On the heels of Additive-Free Week, we can’t help but be bowled over by the success of our Confirmed Additive Free program.
There are so many brands and advocates that have made this a real movement, and we are so grateful for your involvement.
We always believed that this was a mission bigger than us – it’s about the producers who are committed to making tequila in a natural way, and the consumers who appreciate their efforts. It’s about being able to chose what you want to drink, based on transparent labeling.
Over the last few months we’ve traveled across the U.S., giving tastings and trainings, and at each event we were surprised and delighted by the people who turned out – tequila lovers who appreciate the spirit as much as we do.
Industries don’t change themselves; it’s the market that forces an industry to change. And the “additive-free movement” has already started to bring change to the industry, thanks to all of you who have supported this honorable cause.
Anyone who has walked into a store and asked for an additive-free tequila is supporting the movement. Anyone who has recommended additive-free tequilas to a friend, or commented on a social media post about additive-free options, is part of this movement.
There are so many of you that the demand is clear and the industry is being forced to respond. This is what successful movements look like.
This is why we have decided to rename our program to the Additive-Free Alliance. It is a more accurate description of what it has become.
The members of the Additive-Free Alliance — the brands, retailers and consumers — believe in common goals: transparency overall, and honoring the natural product given to us by agave, water, yeast, and sometimes barrels. We simply want a labeling difference so the consumer can decide which tequilas they want to drink.
This change will also hopefully ease the hurdles that some of the brands in our program are facing over how our program is being perceived by authorities in the industry. With the name “Confirmed Additive Free”, some believe that fact checking the data on our own website is attempting to be some sort of regulatory process. It never has been, and it never will be.
The support of our program is humbling, but sometimes overwhelming. We are a team of just 3 people, and it’s not about us. It is about the tequila community working together, striving for transparency.
We will continue with our program of fact checking producers’ claims for our own website and app and then putting them on our additive-free list. But, we are not the authorities. Instead we are loud voices in an alliance that is committed to promoting a labeling difference between natural tequilas and those that use “abocantes”, or additives. And contrary to what some believe, we are not against producers who use additives. We know some of these producers and they are just as committed to making a good product for their customers.
Each year we do this program, we learn more and more about how the industry works and practices that producers use. With this knowledge our process is evolving. This program is never going to be perfect, but we will continue to refine it. Expect tweaks that can hopefully ease the bottleneck of adding new additive-free brands.
We hope that the name “Additive-Free Alliance” will better communicate our mission and goals. We will continue to be transparent with you about our efforts. Your support is what drives us, so thank you.
I see the CRT made it’s first, highly publized countermove to add confusion and discredit your efforts with the announcement of Patron’s additive-free endorsement. Stay strong in your efforts for full transparency in tequila labeling.
The CRT’s “additive-free program” has still not been officially started, and no details have yet been released to the public, brands, or distilleries. This announcement appears to have been solely a Patron initiative. Hopefully one day the CRT will announce the details of a program that includes lab testing, and they can begin “certifying” additive-free products.
It is to our benefit that tequilas are made additive free and that we are able to clearly know that fact.
You should be able to know what you are spending your money on . I buy a significant amount of tequila on a regular basis since it is my favorite spirit and I always try to do my research before buying. If a maker identifies his product as additive free it is easier to make a decision. Tequila and spirits are not cheap so we are all trying to get quality for the money in as many instances as possible.
What can on premise business such as Bars & restaurants do to join the alliance?
Help your customers identify the products that are additive-free!
What is it that I hear about the CRT possibly losing its monopoly on certifying tequila? What does that mean for the consumer if anything? Does it help or hurt the small producers? How much sway does the large producers have over the CRT and who is leading this possible change?
This is a super hot topic. From what we hear from small producers, they are at a disadvantage with the current setup and could benefit from another option. The influence from the big producers is overwhelming, since they provide the bulk of the funding to the regulator. I’ve never seen a monopoly situation, in any industry, that has been good for the little guys.
I agree. All you have to do is look NOB into Canada and the fiasco the Maple Syrup “cartel” has created for the small producer and the consumer. Just ridiculous!
As a tequila consumer I support this effort in identifying natural tequila from those with additives kepp up the mission.
As a tequila consumer I support this effort in identifying natural tequila from those with additives kepp up the mission.
Awesome job starting the AFA logo. Cant wait for distilleries to jump on board.
Awesome job starting the AFA logo. Cant wait for distilleries to jump on board.
Do your testing methods meet FDA requirements? Has your equipment been verified as consistently reliable? Interesting that you are a self appointed resource without refereed credentials. Appreciate your efforts but don’t really get how you earn this seal of approval. Thank you for explaining transparency helps build credibility
You can read all of the details about the process, here: https://ttblog1.wpenginepowered.com/2020/our-additive-free-tequila-program/
The FDA has nothing to do with this for several reasons. 1) All tequila in the public markets are already safe and following FDA guidelines. 2) We are in Mexico.
We use certified labs in the USA to test off-the-shelf products for the most common additives used. We don’t own or operate our own labs.
Why isn’t Patron on this list? Its not a great tequila, but it is allegedly additive free.
They were on the list at one time but decided not to renew.