Lot 184 | Fortaleza Lote 184B Sample from Brad Ruppel Agave Swappers Agave, fruit and yeast, some pepper 88

Lot 179 | Fortaleza Lote 179B Sample from Brad Ruppel Agave Swappers Vegetal, pepper, yeast/hay and a tiny funk 87

Lot 173 | Fortaleza Lote 173B Sample from Matt Charney Agave Swappers Really enjoyed this one. Clean. Sweet cooked Agave dominant. Delicious

Lot 100 | Nose: Roasted agave sits at the core, deep and expressive, laced with a striking minerality and olive brine. The roast brings a fire kissed tone that gives dimension - like charred sugar over ripe fruit. Banana and herbs drift in and out, brightened by lime zest that keeps the nose both savory and fresh. Palate & Mouthfeel: Medium in weight yet oily and slick on the tongue. A surge of sweet, mature agave defines the entry - sweeter than most Fortaleza lots and instantly captivating. The warmth builds into a peppery kick, reading as white pepper and cinnamon, wrapping around notes of lime, banana, and tropical fruit. A subtle mint and mineral pull adds balance, while a flash of bubblegum sweetness flickers through. Finish: Extremely easygoing, finishing with soft sweetness and a gentle reprise of that warm pepperiness. The last echo carries back to the roasted agave from the nose - a closing reminder of where it all began. Final Thoughts: The best Fortaleza I’ve tasted to date. Sweet and layered, surprisingly complex given its lower proof, and dangerously drinkable. Its charm lies in balance and depth rather than power. Loses marks only on value as it’s not something you’ll find anywhere near SRP - but the pour itself is exceptional.

Lot 148 | fortaleza blanco lote 148B mi tierra sept 2025 Nose is earthy and vegetal Palate is sweet cooked agave minerality citrus and anise

Lot 184 | Reggae on The River 2025 The aroma: cooked agave, bright citrus, grounded minerality, and a spike of pepperiness. On the palate, sweet cooked agave and citrus hit immediately, joined by subtle grassiness and a clean mineral edge. The finish lingers with gentle pepperiness and a return of sweet, distinct agave.

Nose: getting agave, anise and black pepper - a bit light on the nose. Buttery mouthfeel - so much so for a blanco. Cooked sweet agave, black pepper citrus and so very smooth. A sweet and pepper finish that lasts and lasts. Very pleasant. 5 points off for value - once the price comes back down to earth (no fault on Fortaleza - retailers are jacking up the price) I will revisit.

Lot 155 | Another ill fitting leaky cork fouled the bottle

Lot 150 | This tastes very much like the Fortaleza Still Strength, likely because there was no water added to bring this to 80 proof, it was distilled to proof. Also, bagazo (leftover agave fibers) was added during the fermentation process, which lends to even more agave flavor. This has all the hallmarks of the small, boutique distiller. Cooked agave, peppery heat, smooth butter, minerals. This is a blanco lovers dream, a perfect drive down the middle of the fairway. Points were deducted, through no fault of the distiller, due to price. Retailers and the multiple distribution levels are hurting the consumer's wallet and this special release (and the growing scarcity of Fortaleza due to higher demand) only serves to make more money for those in the supply chain instead of lining the pockets of the geniuses making this product, who are staying true to who they are.

Lot 156 | Lots of black pepper on this one

Lot 162 | I don’t pull out Fortaleza very often. I have many bottles of it and I really do enjoy them all. This Lote 162-B fits in to that category. An excellent example of well made tequila. It has that Fortaleza nose of cooked agave, earth, olive, vegetal notes. No alcohol burn whatsoever. On the palate it is so easy to sip. The viscosity is excellent. Cooked agave, earthy notes, olive brine, such a nice finish. I really should pour these more often. Yeah this brand has the hype but it is well deserved. I only opened this bottle because it was one of the few in my collection I had not rated. I needed it so that my next review was number 400. So 399, you were very fine.

Lot 173 | Sampled at restaurant.

Lot 173 | Excellent as always!

