Elon Musk’s $250 Tesla tequila April Fool’s joke sells out in hours

Nosotros tequila typically costs less than $50

A 750ml bottle of Tesla Tequila costs $250 (Tesla)

Tesla has branched out from making electric vehicles and batteries to start a new line in tequila – and it’s already sold out.

The new venture stems from a controversial April Fool’s joke made by Elon Musk in 2018 that he was drowning his sorrows in “Teslaquila” after his company had gone “bankwupt!"

In a series of tweets two years ago, Mr Musk wrote: “We are sad to report that Tesla has gone completely and totally bankrupt. So bankrupt you can’t believe it.”

He added: “Elon was found passed out against a Tesla Model 3, surrounded by ‘Teslaquila’ bottles, the tracks of dried tears still visible on his cheeks. This is not a forward-looking statement, because, obviously, what’s the point?”

Mr Musk recently revealed that Tesla was in fact close to bankruptcy around that time as it struggled to meet targets for its Model 3 electric car.

Tesla has since grown to become the world’s most valuable car company and has gained a cult-like status among owners and electric car fans, which likely boosted the sales of the tequila.

The lightning bolt-shaped bottle is listed on Tesla’s website for $250 and was only available to people in the US. Customers were limited to buying just two bottles each, yet within hours of going it sale it was already out of stock.

The 40 per cent spirit is described as a “sipping tequila” on the website.

“Introducing Tesla Tequila, an exclusive, small-batch premium 100 per cent de agave tequila añejo made from sustainably sourced highland and lowland agaves,” the listing states.

“Aged for 15 months in French oak barrels and into a hand-blown glass bottle, Tesla Tequila features a dry fruit and light vanilla nose with a balanced cinnamon pepper finish.”

The tequila itself is produced by California firm Nosotros Tequila, which typically sells bottles for less than $50.

The extra aging and the hand-blown bottle – together with the Tesla branding – is what appears to justify the premium price tag.