Tequila brand guide
Guillermo Sauza rebuilt his family’s old distillery around a stone oven, tahona and copper pots. Bottles can be hard to find; try a bar pour before buying.
Explore the bottles ↓
The family and the distillery
Fortaleza restored a small Sauza-family distillery in Tequila
Fortaleza launched in 2005, after Guillermo Sauza restored the family’s retained distillery in the town of Tequila, Jalisco. Work began in 1999 on the small brick oven, tahona pit, wooden fermentation tanks and copper pot stills.
The earlier family business was sold by Don Javier Sauza in 1976; the family kept the hacienda and distillery that became Fortaleza. Sauza tequila is a separate brand, now owned by Suntory Global Spirits.
Fortaleza launched as Los Abuelos, honoring Guillermo’s grandfathers. A US trademark dispute with Abuelo rum led to the Fortaleza name, while Los Abuelos continued in Mexico. Both names refer to the same tequila. Guillermo explains the two names in this interview.
Guillermo Sauza
Founder and family producer
Guillermo Sauza, Don Javier Sauza’s grandson, began restoring the family distillery in 1999 and launched Fortaleza in 2005.
Don Javier Sauza
Earlier family owner of the distillery site
Sold the earlier family tequila business in 1976 while the family retained the hacienda and small distillery that later became Fortaleza.
The four regular expressions are the unaged Blanco, its undiluted 46% Still Strength counterpart, and the oak-aged Reposado and Añejo. Winter Blend is a separate limited release.
Four regular expressions
Blanco and Still Strength differ in proof; the aged bottles add oak
Blanco, Reposado and Añejo are 40% ABV in the US; Still Strength is 46%.
Flavor notes below are the maker’s descriptions.
- Blanco
Blanco
40% ABV
Unaged
See shop listings · sold out when checkedUS shop price · 750 mL · 2026-10-04 · online listings; check delivery · tax and fees may be extra
About $21 a shot5 US menus · October 2026
Citrus, cooked agave, butter, olive and earth.
- Reposado
Reposado
40% ABV
Around seven months; exact age varies by lot
See shop listings · sold out when checkedUS shop price · 750 mL · 2026-10-04 · online listings; check delivery · tax and fees may be extra
About $20 a shot5 US menus · October 2026
Cooked agave, citrus, vanilla, apple, earth and cinnamon.
- Añejo
Añejo
40% ABV
American oak
See shop listings · sold out when checkedUS shop price · 750 mL · 2026-10-04 · online listings; check delivery · tax and fees may be extra
About $38 a shot4 US menus · October 2026
Butterscotch, caramel, toffee, citrus, hazelnut and cooked agave.
- Blanco
- Higher proof
Blanco Still Strength
46% ABV · 92 proof
Unaged
See shop listings · sold out when checkedUS shop price · 750 mL · 2026-10-04 · online listings; check delivery · tax and fees may be extra
Ripe agave, green olive, earth, butter, black pepper and vegetal notes.
How long Fortaleza spends in the barrel
Fortaleza Reposado spends around seven months in American oak; the exact age varies by lot and appears on the bottle. Fortaleza Añejo also ages in American oak.
Fortaleza’s Añejo specifications give 18 months; its process guide gives two years. Neither identifies which current lots the figure covers. Checked October 9, 2026.
Check the year on a Winter Blend bottle
Fortaleza Winter Blend is a separately named reposado release with an edition year. Compare the year, proof and cask details of the bottle offered. The 2019 edition won the 2020 Tales of the Cocktail Best New Spirit award.
Compare Fortaleza prices, finding a bottle and alternatives →
How it is made
Stone ovens, a tahona and copper pots
Fortaleza sources Azul agave (A. tequilana) from the Tequila Valley. The agave cooks for 36 hours in a stone oven, then cools for 24 hours. A two-ton volcanic tahona, pulled by an electric tractor, crushes the cooked agave.
Fermentation takes place in open wooden tanks with the family’s yeast. The maker says fermentation uses 100% agave sugars, without other sugars or yeast-accelerating chemicals. Two copper pot distillations bring the spirit close to its bottling strength, around 46% ABV. Still Strength is bottled without added water; regular Blanco is 40% ABV.
Reposado and Añejo age in used American oak barrels that are re-chipped and re-charred. The range comes in hand-blown bottles with agave-shaped stoppers.
Fortaleza is made at Destilería La Fortaleza in Tequila, Jalisco, by Tequila Los Abuelos, S.A. de C.V., NOM 1493.
Destilería La Fortaleza · Tequila, Jalisco
Explore other tequila distilleries on our full map →
Open Fortaleza’s producer and bottle record →
What it costs
Fortaleza prices and availability
Old Town Tequila’s October 4, 2026 US asking prices for 750 mL bottles ranged from about $85 for Fortaleza Blanco to $200 for Añejo. Try a bar pour before committing to a bottle.
