Margarita
Citrus and sweetness can soften the tequila profile. A clean 51% mixto is often the commercially sensible starting point.
START WITH 51%BUILDING A PRODUCT
CHOOSING
TEQUILA FOR
AN RTD.
How to choose a bulk tequila that works in the recipe, protects margin and can scale into production.
THE USEFUL ANSWER
Start with the finished drink, not the tequila in isolation.
For many commercial RTDs, a well-made 51% agave mixto is the right place to begin.
QUICK ANSWER
STARTAT 51%.
For margaritas, palomas, hard seltzers and other flavoured RTDs, a good 51% agave mixto normally gives the best balance of flavour, margin, consistency and scalability.
Move to a higher agave specification when the extra tequila character is still noticeable in the final drink and helps justify a more premium position.
MATCH IT TO THE FORMAT
WHAT ARE
YOU MAKING?
The same tequila will behave differently depending on citrus, sweetness, carbonation, strength and serving format.
Paloma
Grapefruit, acidity and carbonation need enough tequila character to remain present without becoming harsh.
TEST 51% AGAINST HIGH AGAVEHard Seltzer
A lighter recipe can expose defects more clearly, so cleanliness and consistency may matter more than sheer agave percentage.
PRIORITISE CLEANNESSPremium RTD
Where tequila is a stronger part of the story, compare a 51% mixto with higher agave options in the finished drink.
MOVE HIGHER FOR A REASONTHE TWO MAIN ROUTES
WHICH TEQUILA
SHOULD YOU USE?
The best choice is the one that makes the complete drink taste right and still supports the commercial model.
51%
Commercial RTD Route
A well-made 51% agave mixto can be exported from the authorised producer for a named approved RTD project and normally gives the strongest balance of price, consistency and performance.
Best for volume-led margaritas, palomas and flavoured RTDs.
Works well where citrus, sugar, fruit or carbonation lead the profile.
Usually provides the clearest route to repeatable commercial scale.
70-99%
Premium RTD Route
A higher agave mixto can add more tequila character while remaining eligible for a project-specific export to the named approved UK manufacturer.
Best where agave character remains obvious in the finished drink.
Can support a stronger premium story and higher retail price.
Should be chosen through recipe testing, not assumption.
THE TEST THAT MATTERS
TASTE THE
FINISHED RECIPE.
Neat tasting is useful, but it does not tell you which tequila will make the best RTD. Test it at the final strength, sweetness, acidity and carbonation.
01
Prepare the actual finished recipe at the intended ABV.
02
Compare 51% mixto against one or more higher agave options.
03
Check whether the extra agave character survives citrus, sweetness, flavour and dilution.
04
Measure the sensory improvement against the impact on unit economics.
FROM BRIEF TO PRODUCTION
THE RIGHT ORDER.
Choosing tequila too early is one of the easiest ways to waste time and money. Build the decision in the right sequence.
Define the product
Format, flavour, ABV, pack size, target price and volume.
Set the commercial target
Know the margin and liquid cost the product can support.
Select samples
Start with 51% and add high agave options where useful.
Test the full recipe
Evaluate at production strength and in the intended format.
Lock the supply route
Confirm the specification, named approved destination, CRT export route, import and delivery before shipment.
COMMON MISTAKES
WHAT TO AVOID.
Choosing by agave percentage alone
A bigger number does not guarantee a better finished RTD. The full recipe decides whether the difference matters.
Tasting only neat
A tequila can taste impressive on its own but disappear once mixed with citrus, sweetness and flavour.
Ignoring the production route
The specification must also work with the project-specific CRT export route, the named approved UK production site and the intended scale.
OUR RECOMMENDATION
START COMMERCIAL.
PREMIUMISE WITH PURPOSE.
Begin with a strong 51% agave mixto. Then compare it against higher agave options in the finished RTD. Move higher only when the improvement is real and commercially useful.
REQUEST SAMPLES OR A QUOTEBUILDING A
TEQUILA RTD?
Tell us the recipe direction, expected volume, target price and production location.