October 20, 2025: New claims on tequila adulteration and other news…
Agaveros challenge retailers and CRT, Canadian whisky rise in Ontario, LVMH Q3, distillery news, Chivas Regal Crystalgold and more...
The Spirits Post is an international press review about the spirits industry brought to you by , an Italian spirits journalist and judge. If this newsletter was forwarded to you by a friend, you can subscribe here to receive it directly in your inbox:
Hello everyone!
And a warm welcome to all the new subscribers who have joined us in the last week. I’ll take this chance to thank
and all the people who are recommending this blog.I’ve been abroad for a while, with limited time and connection to keep up the pace of my press review. I’m now back in Italy and ready to start this new week with a selection of the latest significant news from the industry.
Agave controversy
Mexican agave farmers file criminal complaint over tequila adulteration, directly challenging CRT
Agaveros 100 Por Ciento de Origen Mexicano (a coalition of Mexican agave farmers) has filed a criminal complaint alleging widespread tequila adulteration, directly naming major retailers and the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT). Remberto Galván Cabrera claims that scientific evidence, based on analysis from a French laboratory, demonstrates serious violations.
Tests carried out at France-based Eurofins Laboratory using SNIF-NMR methods allegedly revealed one tequila contained less than 33% agave-based alcohol, while another exceeded permitted methanol levels by double. The farmers are demanding that President Sheinbaum update tequila standards to address loopholes, specifically requiring mandatory methods for verifying alcohol’s botanical origin. They describe the CRT’s certification process as unreliable and corrupt, representing escalating tensions between traditional farmers and commercial producers.
The news is reported by Oli Dodd in Drinks International:
Coalition of agave farmers raises fresh tequila adulteration claims
The only local publication where I can find the news is LJA Mexico (no author mentioned):
Tequila con metanol y alcohol de caña: agaveros exigen intervención presidencial
We are not unfamiliar with these kinds of claims in the area, as similar cases have cropped up in the last year.
Here is July 11th press review for further information:
Markets
Canadian whisky up in Ontario’s on-trade in the 12 weeks to 12 July
NIQ’s On-Premise Measurement (OPM) collected data on Canadian whisky sales in Ontario after American whiskey was banned from the shelves of the LCBO liquor stores. The figures refer to a very short period—only 12 weeks before July 12th—which means they are far from establishing a trend yet, but they give a clear idea of the immediate impact: Canadian whisky sales rose by 5% in value year-on-year, while American whiskey plunged by 33%.
You can find some more details in Nicola Carruthers’s article in The Spirits Business:
Performances
LVMH spirits sales declined in first nine months of 2025
While the Wine and Spirits branch of the LVMH group reports 1% organic growth for the third quarter of the year, the total result for the first nine months shows a 4% decline. Hennessy Cognac is one of the reasons.
You can read the report in their official press release here:
Both The Spirits Business and Shanken News Daily are writing about a 12% plunge in spirits sales reported by the company, but I haven’t been able to find this specific figures in any of their official reports.
Here is Nicola Carruthers’s article in The Spirits Business:
Here is Daniel Marsteller’s article in Shanken News Daily (subscription required):
New openings
Loch Lomond opens new distillery and visitor centre in Dumbartonshire
Scottish brand Loch Lomond has started operations at its new Luss Distillery, located in Luss village in Dumbartonshire. The facility is now open to the public with its visitor centre. The news has been popping up in several publications in the last few days, but the total amount of the investment appears to remain undisclosed.
You can read the news in Scottish Financial News (no author mentioned):
Benbecula distillery secures £1.5 million fund
Outer Hebrides-based Scottish whisky producer, Benbecula, has been confirmed a £1.5 million boost from the British Business Bank’s Investment Fund for Scotland, which will finance a growth programme for the coming years.
Article by Brian Donnelly in The Herald:
Cuts
InchDairnie Distillery to reduce workforce
Scotland-based InchDairnie Distillery is planning to cut jobs as part of a restructuring of its operations, even while it doubles its whisky production by the end of the year.
News by Rupert Hohwieler in The Spirits Business:
Something to read
Where is Chivas Regal Crystalgold going?
Richard Woodard comments on Chivas Regal’s new release, Crystalgold. While I’m still trying to form my own opinion on this new product innovation, I enjoyed reading Woodard’s article, which is quite cautious when imagining the future of this spirit. He compares Crystalgold to Diageo’s launch of J&B -6°C 20 years old and questions the results of targeting aperitif and agave spirits consumers with twists on Spritzes and Margaritas.
I recommend you read his comment on Just Drinks (and I hope you enjoy it):
I tried to find some technical information about the production of Crystalgold, but I haven’t found any “crystal-clear” information about its ageing, apart from “oak-aged”. You can check it yourself on their official website here. If you find any better information, please share it with me!
That’s all for today.
I’ll see you on Wednesday for some more news ;)