‘World’s first’ Tequila in cardboard bottle launches
Stockholm-based distributor Alias Smith has debuted Buen Vato, the 'world’s first' Tequila to be presented in a cardboard container.
Presented in the shape of a bottle and made from 94% recycled material, the blanco Tequila will be launched to the European market in July 2022. “The drinks industry needs a shake-up, and sustainability needs to be placed at the heart of this transformation. That’s why we’ve launched Buen Vato,” said Claes Puebla Smith, CEO of AliasSmith. “The cardboard bottle is just the start. Buen Vato will constantly redesign the production, packaging and business model in order to reach perfect sustainability.” In 2019, Alias Smith spent close to 1,500 hours reshaping the processes and physical structure of one of its key providers, and took part in the Swedish Beverage Industry’s Climate Initiative with the goal of reducing the sector’s carbon footprint. Subsequently, the company decided to invest in projects with the lowest possible negative impact and inspire the industry to do better. The ’revolutionary’ bottle is lighter to transport and offers significant CO2 reduction in comparison to traditional industry methods. “It’s time for a change where conscious consumers buy the nice cardboard bottles and, if they wish to, pour their Tequila into a crystal bottle at home. Why continue polluting so much to enjoy a Tequila?” says Omar Corona, Mexican environmental engineer and head of the pollution reduction programme of Alias Smith. The spirit is produced in small batches in Amatitán, in Jalisco, Mexico and transported to Europe for bottling — a decision made by the producer to minimise the environmental impact of the liquid. As such, Buen Vato is not a 100% agave Tequila due to a law that states 100% agave Tequila must be bottled in Mexico. The blanco expression offers a balance of herbs with citrus and cucumber on the nose, and a hint of bitter chocolate, pepper and agave sweetness on the palate. Buen Vato was officially unveiled at the Prowein fair in Germany last week. We explored the innovations in sustainable drinks packaging in the August 2021 issue of The Spirits Business magazine
