Hola, Tomonotomo fam! How’s everyone doing out there? Honestly, we’re hanging on by a thread—but doing it with smoky agave in hand and heart. March 2025 has been a lot, but we’re still here, staying grounded, staying sober, and moving forward one bottle at a time.
Surviving the Trump Tariffs: Why We’re Racing Against the Clock
If you’ve been following along, you know the new US tariffs on Mexican imports are no joke — and they’ve hit small independent businesses like ours hard. Originally slated for February, we barely made it in time for the extended April 2nd 2025 deadline, which spared us from a painful 25% tariff increase on each bottle of our non-alcoholic agave spirit.
We were scrambling to get two giant pallets of Tomonotomo across the border in time. And let me tell you — every minute mattered. These tariffs are real, and they’re changing the way small beverage businesses operate. We’re not just fighting to grow — we’re fighting to stay alive.
When Agave Arrives in Bulk (and You Weren’t Ready)
So here’s a fun twist: Two of our agave suppliers sent their shipments at the same time, and suddenly we had 1,500 kg of Tobalá agave on our hands — way more than expected.
We jumped into full production mode to ferment and distill before it turned alcoholic (we are a zero-proof brand, after all!). That meant taking Tomonotomo out of our little garage for the first time and partnering with three local palenques— real mezcal masters in Oaxaca. These aren’t just distilleries, they’re sacred spaces of agave tradition.
For the first time, we got to distill with firewood instead of gas — and yes, we smelled like BBQ for weeks, but the smoke came through beautifully. That’s the soul of Tomonotomo — we keep the ritual, the craft, the flavor — without the alcohol.
Warehouse Woes, Broken Bottles, and Big Lessons
Speaking of heartbreak: We ran out of our large format bottles, not from a sales boom (we wish), but from breakage at our Dallas warehouse. After countless calls and interviews with third-party logistics companies, we finally found a new partner in Houston. Here's to fewer broken dreams and more bottles reaching your shelves intact.
And if you notice a new look — our cork tops are now black. Our supplier changed and we had to adapt. Honestly? They look kind of sexy. Might keep them.
From Garage Dreams to Pallet Reality
Eight months ago, it took just me and Ginna everything to distill and bottle our first pallet. Now we’ve done two pallets in less than a month. That’s 3x the product in a quarter of the time. It's not glamorous — I’ve forgotten my passport, my samples, and even to brush my teeth some days — but it’s growth, and I’m proud of it.
We’re still a tiny team making non-alcoholic agave spirits by hand. We’re bootstrapping, learning, improvising, and hustling. But through all the stress, delays, and near-overdrafts, I’m grateful. Because we’re creating something meaningful. And it exists because of you.
Tariffs Can’t Kill the Vibe (Especially with BOGO Deals)
In a world full of uncertainty — supply chain delays, trade wars, and tequila tariffs — we’re staying focused on the community, the craft, and the culture of agave.
Help us keep the momentum going. Grab a bottle of Tomonotomo today and get the second half off with code MAKEITADOUBLE. Whether you’re sober-curious, fully alcohol-free, or just love something smoky without the hangover — we’ve got you.
Because this isn’t just about a drink. It’s about resistance, resilience, and ritual.
With love and gratitude,
Amanda
