Brad R. rated 7d ago

Fortaleza Reposado - Winter Blend 2025

85 SCORE

“Nose: Earthy and agave-driven with notes of chocolate, oak, black pepper, and a vegetal quality. There’s a noticeable touch of alcohol on the nose, but enough depth to keep it interesting as it opens up. Palate & Mouthfeel: A sweet agave core leads the way, followed by cinnamon, caramel, orange zest, green apple, and apricot. The fruit and spice play well together, and while the mouthfeel is pleasant, there’s a slight drying quality that builds with each sip. Finish: The finish carries that drying sensation forward, but lingering cinnamon, orange zest, sweet cooked agave, and the influence of the Italian dessert wine barrels keep it engaging long after the sip. Final Thoughts: This is a unique and genuinely delicious tequila that brings something different to the table. The dessert wine barrel influence is present without completely overshadowing the agave, making for a memorable pour. That said, the value proposition is hard to ignore. At $400 at the distillery that’s more than double the MSRP of the previous release, it’s difficult to justify the price. -8 points for value.”

Brad R. rated 7d ago

Fortaleza Reposado - Winter Blend 2024

85 SCORE

“Value 5/10 If secondary pricing 1/10 The nose doesn’t click for me. The ethanol is too assertive, making it difficult to spend much time pulling apart the subtler aromas underneath. Palate & Mouthfeel: Thankfully, everything changes once it hits the palate. It’s bright and agave forward with layers of caramel and honey. The standout for me is the subtle malolactic funk that I tend to associate with French oak - it adds a nice savory dimension without getting in the way of the agave. The flavors are well balanced and enjoyable from start to finish. Finish: Shorter than I expected, but a lingering black pepper note hangs on and fades gradually, leaving a clean finish. Final Thoughts: This was an interesting one because my experience with the nose and palate couldn’t have been more different. I didn’t enjoy nosing it, but I genuinely enjoyed drinking it. That said, it doesn’t quite separate itself from the crowd. It’s a well made tequila, but compared to some of the more adventurous WB releases, this one feels a bit safer. While this one is executed well, it doesn’t stand out in the lineup. ”

Brad R. rated 7d ago

Fortaleza Reposado - Winter Blend 2023

90 SCORE

“Value scored 6/10 If secondary value 2-3/10 Nose: Cooked agave with raw sugarcane, bright lemon and a vegetal backbone. Oak is present, while a touch of papaya brings a subtle tropical sweetness. Palate & Mouthfeel: Thin but oily on the palate, giving it more presence than the body suggests. The nose carries through with cooked agave, sugarcane, and citrus, but this is where it starts to separate itself. Tropical fruit and fresh jalapeño add a unique layer, and there’s a distinct rum distillate character that immediately reminded me of the blancos from Alambique Serrano. The undertones are remarkably similar to my experience with Alambique de Cobre, which is something I haven’t really found in tequila before. Finish: Clean and medium in length. The raw sugarcane lingers the longest, with just enough lemon hanging around to keep it fresh. Final Thoughts: This one may not be for everyone. The profile goes in a direction I don’t often find in tequila, and I’m not convinced every agave purist will connect with the undertones. I certainly did. It’s different without feeling gimmicky, and that’s exactly why it works for me. This is my favorite release in the WB series so far.”

Brad R. rated 7d ago

Fortaleza Reposado - Winter Blend 2022

84 SCORE

“Value gets 5/10 - this is when prices really started to jump compared to the early releases. Value would be 1/10 on secondary pricing. Nose: Black pepper jumps out right away, followed by a healthy dose of oak. There are some nice floral notes and a bit of citrus underneath, but the oak definitely takes center stage. Palate & Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is on the thinner side, but the flavors still come through well. Sweet cooked agave leads into plenty of black pepper, with lemon adding some brightness. The floral character carries over, and there’s an almost piney note and lots of oak from the barrel. Finish: Medium long and pepper forward. It leaves a lingering tingle on the tongue that makes you want to keep going back for another sip. Final Thoughts: The Hungarian oak is a little assertive for my palate, but I appreciate that this takes a different approach than the rest of the WB lineup. It stands apart without losing its identity, and that’s something I always like to see.”

Brad R. rated 7d ago

Fortaleza Reposado - Winter Blend 2021

88 SCORE

“Giving 7/10 on value based on SRP Would be a 2 or 3/10 at secondary Nose: I’m getting Cherry Garcia vibes right away. I also get sweet agave, a slightly vegetal edge and a little black pepper sneaking through in the background. Palate & Mouthfeel: The agave comes through first, followed by sweet cherry that really carries over from the nose. There’s a touch of oak, plenty of almond vanilla and a nice layer of baking spices rounding everything out. Finish: It lingers without feeling heavy. It starts off sweet, then gradually fades into those baking spice notes. Final Thoughts: This is a super easy sipper. It’s not overly complex, but it’s very enjoyable and lands right in that sweet spot for me…It maybe teetering a little too sweet, but still lands just right for me.”