All of these listings were sold out when checked.
| Bottle | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Blanco | See shop listings · sold out when checked750 mL |
| Reposado | See shop listings · sold out when checked750 mL |
| Añejo | See shop listings · sold out when checked750 mL |
| Blanco Still Strength | See shop listings · sold out when checked750 mL |
Prices are subject to change. Tax and fees may be extra.
Price sources and details
US bottle listings, checked October 4, 2026. Tax and delivery are extra.
- Old Town Tequila: Blanco, about $85 (750 mL).
- Old Town Tequila: Reposado, about $140 (750 mL).
- Old Town Tequila: Añejo, about $200 (750 mL).
- Old Town Tequila: Blanco Still Strength, about $110 (750 mL).
Alternative bottles from the same check
Old Town Tequila’s US listings below were checked October 4, 2026. All five 750 mL alternatives showed online stock that day. Tax and delivery are extra.
- El Tesoro Blanco: about $50.
- El Tesoro Reposado: about $65.
- El Tesoro Añejo: about $75.
- El Tequileño Still Strength Blanco: about $56.
- Tequila Ocho Plata: about $42.
When paying more for Fortaleza makes sense
At these asking prices, I would choose the comparable El Tesoro bottle for drinking and try a Fortaleza bar pour before spending more. Pay more for Fortaleza when you already want its particular character, its undiluted 46% Still Strength bottling or an exact lot or Winter Blend edition. The matched alternatives below explain what else your money can buy.
Where to find Fortaleza in the US
Open Fortaleza’s Find Us page for online sellers and its US bars, restaurants and retail list. Search the US list for your city or state, then contact a nearby shop about the exact expression, bottle size and total price. Call a listed bar if you would rather try a pour. The venue lists do not show live inventory, so confirm stock or the available pour before traveling or ordering.
Check the bottle before paying more
| Your purpose | Fortaleza starting point | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Try the agave profile | Blanco or a bar pour | Actual stock and total delivered price, or the bar’s pour price and size. |
| Explore higher proof | Still Strength, 46% ABV | Still Strength on the label and the bottle’s proof. |
| Add oak to sipping or a cocktail | Reposado | The lot’s age statement and the price of an available reposado alternative. |
| Choose a barrel-led gift | Añejo | The bottle offered and a comparable aged alternative. |
| Collect a named release | Winter Blend with an edition year | Exact year, proof, cask details and seller; decide what that edition is worth to you. |
Is Fortaleza additive free?
Yes. Fortaleza is additive free.
Sources and earlier records
Our Process — official Fortaleza page · Spirited Agave additive free brand list — August 2025
Our August 2025 additive free list records Fortaleza and Los Abuelos at NOM 1493, based on the earlier Tequila Matchmaker program.
Keep comparing
What to compare with Fortaleza
These US blancos are all 40% ABV. El Tesoro and Fortaleza use tahona milling; Ocho uses a roller mill and identifies the agave’s estate or growing region.
Three unaged tequilas at 40% ABV
- Blanco
Tequila Ocho Plata
40% ABV
Unaged
Roller milling and named estate vintages. The growing place varies with the bottle.
$42 · Old Town TequilaUS shop price · 750 mL · 2026-10-04 · online listings; check delivery · tax and fees may be extra
About $15 a shot9 US menus · October 2026
- Blanco
El Tesoro Blanco
40% ABV
Unaged
Tahona milling and fermentation with agave pulp at La Alteña.
$50 · Old Town TequilaUS shop price · 750 mL · 2026-10-04 · online listings; check delivery · tax and fees may be extra
About $12 a shot9 US menus · October 2026
- Blanco
Fortaleza Blanco
40% ABV
Unaged
Tahona milling and copper pot distillation in the Tequila Valley.
See shop listings · sold out when checkedUS shop price · 750 mL · 2026-10-04 · online listings; check delivery · tax and fees may be extra
About $21 a shot5 US menus · October 2026
El Tesoro has aged alternatives; El Tequileño offers a 50% blanco
For another tahona-made aged tequila, compare El Tesoro Reposado with Fortaleza Reposado, or El Tesoro Añejo with Fortaleza Añejo. Old Town Tequila’s US 750 mL listings on October 4, 2026 put El Tesoro Reposado at about $65 and Añejo at $75, with both in stock online. El Tesoro uses a tahona and ferments the extracted juice with agave pulp.
For a stronger blanco, El Tequileño Still Strength Blanco is 50% ABV, compared with Fortaleza Still Strength at 46%. The El Tequileño US 750 mL listing at Old Town Tequila was about $56 and showed online stock on October 4, 2026. El Tequileño cooks its agave in steam-pressure autoclaves; Fortaleza uses a stone oven.
Quick answers
Questions about Fortaleza
Who founded Fortaleza tequila?
Guillermo Sauza founded Fortaleza, which launched in 2005. He began restoring his family’s old distillery in 1999 and is Don Javier Sauza’s grandson.
