This is my first taste of any of the Winter Blends and I did enjoy this one. The nose is very pleasing. Cooked agave, caramel, oak and vanilla. I get baking spices, molasses and fruits. On the palate, I get caramel and oak. Next comes cooked agave and vanilla. I get black pepper and molasses. A touch of cinnamon. Finish has a bit of alcohol. My biggest knock is on value. For the price you pay for this, there are so many excellent options.

Bright nose, unique. Fruit? Must be the rum influence. Palate isn’t bad, little pepper finish and easy going palate. Price is definitely a factor on winter blend.

Since I stopped chasing these bottles it’s fun to find it at a bar—cantina Mayahuel in san Diego has it. Aroma is my favorite part with plenty of sweetness—a touch more than regular repo. Taste is good but nothing to write about- just good. Finish is excellent and very smooth for the 44%, I wish it had more of a bite. Overall great but loses points for price.

Cinnamon spice, light sweetness, slight mint notes. Needs to open up a bit. Multiple Flavors dance on your tongue. Interesting barrrl blend. Price is up there, limited number of bottle produced

Aromas: Spicy, juicy, light barrel presence. More fruity than oaky. Opens to more dense and focused aromas. Cinnamon spice, light colored fruit, orange citrus. Succulent ripe pineapple and jackfruit. A touch of white pepper, and freshly hewn sawdust. Flavor: First swallow digresses a bit from the nose, but then aligns more closely to perceived aromas. Rests nicely in the mouth. Round with vanilla notes. Subtle, easy sipper.

The aroma wafts with dominant sweet red apple peel. Subsequent notes of caramel, oak, minerality, butterscotch, and a subtle brine converge with; what I would have thought was whiskey influence, but from what I’m learning is, Charanda barrels making its distinct presence known. Upon sipping, a discernible clean fruitiness emerges, which I attribute to the influence of Hungarian barrels. Sweet earthiness washes over the top of the palate along with the usual butterscotch, caramel, and minerality. Ethyl presence is nearly non-existent to me. The finish is fresh and fruity. Notably, rum-infused cinnamon imparts a subtle spicy end.

Good complexity and harmonious, the abv works very well for this profile. I was expecting the charanda influence to be more remarkable, but still works out good. Leans towards an elegant oaky profile, personally wished it had more blanco essence, but the profile works for the season.

I’m loving the Charanda influence with this new release. It’s going to be much more limited so I’m scared to see the price but the WB projects are always special and Fortaleza is some of the best of the best.

I really enjoyed this year’s WB. I’d rank it behind 2019 but ahead of the rest on my initial taste. This one has some nice fruit, caramel, and cinnamon notes that are perfect for the season. These are getting pricey but I do appreciate the experimental barrel project. This year’s inclusion of ex-Charanda Mexican rum barrel is a nice touch!

Has a very nice sauternes, golden syrup, and golden fruit like taste while picking up overripe banana, molasses, and sweet plantains from the Charanda Casks. Nose: Cooked Agave, Cinnamon, Apricots, Mexican Hot Chocolate, Date Syrup, Honey, Mangoes, Lychees, Sultanas, Butter Cake Palate: Cooked Agave, Raisins, Honey, Dates, Sultanas, Golden Syrup, Pineapples, Sweet Plantains, Overripe Bananas, Molasses, Yellow Plums, Apricots, Mexican Hot Chocolate Finish: Date Syrup, Overripe Bananas, Rum Raisins, Honey, Almonds, Cinnamon, Apple Pie, Mexican Hot Chocolate, Christmas Cakes

The best tequila I’ve ever had

Value takes score down

This tequila is amazing. It smells flavorful and not overpowering. Upon first sip, I got the sweetness of agave right off the bat. As it went down I was able to taste oak and vanilla with some pepper on the tip of the tongue. It doesn’t have a particularly long finish but more of a medium finish. On the second sip I was able to taste caramel and butterscotch. It was definitely an extremely pleasant tequila to sip and not mix. Salud!

Nose : Sweet , cinammon , citrus , baking spices , barrel notes . Taste : cinammon , slight vanilla/ caramel , citrus , oak barrel . Very tame slight peppery and briny finish . Another great blend. WB22 has this one beat though .

Nose: Cooked agave shines through the subtle barrel notes, white pepper, hints of vanilla/caramel, and baking spice! There’s some unique scents that I’ve never smelled before, probably coming from the charanda barrel! Light citrus/fruity and a bit of mineral! Palate: oak barrel, cooked agave, and alcohol are the first things detected from the first sip, followed by caramel, cinnamon, and light butterscotch and vanilla! There’s pepper, not sure if it’s black or white though! Maybe both..? Definitely taste the minerals! Finish: Clean finish, cooked agave, cinnamon, pepper, and barrel notes linger. Heat does down quickly. Overall: Great repo, but price is way up there! Limited supply played a big role! Paid $232 in Colorado! I wouldn’t pay anything north of $250 and even that price is pushing it… Salud!

Smells like butterscotch and vanilla

I was expecting to be disappointed but I was not. This is delicious. Maybe not such a unique flavor for the Winter Blend of the year but I appreciate it. I’d rank this number 2 after the 2019. I will definitely grab another bottle, or 2!

Strong vanilla and citrus with solid base of Carmel agave sweetness. Slight bitter oak with a long professional finish.

I really did not want to like this but… they’ve done it again. This is a truly special combination of aging that shines through the more you sip. The price point is on the verge of gouging (I paid $200 USD) but I do understand the economics behind it all. If you see this on a shelf I do think you need to experience all 1493 has to offer.

Nice aroma sweet cooked agave barrel not overwhelming. Taste was nice just like aroma and it coats the mouth nice. Finish is ok but expected something that would stand out just like the other 4 WB releases. Good all around just expected more for a special release.

This is a novelty and fun to try if available. Purchased at a the distillery and was ok with that as the WBs are unique.

ages in 3 kinds of wood. honey on the nose and tongue. vanilla filled Carmel aroma. very nice. honey notes make it unique.

Nose: gentle eggy/custard sweetness sort of like a vanilla. Proceeds to cooked agave with baking spices. Last note is a blend of pepper & minerality. Taste: marriage of cooked agave & tropical notes - mango coconut, some cinnamon. Consistent pepper notes. Solid mouth feel with a subtle lingering heat. The fortaleza agave resonates in your mouth leaving you wanting another sip.

nose: cooked agave, grassy notes, oak, hint of caranel, hint of ripe banana taste: caramel, cooked agave, oak, vanilla, brown sugar, finish: pleasant burn and medium finish. complexities shine thru