BLANCO TEQUILA IS WHITE HOT

WHEN IT COMES to drinking tequila in the US, the long-dominant “Gold Standard” has become a thing of the past. Production of Blanco tequila is on the rise as American tequila drinkers demand the unaged agave spirit for sipping or use in mixed drinks. Blanco tequila consumption in the US is expected to increase to 45% of the market by 2O18, compared to 39% of total current consumption, according to International Wine & Spirit Research. As a category, tequila exports rose 3% by volume in 2O13 with orders from the US rising by more than 5 million liters. Mexico exported 172m liters of the spirit in the 12 months to the end of December, compared to 166.7m liters in 2O12, according to Mexico’s Tequila Regulating Council (CRT). Bottled shipments totaled 88.3m liters and tequila in bulk amounted to 83.7m liters. Exports made from 1OO% agave totaled 63m liters, while sales of other tequila totaled 1O8.9m liters. Exports to the US rose by 4% to 132.3m liters in 2O13.