Fortaleza Tequila is produced at the Tequila Los Abuelos distillery (NOM 1493) in Tequila, Jalisco — the same historic estate where the Sauza family has made tequila for over five generations, beginning with Don Cenobio Sauza in 1873. Guillermo Erickson Sauza, his great-great-great-grandson, re-established the estate with the Fortaleza name in 2005 with a singular commitment: to make tequila exactly as his ancestors did, without shortcuts, additives, or industrial methods. Fortaleza is now one of the most respected and coveted additive-free tequila brands in the world, admired by purists, bartenders, and collectors alike.
Every step of Fortaleza production is ancestral. Estate-grown 100% Blue Weber Agave is slow-cooked in small stone and brick ovens (hornos), then crushed using a two-ton volcanic tahona stone wheel pulled by tractor — a labor-intensive method most producers abandoned generations ago. The extracted mosto is naturally fermented for three to five days in open-air wood vats, then double distilled in small copper pot stills that have been in the distillery for over a century. The Añejo is then aged for approximately 18 months in used American whiskey barrels, which develop deep richness while preserving the cooked agave character at the core. Each bottle is hand-blown in Tonala, Jalisco, with a piña-shaped cork cap hand-made by estate workers. 100% additive-free.
ABV / Proof
| Distillery | Tequila Los Abuelos (La Fortaleza), Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico — NOM 1493 |
| Producer | Guillermo Erickson Sauza — 5th generation Sauza family, Est. 1873 |
| Agave | 100% estate-grown Blue Weber Agave, 7 to 8 years to maturity in the Tequila Valley at 4,000 feet |
| Production | Stone brick oven (horno) cooking → tahona stone crushing → open-air wood vat fermentation → double distillation in copper pot stills |
| Aging | Approximately 18 months in used American whiskey barrels — 100% additive-free |
| Bottle | Hand-blown glass, Tonala Jalisco — piña cork cap hand-made on estate |
| Proof | 80 Proof |
| ABV | 40% |
| Bottle Size | 750ml — released in numbered lots |
| Country | Mexico, Jalisco, Tequila Valley |
Tasting Notes
Color: Warm straw-amber with golden hues — 18 months of honest American oak
Nose: Sweet butter, caramel, butterscotch, and cooked agave open immediately. Vanilla, dried fruit, tropical hints of pineapple and peach, and a gentle cinnamon spice develop with air. The agave never disappears behind the barrel.
Palate: Rich, oily, and thick in the best possible way. Butterscotch, toffee, caramel, and roasted nuts lead with the cooked agave core intact throughout. Citrus, white pepper, cloves, and dried earth add complexity. Smooth and layered with no artificial sweetness.
Finish: Long and warming — vanilla, oak, cinnamon, and earthy agave linger in a clean, sustained close. Never harsh.
FAQ
What makes the tahona method different?
Most tequila producers use mechanical shredders to extract agave juice — fast, efficient, and uniform. The tahona is a two-ton volcanic stone wheel that slowly crushes the cooked agave piñas over several hours, extracting juice while leaving some natural sugars in the fiber. The result is a rounder, more complex, earthier spirit with more agave character. It is significantly more labor intensive than mechanical methods, which is why so few producers still use it.
Is Fortaleza truly additive-free?
Yes. Fortaleza is one of the most celebrated additive-free tequilas in the world. No glycerin, no caramel coloring, no oak extract, no sweeteners — nothing beyond agave and time. The depth and richness in the Añejo come entirely from the tahona process, natural fermentation, and 18 months in genuine American whiskey barrels.
Where can I buy Fortaleza Añejo online?
Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast, insured shipping nationwide.
100% Secure payments
Your details are protected and safe with us.
Fortaleza Tequila is produced at the Tequila Los Abuelos distillery (NOM 1493) in Tequila, Jalisco — the same historic estate where the Sauza family has made tequila for over five generations, beginning with Don Cenobio Sauza in 1873. Guillermo Erickson Sauza, his great-great-great-grandson, re-established the estate with the Fortaleza name in 2005 with a singular commitment: to make tequila exactly as his ancestors did, without shortcuts, additives, or industrial methods. Fortaleza is now one of the most respected and coveted additive-free tequila brands in the world, admired by purists, bartenders, and collectors alike.
Every step of Fortaleza production is ancestral. Estate-grown 100% Blue Weber Agave is slow-cooked in small stone and brick ovens (hornos), then crushed using a two-ton volcanic tahona stone wheel pulled by tractor — a labor-intensive method most producers abandoned generations ago. The extracted mosto is naturally fermented for three to five days in open-air wood vats, then double distilled in small copper pot stills that have been in the distillery for over a century. The Añejo is then aged for approximately 18 months in used American whiskey barrels, which develop deep richness while preserving the cooked agave character at the core. Each bottle is hand-blown in Tonala, Jalisco, with a piña-shaped cork cap hand-made by estate workers. 100% additive-free.
ABV / Proof
| Distillery | Tequila Los Abuelos (La Fortaleza), Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico — NOM 1493 |
| Producer | Guillermo Erickson Sauza — 5th generation Sauza family, Est. 1873 |
| Agave | 100% estate-grown Blue Weber Agave, 7 to 8 years to maturity in the Tequila Valley at 4,000 feet |
| Production | Stone brick oven (horno) cooking → tahona stone crushing → open-air wood vat fermentation → double distillation in copper pot stills |
| Aging | Approximately 18 months in used American whiskey barrels — 100% additive-free |
| Bottle | Hand-blown glass, Tonala Jalisco — piña cork cap hand-made on estate |
| Proof | 80 Proof |
| ABV | 40% |
| Bottle Size | 750ml — released in numbered lots |
| Country | Mexico, Jalisco, Tequila Valley |
Tasting Notes
Color: Warm straw-amber with golden hues — 18 months of honest American oak
Nose: Sweet butter, caramel, butterscotch, and cooked agave open immediately. Vanilla, dried fruit, tropical hints of pineapple and peach, and a gentle cinnamon spice develop with air. The agave never disappears behind the barrel.
Palate: Rich, oily, and thick in the best possible way. Butterscotch, toffee, caramel, and roasted nuts lead with the cooked agave core intact throughout. Citrus, white pepper, cloves, and dried earth add complexity. Smooth and layered with no artificial sweetness.
Finish: Long and warming — vanilla, oak, cinnamon, and earthy agave linger in a clean, sustained close. Never harsh.
FAQ
What makes the tahona method different?
Most tequila producers use mechanical shredders to extract agave juice — fast, efficient, and uniform. The tahona is a two-ton volcanic stone wheel that slowly crushes the cooked agave piñas over several hours, extracting juice while leaving some natural sugars in the fiber. The result is a rounder, more complex, earthier spirit with more agave character. It is significantly more labor intensive than mechanical methods, which is why so few producers still use it.
Is Fortaleza truly additive-free?
Yes. Fortaleza is one of the most celebrated additive-free tequilas in the world. No glycerin, no caramel coloring, no oak extract, no sweeteners — nothing beyond agave and time. The depth and richness in the Añejo come entirely from the tahona process, natural fermentation, and 18 months in genuine American whiskey barrels.
Where can I buy Fortaleza Añejo online?
Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast, insured shipping nationwide.
100% Secure payments
Your details are protected and safe with us.