FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How can you tell if tequila is “real”?
Tequila is a cultural legacy. Every “cheers” has years of authentic heritage, packed within a long-lived family history held inside each glass. There’s one internationally-recognized standard for certifying Tequila, and it’s Mexico’s Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT). Their age-old standard can be identified by the 4-digit NOM on every bottle. Extraneous “additive-free” labels falsely impose a foreign standard on an already regulated product that harms the generations of farmers and producers responsible for making Tequila what it is today. More than that, it misleads consumers by inserting rules that don’t have legal definitions in order to influence purchasing.
Evaluating your Tequila reality is simple. Wherever those 4-digits find you, whether it be your favorite college bar, in-house mixology studio, or pre-party grocery run: Flip the bottle, find the 4-digit NOM, and reclaim the reality of what’s in your glass.
What is “additive-free” tequila?
Nothing. “Additive-free” Tequila doesn’t exist.
It’s an American-made marketing gimmick designed to confuse consumers using purity theatre. The only thing that’s been “added” to Tequila in decades is this meaningless marketing term.
What is the CRT?
For over three decades, the Mexican government has defined and perfected what it means to be “real” Tequila. The CRT is the sole internationally-recognized regulatory body responsible for enforcing those standards and certifying Tequila’s authenticity (via the NOM). The CRT is committed to guarding, strengthening, and advancing the quality and integrity of Tequila through rigorous traceability, compliance, and safety standards. Just like us, the CRT wants you (the consumer) to know what you’re drinking is what it claims to be.
What is the NOM?
The NOM (Norma Oficial Mexicana) is the spirit’s DNA. It’s a unique, four-digit code that tells you exactly what distillery produced a bottle of Tequila. Here at Tequila Reality, we teach you to look past the flashy label or “additive-free” sticker to find those four digits. By checking that number, you can be sure that what’s in your glass is authentic and CRT-compliant.
The NOM is your tool for consumer sovereignty, so you know exactly what you’re putting in your body and where it came from.
What does “Sovereignty” look like in the bottle?
In Mexico, sovereignty is not a suggestion; it’s a historical mandate. The Tequila industry has recently been wrought with “interventions.” When foreign conglomerates dictate how Tequila should be made, they are eroding Mexican authority and cultural sovereignty– something upheld and uncontested for years by the CRT. Drinking Tequila shouldn’t be political. What’s filled your glass for years has been strictly “gimmick-free,” as it should be.
Can I buy tequila here?
No. We do not take a cut, sell bottles, or take “listing fees.” We point you directly to facts that cut through the meaningless marketing jargon and clarify how to recognize what “real” Tequila looks like. The bottom line: we want you to know enough to make your own choice.
