compensation through a class action lawsuit. Independent lab testing found that these premium bottles—labeled as “100% Blue Weber Agave”—allegedly contain cane alcohol and cheaper substitutes instead. This isn’t just a taste preference issue. This is fraud. Here’s what you need to know about the lawsuit and your rights as a consumer.

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The Tequila Lawsuit — 7 Brands Named in Class Action Litigation

What Happened — Lab Testing Found False Labeling

Seven premium tequila brands are currently named in class action lawsuits alleging that their bottles do not contain 100% Blue Weber Agave as labeled. Independent laboratory testing found evidence of cane alcohol and cheaper alcohol substitutes in bottles marketed as premium, 100% agave products. The brands named include:

• Casamigos
• Don Julio
• Teremana
• 818 Tequila
• Luna Azul
• Kirkland (Costco brand)
• Other premium brands

Each of these bottles carries a label claiming “100% Blue Weber Agave.” That’s not marketing language. That’s a specific legal requirement under U.S. and Mexican law. If the bottle doesn’t contain exactly that, the company violated consumer protection law.

Why This Is Fraud, Not Just a Quality Issue

Here’s what most people misunderstand: This lawsuit isn’t about whether the tequila tastes good or bad. It’s about false advertising and consumer deception. When a company charges you $40, $50, or $60 for a bottle of tequila claiming it’s 100% Blue Weber Agave, you’re paying a premium price for a specific, expensive ingredient.

Blue Weber agave is expensive because:

• Growing time: Takes 5–10 years to mature;
• Harvest difficulty: Labor-intensive manual harvesting;
• Limited supply: Specific regions produce it;
• Production cost: Results in higher retail prices (premium pricing justified by the ingredient).

Cane alcohol, by contrast, is cheap and easy to produce. If companies are cutting corners by using cheaper cane alcohol while maintaining premium pricing and a “100% Agave” label, that’s fraud. Consumers paid premium prices for a specific ingredient they didn’t actually receive.

The Legal Framework — FTC Act Section 5 and Consumer Protection Laws

False Advertising Violates Federal Law

The legal claim in this lawsuit is straightforward: The companies engaged in deceptive practices that violate consumer protection law. Specifically, the FTC Act Section 5 makes it unlawful for any company to engage in unfair or deceptive practices in commerce. Deceptive practices include:

• False advertising: Making claims about product ingredients that are false;
• Misleading labels: Labeling products with false or misleading information about composition;
• Bait-and-switch: Selling a product under false pretenses to justify premium pricing.

In this case, tequila companies are accused of exactly this. The labels claim “100% Blue Weber Agave.” Independent lab testing suggests the bottles contain non-agave alcohol. That’s a direct violation of FTC regulations and state consumer protection statutes.

What Makes This Actionable Fraud

For a lawsuit to succeed, three things must be proven:

1. False statement: The label said “100% Agave” — ✓ proven by the label itself;
2. Consumer reliance: You bought the product based on that label — ✓ consumer purchases are evidence;
3. Injury: You paid a premium price for a product that doesn’t match the label — ✓ price difference between 100% agave and mixed alcohol products.

All three elements exist in this case. That’s why consumers are eligible to join the lawsuit.

Don Julio & Casamigos Lawsuit Update — September 2026 (No Ruling Yet on 3 Pending Cases)

Last updated: September 30, 2026. Short answer: the Casamigos and Don Julio lawsuits are still pending, no class has been certified, and no settlement or claims process exists yet. Anyone advertising a “Don Julio settlement payout” right now is getting ahead of the court.

Three Class Actions Against Diageo — Led by Pusateri v. Diageo North America

The lead case is Pusateri v. Diageo North America, Inc., pending before Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, with related suits in California and Florida. Together the cases seek more than $5 million in damages under the federal Class Action Fairness Act threshold. Diageo “categorically denies” the allegations.

• 2025: Three class actions filed alleging Casamigos and Don Julio “100% agave” tequilas contain non-agave alcohol, based on carbon isotope and SNIF-NMR lab testing;
• November 2025: Diageo moved to dismiss, calling the lab-testing theory “implausible”;
• May 6, 2026: Diageo asked the court to stay the cases until the motions to dismiss are decided;
• May 8, 2026: Plaintiffs filed their opposition to the stay;
• As of September 30, 2026: No ruling on the stay or the motions to dismiss, no class certification, and no settlement.

Teremana, Kirkland, 818 and Lunazul — Separate Lawsuits Filed

The Diageo cases only cover Casamigos and Don Julio. Other brands face their own lawsuits, each on its own timeline:

• Teremana: Filed April 3, 2026 in Illinois federal court against Siete Bucks Spirits (Tomescu v. Siete Bucks Spirits); it alleges consumers paid at least $11 — about 58% more — per bottle for “100% agave,” “small batch” and “handcrafted” claims;
• Kirkland Signature (Costco): Separate class action alleging “100% de Agave” tequilas contain alcohol from non-agave sugars;
• 818 Tequila: Separate class action challenging its 100% agave labeling;
• Lunazul: Separate class action on similar agave-content allegations.

What happens next: if Judge DeArcy Hall denies the motions to dismiss, the Diageo cases move into discovery, where plaintiffs can demand Diageo’s production and sourcing records. If the motions are granted, plaintiffs typically get a chance to amend. Either way, a settlement claims process is unlikely before 2027. Hagens Berman, one of the plaintiffs’ firms, tracks the case on its Casamigos & Don Julio case page.

How to Protect Your Rights — What You Should Do Now

Step 1 — Gather Documentation of Your Purchases

If you purchased any of the named tequila brands, start documenting it. You don’t need perfect records, but proof is important when the settlement arrives. Look for:

• Receipts: Store receipts from liquor stores or online purchases;
• Credit card statements: Look for charges to liquor stores or online retailers;
• Bank statements: Any transactions showing you bought the product;
• Photos or labels: If you still have the bottles, photos of the labels help;
• Witnesses: Anyone who can confirm you purchased the product.

You don’t need to have every receipt. Class actions often allow consumers to make a reasonable claim based on available records. But having at least some documentation strengthens your claim when you submit it.

Step 2 — Do NOT Throw Away Your Bottles (If You Have Them)

If you still have any of these bottles, keep them. They’re evidence. If the case goes to trial or settlement, physical bottles with the “100% Agave” label are crucial proof that you relied on the false labeling.

Step 3 — Monitor the Case and File Your Claim When Settlement Arrives

The lawsuit is ongoing. When (and if) a settlement is reached, the court will establish a claims process. At that point, you’ll need to file a claim proving you purchased the product. That’s when your documentation matters.

You don’t need to do anything right now to “join” the class. Being a consumer who purchased the product automatically makes you eligible. But when the settlement period opens—which could be months or years away—you’ll want to file your claim. That’s when having records helps.

Step 4 — Consult with a Consumer Protection Attorney

If you have questions about whether you’re eligible or what to expect, call a consumer protection attorney. The initial consultation is typically free. An attorney can advise you on your specific situation and help you file a claim when the time comes.

Frequently Asked Questions