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!

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

G.E.S. hit a home run with his 2023 Winter Blend! We are sipping Lote LWB-R-05 and feel that this expression adds certain organoleptic dimensions and depth which leans more towards an añejo with its delicate forward cooked agave, caramel, molasses, barrel spice, oak, cinnamon, honey, and butterscotch accompanied by a hint of sweet apple. It provides a long and smooth finish which balances sweetness with soft peppery notes. Overall en excellent sipping tequila…. Almost at a fault- as we have to temper our desire to finish the bottle!

The Charranda adds a nice unique touch. Notes of caramel, cinnamon, cardamom, pepper, nutmeg, orange peel, vanilla, and cooked agave. Perfect for the season. 9.5/10

Lote: LWB-R-05, bottled on 05-09-2023, tasted on 11-28-23. Color: yellow to dark yellow. Aroma: light sweet cooked agave, a touch of honey sweetness, earthy, hint of vanilla, wood note that becomes more noticeable as time goes by, minerality, hay. Slightly acidic & citrus. Palate: confirms aromas perceived, quite sweet on the palate with hay and light wood astringency. At the end light pepper spiciness. Dry agave fiber. Cinnamon. Finish is medium to medium long, a hint of sweet cooked agave with fibers and hay, hint of vanilla, hint of honey, cinnamon and wood notes persist. Warming.

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.

oh my god!!!! just got it today from fortaleza disterly in Mexico dam good. I just can't say enough sometimes words just don't work. but holly shit thus is good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!