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Neurita Tequila has raised over £100k from the crowd as it looks to capitalise on tequila’s booming popularity.

Tequila is now the second-biggest spirit in the US and sales are soaring in UK cocktail bars.

Neurita’s first fundraising round values the company at £4m. Its products are sold in the UK, Australia and France with additional markets targeted for 2025.

The funds will be used to hire additional sales and marketing employees, and support marketing and sales initiatives.

Its flavour-infused tequila creates margaritas without the need for triple sec, resulting in a lower calorie cocktail.

Neurita claims to be the only female-founded, flavour-infused UK tequila brand that focuses on what women want from spirits.

The business said tequila’s growing popularity is driven by women drinking cocktails, and so it is targeting women with “chic packaging that has strong female appeal” and focusing on women’s preferences of “great taste, lower sugar, simple serves and a stylish brand”.

Off-trade sales of tequila and mezcal grew 15% to £46m in the past year, but are still just a fraction of the wider £5.6bn spirits category. By comparison, £870m of gin was sold in the same period, according to NIQ.

In the US, celebrity-backed brands from the likes of George Clooney and Dwayne Johnson have helped turn the spirit from a low-grade option to a popular premium drink.