Fortaleza Reposado Tequila

Incredibly herbal! It's almost entirely menthol. There's a bit of sweetness, but it's completely masked. Overall, this is a very dry spirit. Some salt is also present, but salt and menthol? Yuck! I might be able to find something to mix with it. It certainly has depth, but the overwhelming menthol lingers on the finish. It's astonishing how different this is from the Corralejo or Clase Azul reposados. This is certainly a revitalizing drink, but I wish the menthol flavor didn't linger so much. It lacks the richness of the T1 reposado, but the finish is shorter and less bitter. Given its slight citrus note, it might be good with lime. I combined some of this with Kahlua because Corralejo Reposado pairs well with Kahlua due to its rich, earthy flavor. This offers a different, more refreshing experience. It creates a new coffee flavor profile and complements the tequila. I wouldn't call it the ultimate choice, but it's an enjoyable pairing that's better than the individual components. It does not work with raspberry liqueur. It pairs quite well with St. Germain and actually works acceptably with Cointreau. When paired with Licor 43, it induces nausea. Also, a note of caution regarding the cork: the cork is about two inches long and bulges in the center, making it incredibly easy to break. I suggest twisting it to remove it the first time and then inserting it only slightly or even cutting it. After consuming a third of the bottle, I can detect green olives and green peppercorns mixed with sage, creating an astringent initial taste that quickly fades as subtle pineapple notes briefly appear before giving way to a balanced, long-lasting herbal finish. Pepper and agave are clearly noticeable, and there's a touch of creaminess. Hints of mint are present throughout. This is good, but confusing because it tastes more like a Blanco tequila due to the green olive presence. The flavor is somewhat harsh, but otherwise quite good. If I could combine the beginning of the T1 reposado with the finish of this one, I'd be content with a holiday reposado. As it is, the Fortaleza reposado tastes a bit too much like a blanco. The astringency and mint bite are comparable to El Tesoro Blanco. It's a dry spirit that is good on its own, but there's too much lime, olive, and mint for my preference. It certainly packs a punch, though, if that's what you're after. I definitely prefer El Tesoro Blanco, however.

Rating: 18/23 I'm evaluating a sample of this alongside the remnants of my bottle of the blanco and several other tequilas. I wasn't fond of this when I previously owned a bottle, but that was early in my tequila exploration, and this is certainly a demanding tequila. I'm eager to try it again. Nose: The wood imparts some sweetness and mellows the blanco's olive brine. However, I still detect some olive brine, along with subtle lime and a hint of tropical fruit. It's a more complex and well-rounded aroma. Palate: The complexity is immediately apparent. I taste brine, minerals, spice, and light caramel. There's a touch of mint, a dash of lime, some faint vanilla, and a bit of cooked agave. The barrel aging adds earthiness, balances everything, and enhances the depth. Some fruit is present in the form of orange (likely aged in a bourbon barrel) and possibly a hint of another slightly sweet, tropical fruit, like green pineapple. It's significantly less oily than the blanco. Finish: The complexity diminishes. There are indistinct herbal, vegetal, earthy, spicy, and briny notes here, but they become muddled. - Conclusion - The blanco is very good, but between the two, I must select this one due to its complexity, depth, and balance. This is a truly remarkable demonstration of how a short period in a barrel can significantly enhance a tequila. I can't imagine scoring this below a 17. I'm leaning towards an 18 or 19, though a 20 is conceivable. I find this and Fuenteseca 7 to be quite similar in quality, despite their completely different styles. It's a difficult choice, but if I had to pick one, I might favor the Fuenteseca. This is more balanced and possibly more refined, but the Fuenteseca possesses more richness and impact, and I find it to be generally more palatable. It's a very tough decision, though. I could change my mind at any moment, but for now, this is receiving an 18. Thank you for the sample!

Batch 86, neat. It's clear and appears as a light straw color with slow-moving legs. The nose offers abundant cooked agave, mixed fruit, a hint of banana, vanilla, minerality, and oak. The palate echoes this with sweet cooked agave, a touch of cinnamon, roasted pear, subtle oak, vanilla, herbaceous notes, butterscotch, ripe banana, and black pepper. The finish is quite lengthy, sweet with hints of vanilla, oak tannins, herbs, and olives. Overall, it's highly intricate and easy to drink. Numerous flavors emerge and seem to evolve throughout the tasting and even between pours. It's a bit expensive, but I can't pinpoint another spirit with this flavor profile. A must-try, and I'll keep a bottle for special moments.

Resembles a very light pinot grigio. Exhibits thinner legs, with nice beads. Nose: Baked agave, with a noticeable peppery quality. Still quite buttery but earthier than the blanco. Cooked Meyer lemon, hints of green olive. Traces of dried mango or papaya, slight mint. Red apple, lighter pear, blood orange, grapefruit, nice Ceylon and Saigon cinnamon, a touch of allspice, dried ginger. Adding water reveals a hint of chamomile and sharpens the pepper. On the palate: A powerful agave hit, refreshing; the oak is well-integrated and warming on the tongue. More tropical fruit on the palate than the nose suggests. A beautiful peppery finish with cinnamon and earth notes. Outstanding.

The appearance is nearly clear with just a faint straw hue. The aroma is dominated by lime and salt, with black pepper present in the background. Sweet agave and herbal flavors come through on the palate. The sweetness isn't overwhelming. The mouthfeel is somewhat thin. The finish is medium in length, tending towards the shorter side. This is a clean, smooth tequila. It reminded me of El Tesoro Reposado due to their similar clean taste and production methods. Tasting them side-by-side, I noticed a bit more black pepper in the El Tesoro. Both are high quality, but I'd favor the Fortaleza if I had to choose.

This is my initial experience discovering and appreciating a tequila. An intensely sweet, agave-forward nose with peppery herbaceous notes and a light suggestion of oak. The alcohol isn't very prominent in the aroma, but the overall intensity of the smells is remarkable, far more potent than any bourbon, cognac, rum, or gin I have encountered. Agave also dominates the palate, but not in an unpleasant way. Other flavors include oak, pine, bitters, cinnamon, pepper, and diesel. The finish is very floral with a lingering diesel note. It's dry and sticky. Excellent spirit. Wonderful for sipping, and also superb in a lemon basil margarita.