US tequila maker León Y Sol to enter Nigerian market in 2026 as part of global expansion 

NIGERIA – California-based Tequila maker León Y Sol has revealed plans to launch in Nigeria early next year as part of its international expansion strategy.  

The move will mark the company’s first overseas entry, with further ambitions to enter the European market at a later stage. 

Speaking to Just Drinks, León Y Sol CEO and majority shareholder Bobby Marhamat said Nigeria presented a strong opportunity for growth due to the brand’s partnership with global record label Empire, which maintains an active presence in the country. 

According to Marhamat, Empire has been organically introducing León Y Sol’s products into Nigeria through music videos and events, creating momentum ahead of the official launch. 

January 2026 will mark the first time León Y Sol’s Tequilas will be formally available in Nigeria through both on- and off-premise channels.  

The company, established two years ago, currently produces Tequila Blanco and Reposado and recently introduced a non-alcoholic agave-based spirit known as NeQuila. For the Nigerian debut, the company will focus initially on its alcoholic Tequilas. 

Marhamat emphasized that León Y Sol’s additive-free approach has fueled consumer interest in Nigeria, especially as debates around the authenticity and purity of Tequila brands such as Casamigos and Don Julio continue.  

He noted that Nigerian consumers have shown demand for products marketed as genuinely authentic. 

NeQuila, described as “the first-ever Tequila that starts with real Tequila and is then artfully stripped of its alcohol,” launched for pre-order in the US earlier this month. The product is expected to become available in restaurants and retail outlets across the United States in early Q4 2025. 

León Y Sol is also targeting Amsterdam in the Netherlands as its entry point into Europe. Marhamat explained that the company has been developing NeQuila for nearly a year, aiming to differentiate it from other non-alcoholic spirits on the market by offering a product free from additives such as coloring and flavoring. 

In addition to its international expansion, the company remains focused on strengthening its footprint in the US. León Y Sol has recently launched in New York, Louisiana, and Las Vegas, with plans to expand into six additional central states before the end of the year. 

León Y Sol’s current product range includes Tequila Blanco, priced at US$69; Reposado, at US$89; and NeQuila, at US$49.  

The company also intends to launch a Cristalino Tequila in the fourth quarter of 2025, priced at US$129. All products are produced by third-party distillers in Jalisco, Mexico, with agave sourced from the company’s own farm in the region. 

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