Tequila Fortaleza

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Country of Origin: Mexico
Location: Tequila Town, Jalisco Lowlands
People: Guillermo Erickson Sauza, Owner & Distiller

Items

Tequila Fortaleza Blanco (80 proof) Login DEC NR TP 95 Please inquire
Tequila Fortaleza Reposado (80 proof) Login TP 96 WS Please inquire
Tequila Fortaleza Still Strength Blanco (92 proof) Login WE 94 TP 96 Please inquire

Tequila Fortaleza is made using methods that date back 150 years, staying true to time-honored tequila-making techniques. The traditional stone milling and copper pot still process results in a unique tequila with an excellent bouquet, flavorful agave taste, and an incomparable clean and smooth finish.

The Tequila Fortaleza estate and distillery are located in the heart of the appellation zone, on the slopes of the 9,560-foot-tall extinct Volcán de Tequila in the small town of Tequila. This is where Guillermo Sauza's family has made tequila for five generations, cinco generaciones. Guillermo Sauza continues the legacy of his great-great-grandfather (tatarabuelo), who started producing tequila in 1860, by employing traditional and artisanal methods to create the best authentic tequila possible. In the family’s 100+-year-old distillery, La Fortaleza, Guillermo launched Tequila Fortaleza in 2005. Today, it is one of the most sought-after tequilas in the world.

At Fortaleza, there are no shortcuts. Tequilana Blue Weber agaves matures for at least 8 years before harvesting. The agaves are then slowly steam-cooked for 36 hours in an old stone oven. As the agaves cook, their starches turn into sugars, creating deep caramelization. After cooking, the agaves cool for another 24 hours before being removed from the oven. The agaves are then 100% stone-crushed using a tahona, a large 2-ton volcanic stone, in a stone pit inside the distillery. The sugars are separated from the plant fibers and combined with pure mountain water from the Volcán de Tequila to create an agave juice called mosto. The mosto ferments for about 4 days in open-air wooden tanks before being distilled twice in traditional copper pot stills that have been in the distillery for over 100 years. Fortaleza is distilled to around 46% alcohol, retaining as much of the agave flavor as possible. Fortaleza Reposado and Añejo are aged in used American oak barrels, with the color coming directly from the barrels. Tequila Fortaleza is made from 100% Tequilana Blue Weber agave and is completely additive-free.

Fortaleza produces a very limited amount of tequila, with each lot having its own unique characteristics due to variances in weather and agave, similar to wine vintages. The packaging is unique and memorable, featuring a top designed to represent a harvested agave piña and handmade by workers. The neck label carries the initials of Guillermo’s grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather. Each bottle is guaranteed to be made 100% on the estate, with a handwritten sticker near the bottom indicating the lot number. The first letter tells you the style of the tequila: B (blanco), R (reposado), and A (añejo). The second letter is L (lot), and the numerical digits tell you the lot number.

NOM 1493: Tequila Los Abuelos Destileria la Fortaleza

Media Links
Vinepair: How Tequila Fortaleza Went From Unlikely Underdog to Industry Darling
National Geographic: Tequila Rocks

Reviews

  • Fortaleza Still Strength Blanco (92 proof)
    Wine Enthusiast
    Rating: 94 (5/15/2020)
    The savory, spicy aroma hints at fresh tomato. The drying, astringent palate opens with a savory, herbal blast, rounding into sun-dried tomato earthiness, mouthwatering lemon peel and bright lemon-pepper on the long finish.
  • Fortaleza Blanco (80 proof)
    Decanter
    Rating: NR (11/13/2020)
    (Must Try Tequila) The tiny Fortaleza distillery is situated in Tequila town and makes small batches of tequila by hand. Sourcing its agave from the valley, there's a distinctive grassiness and warm agave character, plus lemon zest, cooling mint and sea salt.
  • Fortaleza Anejo (80 proof)
    Decanter
    Rating: NR (5/15/2021)
    (5 of the Best Añejo Tequila) Handmade using traditional techniques, Fortaleza's products are a nod to the tequilas of yesteryear. There are no shortcuts here; even the agave-shaped bottle stoppers are made by hand. Aged for 18 months in American oak, the añejo is referred to by Fortaleza owner Guillermo Sauza as his 'crème brûlée.' It's a moreish mix of banana, ginger nut biscuits, butterscotch, cream and sea salt on the finish.
  • Fortaleza Blanco (80 proof)
    The Tasting Panel
    Rating: 95 (1/15/2022)
    This bottling offers up scents of vanilla, clay, and agave. White flowers bloom on the palate while white pepper tingles the tongue and vanilla has a soothing effect. Delicious, fragrant, and elegant.
  • Fortaleza Still Strength Blanco (92 proof)
    The Tasting Panel
    Rating: 96 (1/15/2022)
    The floral aromas and flavors of this 92-proofer are enhanced by a wash of blue fruit and cocoa. Unusual notes of lemon blossom and pear custard allow the agave to shine through a hedonistically unctuous curtain.
  • Fortaleza Reposado (80 proof)
    The Tasting Panel
    Rating: 96 (1/15/2022)
    A rush of caramel, pear nectar, and honeysuckle inspires. The agave here is unmasked, yet without heat or astringency. Sandalwood and jasmine are soft and graceful on the finish.
  • Fortaleza Anejo (80 proof)
    The Tasting Panel
    Rating: 95 (1/15/2022)
    Following a clean entry that shows retrained oak, peach and brown sugar bathe in agave with a hint of earth. Jasmine and ginger play into the seamless, succulent profile.
  • Fortaleza Reposado (80 proof)
    The Wine Spectator
    Rating: (7/31/2024)

    Fortaleza is on the Mount Rushmore of tequila producers. They have 150 years of classic tequila distillation, with recipes and techniques they still use to this day. The reposado carries a delicate hand, allowing the agave to shine through while adding a touch of the barrel aging to complement.