Where is Fortaleza tequila made?
Fortaleza is made at Destilería La Fortaleza in Tequila, Jalisco. Its producer is Tequila Los Abuelos, S.A. de C.V., NOM 1493.
Are Fortaleza and Los Abuelos connected?
Yes. Fortaleza and Los Abuelos are the same tequila under two names. Los Abuelos was the original name; a US trademark dispute with Abuelo rum led to the Fortaleza name. Guillermo Sauza explains the change in his interview with Margarita Texas.
How strong is Fortaleza Still Strength?
Fortaleza Blanco Still Strength is 46% ABV, or 92 proof, in the US. It is bottled without added water. Regular Fortaleza Blanco is 40% ABV, or 80 proof, in the US.
Is Fortaleza Still Strength a limited Winter Blend release?
No. Fortaleza Still Strength Blanco is part of the regular four-expression range. Winter Blend is a separately named reposado release with an edition year.
How long is Fortaleza Reposado aged?
Fortaleza Reposado is aged around seven months in American oak. The exact period varies by lot and is printed on the bottle.
Why do some Fortaleza shops show a price but no bottle to buy?
A seller can retain a product page and displayed price after stock runs out. All four Fortaleza listings in our October 2026 check were sold out.
Is Fortaleza additive free?
Yes. Fortaleza is additive free.
When is paying more for Fortaleza worthwhile?
Pay more for Fortaleza when you want a specific expression, lot or Winter Blend edition. For a first bottle, I would try a Fortaleza bar pour or choose the corresponding El Tesoro bottle before paying $140 for Fortaleza Reposado or $200 for Añejo. Those US 750 mL asking prices were sold-out Old Town Tequila listings on October 4, 2026; El Tesoro Reposado and Añejo were about $65 and $75 there, with online stock shown.
How can I find Fortaleza in the US?
Start with Fortaleza’s Find Us page and US venue list. Contact a nearby retailer for the exact Fortaleza expression and total price, or call a listed bar about a pour. Confirm availability before traveling or ordering.
Which tequila should I buy instead of sold-out Fortaleza?
For tahona-made tequila, compare El Tesoro Blanco, Reposado or Añejo with the matching Fortaleza expression. For a stronger blanco, El Tequileño Still Strength is 50% ABV versus Fortaleza Still Strength at 46%; for estate and vintage labels, compare Tequila Ocho Plata. In Old Town Tequila’s October 4, 2026 US 750 mL listings, those El Tesoro bottles were about $50, $65 and $75, El Tequileño Still Strength about $56, and Ocho Plata about $42, all with online stock shown.
Is Fortaleza tequila kosher?
Yes, Fortaleza’s unflavored, CRT-approved 100% agave tequila is acceptable as kosher under STAR-K’s guidance.†
† STAR-K’s tequila guidance accepts unflavored, CRT-approved 100% agave tequila without certification. It prefers reliable certification for reposado, añejo and cristalino, and excludes mixtos and specified wine or cask labels. Check the full exclusions against the bottle; this general acceptance is separate from brand certification. Sources checked October 14, 2026. See Is tequila kosher? for bottle checks, agency differences and Passover requirements. ↩
Is Fortaleza tequila organic?
Organic certification for Fortaleza tequila is unconfirmed. Check the exact expression for an organic claim and named certifier.
Organic sources checked October 14, 2026.
Sources and photographs
Product facts and flavor notes: the producers linked below. Retail price sources appear beside the price comparison. Bottle photographs: brand and importer sources.
- Fortaleza Añejo — official Fortaleza pageChecked 2026-10-04.
- Fortaleza Blanco — official Fortaleza pageChecked 2026-10-04.
- CRT: Tequila Los Abuelos producer listing for Los Abuelos and FortalezaChecked 2026-10-04.
- Fortaleza History — official Fortaleza pageChecked 2026-10-04.
- Our Process — official Fortaleza pageChecked 2026-10-04.
- Fortaleza Reposado — official Fortaleza pageChecked 2026-10-04.
- Fortaleza Blanco (Still Strength) — official Fortaleza pageChecked 2026-10-04.
- Best New Spirit of 2020: Fortaleza Reposado Winter Blend 2019 — official Fortaleza pageChecked 2026-10-04.
- Spirited Agave additive free brand list — August 2025Checked 2026-10-06. August 2025 list preserves earlier Tequila Matchmaker entries.
- Guillermo Sauza on Fortaleza and Los AbuelosChecked 2026-10-06.
- Suntory Global Spirits tequila brandsChecked 2026-10-06.
- Fortaleza Find Us and US bars, restaurants and retail listChecked October 10, 2026. Contact listings for availability.
- El Tesoro processChecked October 10, 2026. Tahona milling and fermentation with agave pulp.
- El Tequileño Still Strength and productionChecked October 10, 2026. 50% ABV and steam-pressure autoclaves.