Distillery
Fortaleza
Fortaleza is an artisanal tequila producer based in the town of Tequila (Jalisco, Mexico). It produces 100% agave tequilas using traditional methods (stone/brick ovens, tahona, fermentation in wooden vats, copper stills) and a range that includes Blanco, Still Strength, Reposado and Añejo.
- Tequila · Jalisco · Mexico
- Since 2005
- 4 products
The story
The Fortaleza brand was launched in 2005 after Guillermo Erickson Sauza restored the family's old distillery (La Fortaleza) in the town of Tequila. The Sauza family has roots in tequila production dating back to the 19th century (with distilleries and operations documented since 1873). The distillery was originally used until the mid-20th century; Guillermo resumed traditional production from the late 1990s and relaunched the brand on the international market.
Production philosophy
Preserving traditional, artisanal methods: no industrial shortcuts, small-batch production, respect for the raw material and preservation of historical techniques (slow baking, tahona milling, natural fermentation, double copper distillation, non-industrial bottling). Priority is given to agave flavors and authenticity.
Territory
Tequila Valley, town of Tequila, State of Jalisco, Mexico.
Awards and recognition
Best New Spirit of 2020 (Spirited Awards — Tales of the Cocktail) for Fortaleza Reposado Winter Blend 2019
Production method
Agave grown in the Tequila Valley, slow baking in stone/brick ovens for ~36 hours with steam, milling using tahona (volcanic stone), fermentation in open wooden vats with family yeasts, double distillation in traditional copper stills, distillation close to bottling strength (~46% for many expressions). Aging in used American oak barrels (re-chipped and re-charred) for aged expressions; hand-blown bottles.
Distillation
Double distillation in traditional copper stills; 'close to proof' distillation (bottling strength after distillation, typically around 46% for some expressions).
Ageing
Aging in used American oak barrels (re-chipped and re-charred); Fortaleza Reposado rests about 7 months, Fortaleza Añejo about 2 years, according to official information.
Characteristics
- Type
- Distillery
- City
- Tequila
- Categories
- artisan tequila
- 100% agave tequila
- tahona-crushed tequila
- small-batch pot-still tequila
- tequila aged in American oak
- Raw materials
- Agave (Tequilana Weber, blue agave)
- Casks and ageing vessels
- Used American oak barrels (re-chipped and re-charred)
- Representative products
- Tequila Añejo 70cl - Fortaleza
- Tequila Blanco Still Proof 70cl - Fortaleza
- Tequila Fortaleza Blanco 70cl
- Tequila Fortaleza Reposado 100%Agave 70cl
What makes it distinctive
- Traditional production: stone ovens, tahona for milling, wooden fermentation vats
- Double distillation in historic copper stills and bottling close to proof to preserve agave aroma
- Hand-blown bottles and small-batch production
- NOM 1493 (associated with the La Fortaleza distillery) and master distiller Guillermo Erickson Sauza (fifth generation of the Sauza family)
- Core range: Blanco, Still Strength, Reposado, Añejo