Lot 176 | Nose: A warming nose. Almost a butterscotch vibe. Flavor: Cinnamon and pepper lead the flavor charge with pleasing salinity and body. The pepper is tenacious on the finish.

Lot 100 | This may be the best nose I have ever smelled. It is full of cooked agave. Has less brine than typical Fortaleza blancos. Has a touch of floral and I get fruits like apple and pear. Nice and fruity with a little anise. Maybe some plum. There is one other prominent note that escapes me. On the palate the balance is excellent. Cooked agave, fruits. I can taste the highlands. Very unlike most Fortaleza I have had. The earthiness and the minerals are not near as prevalent. Finish is awesome. Thank you my Fuerte Fanatic brother Keith Bogart for getting this for my birthday. You are the best my brother. I tasted this side by side with 150 and this is better by a notch.

Lot 174 | Nose: 23 Clearly my favorite Fortaleza blanco lot nose I can remember. Abundance of sweet spicy pepper, lemon lime citrus, and deep earthy agave. It smells dense, but delicate and lush. Palate: 27 Great mouth feel with plenty of smooth body. Front palate is silky vanilla which quickly turns into a spicy pepper and then soon followed by deep rich agave. Finish: 24 Long rich agave with plenty of butter

Lot 155 | This batch was my birthday pour, and go to hurricane treat. What’s there to say that I haven’t said before? Fortaleza Blanco is at the pinnacle of agave spirits.

Lot 170 | Nose: Light crisp pepper with a nice lemon citrus. Mild cooked emerges as the pour opens up. A pleasant herbal combination of basil, lemongrass, and gentle mint. Palate: Great mouth feel. Very similar to the nose. Velvet smooth lemon and light black pepper off the start. Develops into cooked agave. Good evolution and complexity. Great pour when you can find it.

Lot 173 | Nose: Tart cider note with rich underlying sweet aromas. An elusive hint of pineapple tinged with a metallic? element. Light mineral and black pepper follow. Flavor: Full mouth spicy cinnamon, peppery entrance. The evasive sweet piña impression found in the nosing, continues through to the flavor profile. Medium body.

Lot 150 | Muted agave nose and subtle palate with some bitterness on the finish. Glad I didn’t buy a bottle

Lot 154 | Freshly cracked bottle found at a delightful little bar in downtown Blue Ridge GA. Was able to share with family, making this one of a kind blanco all the sweeter. Such an incredible pour.

Nose: agave cooked / earth / pepper / mineral/ apple / citrus / lemongrass/ lavender/ lactic Taste: cooked agave bomb / pepper / cinnamon/ melon / orange peel / citrus / lemongrass / mint / brine-salt Finish: so much agave and pepper creating a cinnamon flavor sensation that lingers even though the mouthfeel is wet and totally non-viscous. Clean rainwater taste stays with you This blanco (lote 150) gives you everything on the palate. The nose was good, but underwhelming considering the strength of the taste. The finish has a few notes that stay, but otherwise there’s a quick clean finish that is enjoyable.

Lot 167 | Nose: Starts off with heavy spice and pepper. Builds into a sweet cooked agave and nice earthy elements. Lemon citrus on the backend. Palate: Sweet cooked agave with a very nice silty smooth velvet mouth feel. Spice and pepper builds on the finish numbs the roof of my mouth. Sweet lemon with mild vanilla. Long nice finish. Fortaleza is a beautiful treat. This lot is a lot more peppery and spicy than the other lots I’ve had. If you see it, buy it.

Lot 163 | Nose: Lemon pepper agave. Medium sweetness, slight herbal and vegetal aspects. Flavor: Medium mouth feel. Lemon sweetness which develops into a nice pleasant agave. Gentle, clean, and great. Can’t go wrong with fortaleza

Lot 157 | Very nice legs. The nose is sweet with agave and less briney than some lotes I have tasted. Smell of mint, vegetal, orange peel. The taste is agave sweet with earthy notes and honey. This is a nice lote with less olive and brine than others I have had. I like this lote a lot and would buy it again if I see it.