REQUEST A QUOTE
The practical route from an authorised producer in Mexico through customs, excise and delivery in Great Britain.
Most expensive delays happen because one of those three is considered too late.
Importing tequila is manageable when the authorised Mexican producer, named approved UK destination, CRT export paperwork, customs and excise route are all fixed before shipment.
Alcohol becomes liable to UK Alcohol Duty when it arrives in the UK. Duty may be suspended through an approved arrangement, but the tequila-specific destination and no-transfer restrictions still apply.
Duty suspension or excise warehousing does not turn bulk tequila into freely transferable UK stock. Any warehousing must sit within the approved project route, and the tequila must remain tied to the producer, named brand or product and named approved destination shown in the CRT and export documentation. It cannot be resold or transferred in bulk to another bottler.
Bulk liquid and finished bottles are both importable, but they create different production, compliance and cash-flow requirements.
Exportable mixto tequila is shipped from the authorised producer in Mexico for a specific brand or product to the named UK bottler or manufacturer approved for that CRT route.
Completed bottles are imported as a finished product, including tequila labelled 100% agave that has been bottled at origin.
The exact responsibilities depend on the agreed Incoterms and partners, but the commercial route normally follows this sequence.
Lock the category, class, agave specification, ABV, volume and intended use.
Confirm the authorised producer, brand, bottler or manufacturer and CRT requirements.
Complete the commercial, batch, origin, authenticity and transport documents required for shipment.
Use the correct importer details, commodity classification, valuation and customs procedure.
Pay Alcohol Duty at import or move the product into an approved duty-suspension arrangement.
Deliver the tequila to the named UK bottler or manufacturer approved for that project, with full traceability. It must not be transferred onwards in bulk to another operator.
The importer does not always need to own every approval, but every part of the route must be covered by the right party.
A business importing goods into England, Scotland or Wales normally needs an EORI number beginning with GB for customs clearance. For bulk tequila, the named approved destination must also be fixed before export.
The import declaration needs the correct commodity code, value, origin, procedure and importer information.
Decide whether Alcohol Duty will be paid at import or suspended within the approved project route at the named destination. Do not assume the tequila can be held as general UK stock.
The liquid, producer, brand, export certificates and UK activity must match the route permitted under the tequila standard.
A business selling alcohol wholesale at or after the duty point may need HMRC approval under the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme.
Imported tequila becomes liable to UK Alcohol Duty when it arrives. The rate is based on the volume of pure alcohol in the product and the current rate applying to its ABV band.
The final pack varies by shipment and contract. These are the document groups that should be checked before dispatch.
Commercial invoice, packing list, agreed Incoterms, transport details and accurate values and quantities.
Producer details, batch traceability, CRT certification and the export authenticity documents required for the tequila shipment.
EORI details, customs declaration data, classification, origin and the selected import procedure.
Named destination, consignee, permitted movement and duty information needed for the chosen duty-paid or duty-suspended project route.
The physical journey is rarely the hardest part. Problems normally begin with incomplete or mismatched information.
Planning to import 100% agave tequila in bulk for UK bottling is not permitted. Choose an exportable mixto or bottle in Mexico.
An incorrect EORI, consignee, named destination or customs instruction can stop clearance or place the shipment outside the approved route.
If duty suspension is needed, the named approved destination and permitted movement route should be agreed before the tequila leaves Mexico.
Product descriptions, quantities, ABV, batch references and consignee details must remain consistent across the full document pack.
Confirm the named approved bottler or manufacturer, what will happen to the tequila there and whether duty should be suspended. Then build the customs, CRT and logistics route around that fixed destination.
TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR IMPORTTell us what you are importing, the expected volume and where it needs to arrive.