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 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.

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 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

Lot 21 | On the nose, that distinct Fortaleza agave and saline/brininess. The green olive notes, minerals and that earthiness that I have come to enjoy. On the palate, rich mouthfeel, completely coats the taste buds and they’ve really nailed the proof. It tastes a little hotter but the flavor is intense. I think at higher proof, the heat would overwhelm the flavor punch. Interestingly enough, I’m getting all agave and spices and brine, some citrus, but not that really nice pineapple rind note I got from the Lote 20. It’s really hard to pick which one is better, I’d have to line them up in a blind. This is, yet again, another exquisite tequila from Fortaleza. The price has gone up a little bit here so I’ll knock a little down on value, but it’s still solid at $65. Very delicious tequila. Definitely my second place valle pick.

Buttery & creamy, agave bomb, always the best, this is what tequila is supposed to be!

Lot 21 | Lot 21 I would have rated it a 91, however the price I paid was a bit much. Wow,simply wow. Aroma: Stone,Agave,Citrus Taste:Agave,Honey,Butter,Stone,Citrus,Molasses,Mint,Tropical Punch. After tasting this the Blanco is much softer in flavor, this burst with flavors,short and compact. To me, this is truly enjoyed with small sips.

Lot 21 | Nose: Agave fresh from the horno. Snappy minerals. Citrus and potting soil. Trace mintiness Fresh. Flavor: Pepper and cinnamon leap out of the glass, playing foil to the opulently sweet agave. Some herbal undertones join the mint, as does some salinity and anise. Finish: The flavors and mouth feel hang in for a good long time. Creamy fade.

Lot 17 | Tasted side by side with other SS lotes. This was the favorite. Even preferred over lot 20. Exceptional tequila.

Lot 18 | Lote 18, I don’t know what went wrong but but both bottles had a shitty finish

Lot 21 | White pepper was more dominant in this lote but still amazing as always.

Lot 20 | Nose: Rich agave sweetness, orange peel, mint, cinnamon and a dash of anise. Wet crushed gravel on a hot day. Warm enveloping aromas. Flavor: Greeted with sweet and heat. The buttery and viscous texture tames the back of the throat heat and slight bitterness. Wild flower honey. Bursting agave throughout. Finish holds onto that bitter note.

Lot 20 | Didnt disappointed… need to do a side by side comparison with another lot, but Fortaleza is just a great brand