Tequila defied 2025’s global spirits slump—but a bitter fight over “additive‑free” labels shook the industry to its core.

Right now the #1 buzzword in tequila is “additive-free.” Drinkers are opting for bottles that are distinctly agave-forward and not full of filler and brands are rushing to declare themselves ...

The conversation has shifted to highlight producers that omit glycerin, sweeteners, and other additives in their product. But is additive-free the only indicator of quality? In 2012 Grover and Scarlet ...

A federal lawsuit and new scrutiny from Mexico’s tequila regulator have upended the booming “additive-free” tequila movement, calling into question how transparency claims are used on bottles and in ...

At a recent tequila tasting event held at IXTA, a Mexican hotspot in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Grover and Scarlet Sanschagrin lament that too many tequilas sold on shelves today contain artificial ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. John Kell is a writer who's covered spirits for over a decade. Jose Cuervo, the world’s top-selling tequila brand, is not a ...

Right now additive-free is all the rage in tequila. Honestly, it’s popular with good reason. Now let’s be clear, additive-free doesn’t always equal good tequila, but when you consider you’re paying ...