100% agave must be bottled in Mexico
The bottling plant must be controlled by the authorised producer and located within the recognised Denomination of Origin territory.
THE STRAIGHT ANSWER
CAN 100%
AGAVE TEQUILA
BE EXPORTED
IN BULK?
The rule is simple. Tequila sold as 100% agave must be bottled at origin in Mexico.
QUICK ANSWER
No.
It cannot be exported in bulk for bottling or drinks manufacturing in the UK.
THE RULE
NO.
Under the official tequila standard, a product sold as Tequila 100% Agave must be bottled in a plant controlled by an authorised producer within the territory covered by the Tequila Denomination of Origin.
That means it can be exported from Mexico as a finished bottled product, but not as bulk liquid for bottling or manufacturing in the UK.
WHAT THIS MEANS
THE PRACTICAL
VERSION.
The regulation affects the production route, not just the wording on the label.
It can still be sold in the UK
The finished bottles can be exported to the UK. The restriction is on exporting the liquid in bulk for bottling outside the authorised territory.
Bulk production needs a mixto route
Tequila in the standard category can be exported in bulk from the authorised producer to the named approved bottler for a specific project, subject to CRT approval and the required documentation.
YOUR THREE PRACTICAL OPTIONS
WHAT CAN
YOU DO?
The right route depends on whether you need UK production, a 100% agave claim or a balance between the two.
51%
Commercial Mixto
For UK bottling or RTD production, arrange a well-made 51% agave mixto for the named approved bottler or manufacturer. This is the most common route for volume-led products.
BEST FOR COMMERCIAL RTDS70-99%
High Agave Mixto
Use a higher agave mixto when you want more agave character, arranged as a project-specific export to the named approved UK production site.
BEST FOR APPROVED PREMIUM UK PROJECTS100%
Bottled at Origin
Produce and bottle the finished 100% agave tequila in Mexico, then import the completed bottles into the UK.
BEST WHEN THE 100% CLAIM MATTERSAN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION
BLANCO DOES NOT
MEAN 100% AGAVE.
Blanco, reposado and añejo describe the class of tequila. They do not tell you whether the tequila is 51% agave mixto, higher agave mixto or 100% agave.
Blanco
Can be arranged in an exportable mixto specification for a named approved UK production project.
Reposado
Can also be produced and exported as mixto, with the required maturation.
Añejo
Can also sit within an exportable mixto route, subject to the relevant ageing requirements.
100% Agave
Is a separate category and must be bottled at origin in Mexico.
OUR RECOMMENDATION
CHOOSE THE ROUTE
BEFORE THE LIQUID.
If the product must be made or bottled in the UK, start with a project-specific exportable mixto route to the named approved site. If the 100% agave claim is essential, plan for the finished product to be bottled in Mexico.
TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR PROJECT
Regulatory basis: This guide is based on NOM-006-SCFI-2012 and current Consejo Regulador del Tequila guidance. The CRT states that Tequila 100% Agave is made entirely from blue Weber agave sugars and bottled at origin, while the standard tequila category may be bottled outside the Denomination of Origin under the required controls. See the official CRT materials at CRT categories and classes and NOM-006-SCFI-2012.
NOT SURE WHICH
ROUTE YOU NEED?
Tell us what you are making, where it will be produced and how you want it positioned.