Style Summary
A traditionally crafted, small-batch añejo tequila from one of the most respected artisanal producers in Jalisco. Fortaleza Añejo combines mature Blue Weber agave with extended American oak aging, delivering remarkable depth while preserving the earthy, mineral-driven character of the agave.
Region: Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico
Agave: 100% Blue Weber Agave
Style: Añejo Tequila
ABV: 40%
Nose: Rich cooked agave leads the way, followed by caramel, vanilla, orange peel, and roasted nuts. Layers of butterscotch, cinnamon, black pepper and subtle earthy minerality emerge with time in the glass.
Palate: Full and beautifully textured, with sweet roasted agave, caramelized fruit and vanilla balanced by baking spices, toasted oak and pepper. Notes of dried orange, almond, and cocoa add complexity without letting the oak overwhelm the spirit.
Structure: Rich and rounded yet distinctly agave-driven, with excellent balance between sweetness, spice, oak and Fortaleza's characteristic earthy minerality.
Finish: Long, warming, and complex, with lingering cooked agave, caramel, cinnamon, pepper, and toasted oak.
Fortaleza Añejo is produced using remarkably traditional methods, including slow-cooking mature agaves in brick ovens, crushing them with a volcanic-stone tahona, open-air fermentation, and distillation in copper pot stills. The tequila is subsequently matured in used American oak barrels.
The result is an añejo for drinkers who want aged tequila that still tastes unmistakably of agave. Rather than relying heavily on oak sweetness, Fortaleza retains the rustic, vegetal, and mineral personality that has made the distillery particularly sought after among serious tequila enthusiasts.
Matured for approximately 18 months in American oak, developing additional richness, spice, and complexity while maintaining the character of the agave.
Ready to enjoy now. As a distilled spirit, Fortaleza Añejo does not require further bottle aging and will remain stable for many years when stored upright in a cool, dark environment.
Excellent enjoyed neat as an after-dinner spirit. It also pairs beautifully with grilled or smoked meats, mole, roasted pork, dark chocolate, caramelized desserts, and aged cheeses.
Serving Recommendation: Serve neat at room temperature in a tequila or tasting glass. Let it sit a few minutes in the glass to let the deeper agave, citrus, spice, and oak notes emerge.
