Fortaleza Reposado Winter Blend 2020
92 proof (46% ABV) | 750mL | 2nd Winter Blend release | 7,050 bottles | NOM 1493 — Fortaleza Reposado Winter Blend 2020 is the second vintage in the distillery's annual cask-finish series: still-strength blanco aged across three barrel types — American oak ex-beer barrels, American oak ex-bourbon barrels, and French oak barrels that had held the inaugural 2019 Winter Blend — then married and bottled at the blanco's natural 46%.
Each component pulls its weight: the beer barrels contribute a cider-like sourness and lively, effervescent texture; the French oak adds vanilla and white-chocolate richness with a full mouthfeel; the ex-bourbon barrels take a lighter touch, letting Fortaleza's cooked-agave character shine. All of it starts from the Fortaleza fundamentals at Destilería La Fortaleza in Tequila, Jalisco — 100% Blue Weber agave, brick-oven cooked, tahona-crushed, open-air fermented in wood tanks, double-distilled in small copper pot stills, verified additive-free. A reposado tequila unlike any other in the series — available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
Tasting notes
Per TasteTequila's distillery-based review: cooked agave at the core, a warm dried-fruit nose, and a hint of cider-like acidity from the beer barrels that keeps the heavier French oak notes from overtaking the finish. Retailer notes add: citrus, caramel, butter, and sage on the nose; cooked agave, citrus, vanilla, apple, earth, and cinnamon on the palate; a long, rich, delicately spicy finish with the oily texture characteristic of tahona production.
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 2nd Winter Blend vintage — the beer-barrel experiment, never repeated
- 92 proof — three-barrel program: ex-beer, ex-bourbon, and French oak
- Only 7,050 bottles produced — long sold out at the distillery
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Neat in a tequila glass — this is the vintage for agave purists, with the oak playing a supporting role. Compare it against the 2021 or 2022 if you can find them.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2020 the first Winter Blend?
No — the series began with the 2019 release; 2020 is the second vintage.
What did the beer barrels add?
A slightly sour, cider-like aroma and a lively, effervescent texture — the most unusual component in any Winter Blend to date.
Is this the same proof as the 2021?
Close but not identical: the 2020 is 92 proof (46% ABV); the 2021 is 92.6 proof (46.3% ABV) cask strength.