Lot 35 | Nose: Sweet agave jumps out immediately, grounded by a subtle petrichor earthiness. Hints of strawberry licorice, cinnamon, and a touch of citrus follow, creating a layered and intriguing aromatic profile. Mouthfeel & Palate: The texture is silky and mouth-coating, offering a rich, full experience. Cooked agave comes through first, supported by savory green olive and a flicker of chile pepper heat. Cinnamon adds warmth and depth without overpowering the balance. Finish: Long and satisfying, with lingering spice and a subtle ethanol bite that brings structure without harshness. Notes of peppermint and anise trail off gently, leaving a clean, spiced impression. Overall Thoughts: Surprisingly smooth for 46% ABV. The minimal ethanol presence lets the complexity and nuance really come forward. Compared to the blanco, this expression offers more depth and intrigue - definitely a standout in the lineup

Lot 36 | The aroma leans toward a rich roasted nut character, with prominent citrus. Petrichor adds an earthy freshness, while ethyl remains a steady presence. On the palate, petrichor and citrus take center stage, seamlessly intertwined with the depth of cooked agave’s sweet potato essence. Roasted almonds and cashews bring a nutty warmth, while mint, butterscotch and an agave sweetness—reminiscent of lightly sweetened tea—add layers of balance. A gentle peppery note lingers. The finish carries faint traces of sweetness and pepperiness, with a subtle dryness settling on the tongue.

Lot 35 | Tasted at the Agave Bros event in Santa Barbara 02/22/25

Lot 35 | $15 2oz pour in San Francisco

Lot 20 | Agave nose, little musty. Palate is decent with some pepper

Lot 26 | Nice agave nose, odd palate and finish. Slight bitterness. Fort SS is not my profile preference.

Lot 31 | I tasted lotes 26-S, 28-S and 31-S side by side to see where I think 31 lands. The short answer is between 28 and 26. I have always thought 26-S was special and this one did not overtake it. The nose is nicer than 28 with a little more cooked agave. Citrus is there with even a touch of orange. It is earthy but less so than other Fortaleza. I also get olive but it is light. The overall nose is well balanced. On the palate it is nice and agave forward. Next comes black pepper. I taste citrus and olive. It is briny with an earthy taste. Minerals come forward too. Alcohol works well with this one. I definitely like it and I am looking forward to my next pour.

Lot 25 | Tasted at the fantastic Inlet Harbor Lounge. Cooked agave, brine, light pepper, olive, some funk. One of my favorites!

Lot 31 | Nose Agave, salt, brine, lime, minerals, cement, butter and herbs. Palate Very refreshing, solid punch of agave, black pepper, butter, olive and lime rind. Finish Medium to long finish with an enjoyable length of heat on the tongue I tasted it side by side with the 20S and this is a the clear winner in my opinion.

Lot 26 | Nose: floral/ agave and citrus/ earth / mineral/ herbal/ Taste: agave sweet! / pepper/ earth/ vegetal-herbal / apple / banana/ citrus / lime / spearmint/ brine/ Finish: smooth as silk / glides over your palate giving a uniform complete taste - only after a few sips do individual notes break away from the melody and introduce themselves/ clean spring water feel This still strength is superb. It brings ultimate flavor but without any high abv harshness. The nose is floral like most Fortaleza expressions, and the taste also has similarities to other Fortaleza expressions. This specolote, 26-A, could well be a benchmark for high proofs.

Lot 28 | Nose: Cinnamon, mineral, sour/sweet/cider fruitiness. Citrus, mild white pepper, mint and a slightly medicinal note - in an appealing way. Background cookie spices. A uniquely pleasing aroma profile. Flavor: Robust pepper, caramelizing brown sugar. Rich and creamy in the mouth. Flavor notes have ballast and potency. Finish is lengthy, but brings no new players to the table.

Lot 26 | Nose: Vegetal and herbal off the bat. Phase 2 is Earth and pepper. Phase 3 is sweet tropical fruit. Flavor: Clean crisp lemon agave vanilla. Very nice and pure agave and natural sweetness. Gentle but flavorful. Very fruity with lemon citrus. Delightful delicate pepper and vanilla. Fortaleza still strength is a dream. One of my absolute favorites.

I was fortunate enough to have this at a tasting event. Wow such an amazing still strength! Agave bomb! Such an amazing high proof with tons of flavor. Nose: tons of cooked agave, followed by black pepper, citrus, olive, vegetal, minerals, brine. Palate: the nose really carries through to the palate. Tons of agave, followed by black pepper, citrus, olive, vegetal, brine, minerals, even some butter. Just wish I can actually find a bottle.

Lot 23 | Upon revisiting, the aroma reveals a harmonious blend of cooked agave and minerality, accompanied by notes of butterscotch, cooked sweet potato, and citrus. On the palate, lemon citrus and butterscotch intertwine with warm cocoa, cooked agave, and a subtle pepperiness, while distinct minerality and enlivening peppermint add depth to the flavor profile. The finish is characterized by fading agave, citrus, and peppermint notes, lingering on the tongue with refreshing minerality.

Lot 26 | Vegetal & agave nose with a palate of olive, brine and agave. Delicious

Lot 28 | I like this lote 28-S but not to the same level as 26-s. The ABV is not quite as seamless as with the 26-S and is ever so slightly too forward. Still has great agave taste and finishes with olive and brine. It is a good buy at msrp.

Lot 27 | It’s been a while since finding some Still Strength. And I had to go to Fortaleza to get it! Lot 27 served in La Cava de Fortaleza. Gracias a Kobe! So creamy! The higher strength always enhances the aroma and flavors for me. Intense, agave sweetness. This one is exceptional.

Lot 26 | So like most, I am a fan of Fortaleza. I am also a fan of Still Strength (one of the Fuerte Fanatics). This particular Fort SS Lote 26-S, while not considered a special Lote is absolutely special in my book. The nose is cooked agave with citrus and black pepper. It is then followed with a nice olive and earthy smell. I can pick up minerals and vegetal along with a brine. On the tongue the agave is forward and it follows like the nose with pepper, citrus and olive. I also get and nice butter taste with a touch of brine. The higher alcohol works in favor with enhanced aromas and taste. I only wish I had a case of this right now. If you see this lote do not pass it by.

Nose: Crisp agave, pepper, and pepper upfront. Vegetal and herbal come through. Settled into fruity cherry, pear, and orange blossom. Flavor: Solid agave at the start. Earth, pepper, and sweetness follow. As it settles, the fruitiness comes through. Grape skins, cherry, tropical fruits. Honey and vegetal on the finish. Love this pour. Only downside is trying to find this bottle

Lot 26 | Tasted at Fortaleza

Lot 33 | Nose: Spices, minerals and patio agave. Flavor: Full mouth feel. Velvety sweetness with a pop of pepper. Clean. Lingering white pepper.

Lot 24 | As colder days start to show up, this still strength shines. It has a fantastic nose but somehow the palate is a little bit all over the place. While an argument can be made that this offering is starting to lose points in value, there are few 46% players in the market and most are at a similar price point.

Lot 20 | Lot 20. The finish was a bit surprisingly hot, as it sat for quite awhile. Otherwise, a lovely Fortaleza.

Lot 24 | Nose: A tart burst of citrus, wrapped in light baking spice. Clean and fresh. Fruity. Caramelizing brown sugar agave aromas dominate. Hints of peach pit. Flavor: Rich agave punch; a pepper kick. A spritz of minerals. The agave develops nuance and depth as it rolls around the tongue. Medium body with balanced salinity and spices.

Lot 20 | Tasted at the Agave Bros “Battle of the Blancos” event