Brad R. rated 8d ago

Fortaleza Reposado - Winter Blend 2020

90 SCORE

“Gave a 7/10 for value at SRP Would be 1/10 for value at secondary prices Nose: Agave leads the way with vanilla and light oak, but what really stands out is the unmistakable beer influence. Notes of malt give it an unexpected twist that immediately sets it apart. Palate & Mouthfeel: The agave arrives first before the hops, malt, and barley begin to show themselves. There’s a slight astringency, but the sweetness of the agave keeps everything in balance. Despite the intensity of the flavors, the mouthfeel is surprisingly light, making it easy to keep coming back for another sip. Finish: Medium in length, clean, and lingering with a nice balance of sweet agave and savory malt notes. Final Thoughts: This may be an unpopular opinion, but I enjoyed this more than the WB19. It’s a more unique pour with a bit more complexity, and it offers something different without losing sight of the agave. If you have access to one, it’s absolutely worth seeking out.”

Brad R. rated 8d ago

Fortaleza Reposado - Winter Blend 2019

87 SCORE

“Value 7 at original SRP. Would be a 0 at current secondary pricing. Nose: Cooked agave leads the way with salted caramel, light oak, and a touch of toasted marshmallow. The barrel is noticeable but doesn’t overpower the agave, giving it a warm, approachable profile. Palate & Mouthfeel: The nose carries through nicely to the palate. Cooked agave remains at the center, backed by baking spices and a pop of white pepper. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with enough weight to keep it engaging without feeling heavy. Finish: Medium long finish with lingering barrel spice and a pleasant peppery note that sticks around just enough to keep you coming back for another sip. Final Thoughts: This is a solid repo at its SRP. If you have access to one and you’re a Fortaleza fan, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy what this brings to the table. It stays true to a traditional profile while adding just enough barrel character to keep things interesting.”

Brad R. rated 9d ago

Fuenteseca Reserva Extra Añejo 11-year

84 SCORE

“Breaks the bank. But I love Fuenteseca’s XA. Lots of barrel but I always get agave and honey across all expressions. Delicious ”

Brad R. rated 17d ago

Tequila Cabal Still Strength Blanco

89 SCORE

“Vegetal nose. This one on first sip is a sweet agave bomb! Full mouthfeel with a pleasing finish that keeps your taste buds tingling. ”

Brad R. rated 18d ago

Homies Añejo

77 SCORE

“Not a bad tequila by any means, but the barrel takes the lead a bit too much for my taste. The agave gets pushed into the background, and the added sweetness leaves it feeling more oak driven than agave forward. Well made, just not the profile I look for.”

Brad R. rated 23d ago

Valor Tequila Reposado

89 SCORE

“Give me the funk The nose on this one is super lactic and gives me Chamucos vibes in the best way possible. Medium viscosity - peppery on the palate and clean finish, drank more like an almatitan than a Chamucos - the funk tamped down a bit one sipped - 2oz pour at an event ”

Brad R. rated 28d ago

Herencia Mexicana Blanco

84 SCORE

“Not overly complex. But sweet and simple. The finish was a bit heavy on ethanol. Nice old school juice. (2oz mini bottle)”

Brad R. rated 38d ago

Trago Tequila Añejo

87 SCORE

“If the reposado gave me tropical banana notes - this one gives banana extract!. It’s so prominent - and I’m here for it. Very old school profile - I love tropical fruit notes.”

Brad R. rated 38d ago

Trago Tequila Reposado

87 SCORE

“Has a wonderful tropical banana note. Simple profile ”

Brad R. rated 38d ago

Trago Tequila Silver

85 SCORE

“Nose: Clean agave with plenty of brine, fresh mint and a healthy dose of anise. The anise is hard to miss, but there’s enough agave underneath to keep it from stealing the show. Palate & Mouthfeel: Medium full mouthfeel. Sweet agave hits first, followed by a punch of black pepper. Brine and mint keep things moving while the anise settles in and stays put. There’s a lot going on here, but it never feels busy. Finish: Clean, sweet and long. The agave hangs around while black peppercorn slowly builds, leaving a nice tingle across the palate. Final Thoughts: The anise pushes right up against my limit, but never quite crosses it. Beyond that, this has just about everything I look for in a blanco. It’s sweet agave, brine, mint and plenty of pepper. At 40% ABV it still manages to bring a surprising amount of flavor and spice. One I’d happily pour again.”

Brad R. rated 43d ago

El Gran Legado de Vida Añejo

91 SCORE

“Trademark NOM 1123 minerality and notes The barrel influence is restrained and the agave shines. This one is an instant classic. If you find one from 1123, grab it while you can!”