The Challenges of Sourcing Quality Bulk Tequila
When sourcing in bulk to create a tequila brand or an RTD, ensuring the reliability and quality of supply is essential.
Mixto Definition
It is worth noting that Mexico does not export 100% Agave Tequila in bulk, and only Mixto is legally permitted for bulk export. Mixto must legally be produced from a fermentation substrate or ‘must’ containing no less than 51% blue agave sugars and a maximum of 49% non-agave sugars, the most common of which are cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup.
Import Regulations
The import regulations are also high on the list of challenges for sourcing bulk tequila. As with any other spirit, tequila is subject to specific import requirements, including licensing, taxes, and excise duties. Working through these complex rules and ensuring your product complies with them can consume a lot of time and be very costly. The cost of shipping is also potentially prohibitive. Freight for smaller quantities (anything less than 20,000 litres) is prohibitively expensive.
Certification
As mentioned above, ensuring the quality of bulk tequila is another factor to bear in mind. Tequila is produced according to stringent standards set by the CRT (Tequila Regulatory Council) in Mexico. This private, non-profit organisation certifies production, bottling, and labelling in accordance with the Official Mexico Standard of Tequila or ‘NOM’ (Norma Official Mexico). Even bulk exports destined for bottling in the country of consumption requires the bottler to be certified by the CRT. The CRT aims to promote and protect the location, climate and cultural traditions of a specific, delimited geographical area within Mexico. On the Mexican side, trying to navigate the CRT can be a minefield when trying to source directly.
Trusting a reputable supplier
Building a relationship with a reliable supplier who can consistently provide quality bulk tequila can also be challenging. Research, due diligence, and trial runs to guarantee the quality and consistency of product are unavoidable. A bulk tequila supplier can help ensure consistency when it comes to the spirit’s taste profile, aroma, and overall quality across large quantities. This is a major challenge due to a number of factors. The production of tequila relies on a steady supply of blue agave. These plants take 6-8 years to mature before they can be harvested. Agave is a very hardy plant, and irrigation is used where it is deemed essential. The primary challenge is the long crop cycle which makes matching future supply to future demand very difficult. This makes the supply chain very complex, and shortages can lead to price fluctuations. These factors make it especially important to choose a supplier who can source broadly and iron out the many potential differences.
Conclusion
To recap, bulk tequila can only be imported as Mixto. Getting hold of high-quality bulk Tequila in the UK poses a number of challenges, including consistent availability, import regulations, quality control concerns, supplier reliability, and cost considerations. Overcoming all of these requires extensive research, thorough due diligence, and establishing trustworthy relationships with reputable suppliers. By understanding and addressing these obstacles, businesses can enhance their chances of successfully sourcing premium tequila to meet the demands of the UK market.
