Patrón has entered the cristalino tequila market for the first time which the brand has declared additive free.

In what looks like a mirror movement of wine some 50 years ago, agave spirits are finding their feet in unlikely quarters, finds Shay Waterworth.

Having worked for three decades as head distiller of Diageo’s Don Julio, maestro tequilero Enrique de Colsa has partnered with The Lost Explorer to create its first tequila line.

Pernod Ricard has unveiled a new range of infused tequilas, Altos Infusionado, marking the brand’s most significant launch since its conception.

Formula One champion and entrepreneur Lewis Hamilton, alongside agave expert and Casa Lumbre co-founder and master distiller Iván Saldaña, have unveiled Almave, the inaugural distilled non-alcoholic blue agave spirit.

Don Julio producer Diageo, has announced two regenerative agriculture programmes across its tequila and Scotch brands in Mexico and Scotland.

London Agave bar Hacha, is bringing back its nationwide competition to find Britain’s best Tequila and Mezcal Cocktails, with the grand finale taking place on 18 September.

Former Big Brother contestants, Sukhvinder and Imran Javeed, have founded a new tequila brand called Sphynx. 

While they put a focus on the spirit, some experts believe the explosion of brands backed by famous faces does the category and quality expectations no favours.

Created with tequila mixology in mind, Neurita has entered the category with its Citrus and Rosa expressions.

Nobu has collaborated with QUI Tequila to launch a limited-edition aged tequila available for both on and off-trade sales.

This March, 818 Tequila, owned by model and entrepreneur, Kendall Jenner, has arrived in the UK. 

As the Patrón Perfectionists global final event approaches, Patrón tequila has unveiled the panel of judges travelling to Hacienda Patrón, Jalisco, Mexico, from 24 to 30 March 2023.

Brands Report 2023: Tequila

05 January, 2023

It’s a more competitive field than many, even if the winner remains the same as it has for the past eight years.

Islay Scotch brand Smokehead has announced the launch of a new single malt that has been finished in tequila casks.

Strengthening its agave portfolio, Pernod Ricard has announced the signing of an agreement for the acquisition of a majority shareholding of Código 1530 Tequila, a range of ultra-premium tequila.

Premium tequila brand Cazcabel has announced that its $37million distillery is set to open in Atotonilco El Alto in the Jalisco highlands of Mexico in 2023.

A recent report by Allied Market Research has shown that the global tequila market garnered $12.89 billion in 2021, and is estimated to generate $24.19 billion by 2031.

Proximo Spirits has undergone a brand relaunch for its 1800 Tequila range, revamping its packaging design in EMEA and APAC markets for its Silver, Coconut, Anejo & Reposado skews. 

23 May, 2022

Rooster Rojo Tequila, the premium spirits brand owned by the fast-growing global beverage powerhouse, Amber Beverage Group, has announced the next stage in the development of its ‘SIP DON’T SLAM’ advertising campaign, which was first rolled out earlier this year. 

Super-premium tequila brand Mijenta, has launched Mijenta Reposado Tequila, the second UK launch from the brand following the release of Mijenta Blanco Tequilla in June 2021.

Diageo has announced the acquisition of super-premium flavoured Tequila brand 21 Seeds.

Brands Report 2022: Tequila

11 January, 2022

The glow up that the tequila category has undergone in recent years must be the envy of the wider spirit world.

Tiempo Tequila has debuted its first limited-edition batch of Reposado Cristalino Tequila in the UK.

Amber Beverages will launch the first new tequila from Fabrica de Tequilas Fino in the UK after the group’s recent acquisition of the distillery in Jalisco, Mexico.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has announced the launch of an añejo expression if his Teremana tequila range.

Tequila brand Volcan De Mi Tierra has launched its Blanco and Cristalino expressions in the UK.

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's Teremana Tequila has revealed the “Mana Mobile”, a tour bus set to embark on “The Great American Mana Mobile Road Trip” across the United States.

Stars continue to flock to give their endorsement to 100% agave brands, but sustainability has become an issue as consumer demand has risen.

Tomas Estes, one of the drinks industry's most loved and respected figures, has passed away peacefully at his home in Oregan.

Super premium brand KAH Tequila is planning large-scale global expansion in 2021 starting with China and Russia.

The world’s leading vodka, tequila and mezcal producers are celebrating after securing medals at the International Spirits Challenge 2021.

Drinks International caught up with Becky Davies, head of commercial at Ten Locks, to learn more about the firm's plans to kickstart a defining era for tequila in the UK.

Ghost Tequila has signed a national distribution agreement in the US with Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) that will see the brand enter four new states immediately.

Picture this scenario: a world-famous alcoholic drinks brand launches what it calls a “Tequila-flavoured” product, with the aim of persuading consumers that they are enjoying a drink with the purest expression of the country of Mexico.

The founders of super-premium tequila brand VIVIR have launched a new mixto tequila brand called El Sueño to bridge a gap in the market and support sustainable practices.

Kendall Jenner has become the latest celebrity to launch a tequila brand with the release of 818 Tequila on Tuesday 16 February.

The tequila industry enjoyed record levels of production and exports in 2020, according to the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT).

Brands Report 2020: Tequila

14 January, 2020

Don Julio has retained its crown as the bestselling tequila brand in the world’s best bars.

The European Commission has approved the addition of Tequila into the EU register of geographical indications.

Tequila sales are beginning to increase globally as Pernod Ricard, Bacardí and Diageo position themselves to profit from the trend.

Diageo has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Casamigos, a US super-premium tequila brand founded by Hollywood star George Clooney, for $1bn.

The Patrón Perfectionist’s Cocktail Competition has returned for 2016, and has gone international.

Gruppo Montenegro, the owner of Amaro Montenegro and Vecchia Romagna brandy, has finalised exclusive distribution agreements in the Italian market for Jose Cuervo, the world’s number-one tequila, Bushmills, Irish whiskey, The Kraken Black Spiced rum and Boodles British gin.

Rising to the Challenge

16 March, 2016

Joe Bates confronts some challenges facing the Americas duty free business ahead of the annual Iaddfs show.

Prickly subject

19 October, 2015

Fears of an agave shortage seem to be having no effect on tequila production as new markets open up and premium products find favour. Holly Motion reports

JB y Cia SA, the family-owned owner of Jose Cuervo tequila, plans to sell bonds to help pay for the acquisition of Northern Irish whiskey producer Bushmills, according to reports.

Diageo has pledged to make capital investment to expand local production facilities across distilling, bottling and water treatment as well as increasing its agave farming capacity in Mexico, following the completion of its acquisition of Tequila Don Julio last week.

Agave shortage doesn't just mean higher priced tequila. DI's guest writer Dale Sklar, tells us how the black market for agave is back and how the 'Coyotes' are once again prospering. 

Nicci Stringfellow has been appointed brand ambassador for Brown-Forman's Casa Herradura tequila in the UK.

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Ben Branson

Ben Branson on the future of non-alc spirits

In his inaugural column for Drinks International, Branson takes a wider look at the overall non-alcoholic spirits sector to identify which brands will thrive and which won’t survive.

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