Fortaleza Tequila Blanco

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T October 11, 2009
 
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Fortaleza Tequila Blanco

Tequila Review

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Fortaleza
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2012 TEQUILA.net Awards - "Best of the Best" Best Lowland Blanco Tequila Judge Favorite
2012 TEQUILA.net Awards - Best of the Best

Tequila Fortaleza Blanco

Fortaleza Tequila Blanco - 100% estate grown Blue Agave Tequilana Weber, distilled and stored in stainless steel tanks. Blanco never touches wood. Our Blanco label contains a drawing of our distillery.

At Tequila Los Abuelos, we are committed to producing the finest Tequila possible. Our Tequila is made using traditions established centuries ago, from 100% stone milled agave, entirely produced on our estate. We are located in the town of Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico, first populated in the 1530’s by our Spanish forefathers. Our land is nestled in rich valley at 4,000 feet of altitude, in the foothills of the 9,560-foot tall, Volcan de Tequila. Here is where our blue agaves grow for seven to eight years, caressed with the warmth of the Mexican sun, nourished by the summer rains, and protected from the harsh and cold winter winds.

Our Tequila is produced entirely within the walls of our estate, using centuries old, traditional methods, which although are very labor intensive, create a tequila, which is unequaled in taste and smoothness. Using the age-old brick oven, with its meter thick walls, we cook our agave for thirty six hours. Then we crush or mill the agave as my Tartarabuelo did over 135 years ago in the stone mill called the Tahona. The crushed agave is then washed with the pure mountain water from the Volcan de Tequila to separate the pulp from the woody fibers to create an agave juice called mosto The woody fibers of the agave, called bagazo, are removed at this time, and taken to the fields to use as compost. The agave mosto is then naturally fermented for five days in small wood vats, and then double distilled using small, labor-intensive copper pot stills. Our glass bottle is hand-blown in Tonala, Jalisco by artisan glassmakers and our bottle tops, artisan designed to represent the harvest agave, or Pina, are hand-made by our workers.

Tequila Fortaleza is the American label for Tequila Los Abuelos, due to a Rum with the name "Abuelos" already being distributed in the USA.

Notice the additional image below the main one, this bottle label show "La Fortaleza" which obviously changed to just "Fortaleza" for the US market.



User reviews

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95
Aroma-Nose
 
94(9)
Initial Taste
 
94(9)
Body
 
94(9)
Finish
 
95(9)
Enjoyability
 
96(9)
Price
 
91(9)
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96(9)
View all user reviews View most helpful
Overall rating
 
93
Aroma-Nose
 
94
Initial Taste
 
93
Body
 
94
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93
Enjoyability
 
93
Price
 
90
Presentation
 
95
A very interesting nose of olive brine, agave, earth and some citrus (it took a few pours to truly appreciate the unique nose). A clean mouthfeel, not too thin, not too thick, followed by agave sweetness, light white pepper, lemon rind and herbs. Warmly smooth finish, with notes of citrus, mint and grass coming up the back end. A soft, full and very tasty tequila.
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The best I've had so far...
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100
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95
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Howdy all, wonderful site and this is my first review (of many I hope). I'll start with my current favorite.

As said, this is my current favorite. Tried it for the first time at Cantina Mayahuel in San Diego (just like tdrudge). I normally prefer a well done reposado but this brand packs some serious tequila flavor of the authentic (woody) variety. Make sure to sip a shot or two as soon as you open the bottle, the rest will be wonderful but the first few are the best. Somewhere between the aroma and the flavor, you know you're drinking the juice of a woody pulp. That may sound a little strange (perhaps not on this site) but go with it, you'll be happy. The bottle can be relatively pricey but it's far better than it's more expensive counterparts and from talking to people about this brand, the price is well spent on the inefficient but delicious old fashion distilling techniques.

I've tried the reposado and anejo versions of the same label and prefer the blanco strangely.

Provecho!
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Delightful!
Overall rating
 
93
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93
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Having heard so many reports on Fortaleza, I just had to try it and I'm glad I did. Although I normally prefer reposados, this is one blanco that will always be on my favorites list. The bottle and label are nicely understated and I like the pina stopper. To me, some blancos have a raw, unfinished flavor that many like, but I find a bit crude. Not so with Fortaleza. Nice agave character without the alcohol burn that sometimes accompanies it. And it has a unique taste that I have trouble defining, but can only express as very pleasant.

Enthusiastically recommended.
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Makes me feel good
Overall rating
 
96
Aroma-Nose
 
95
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95
Body
 
95
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98
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96
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96
Hand blown bottle is cool. Stone tehona is cool. 5th generation is cool. Very traditional tequila. I just bought it last night for $51.99 in Lexington, KY. I feel it will be worth it. I drank neat then in a margarita. The quality and flavor is pretty ideal to just continue drinking it neat.

I want to take a tour and blow my own bottle.
N
Top 50 Reviewer 22 reviews
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Awesome
Overall rating
 
97
Aroma-Nose
 
95
Initial Taste
 
96
Body
 
96
Finish
 
98
Enjoyability
 
99
Price
 
92
Presentation
 
96
Tried it for the first time last night. I was surprised to how smooth it was, no burning feeling sensation. I would recommend this to anyone who doesn't normally drink tequila. It would change their views on how it good tequila can be.
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