Fortaleza Tequila Reposado Winter Blend 2025

The 2025 release of Fortaleza's celebrated Winter Blend series continues the distillery's tradition of creating a unique annual reposado by combining tequilas matured in carefully selected specialty casks. This edition begins with Fortaleza Reposado aged in ex-American whiskey barrels, then incorporates tequila rested in French oak casks that previously held rare Passito di Caluso dessert wine from Italy. The result is a remarkably layered expression that balances Fortaleza's signature cooked-agave character with rich fruit, spice, and confectionary notes. 

Tasting Notes

Color
Pale gold with bright straw highlights.

Nose
Cooked agave, vanilla bean, caramelized sugar, fig, plum, baking spices, citrus peel, and light oak. Floral notes and subtle minerality emerge with time in the glass.

Palate
Rich and oily mouthfeel. Sweet cooked agave leads into flavors of raisins, caramel, cinnamon, vanilla, dried fruit, honey, and baking spices. The wine-cask influence contributes a distinctive fruitiness without overwhelming the agave core.

Finish
Long and warming with lingering notes of black pepper, oak spice, caramelized sugar, minerals, and cooked agave.

Production Details

For the 2025 Winter Blend, Fortaleza used a combination of standard Reposado and tequila aged in French oak barrels that previously held Passito di Caluso wine. The final blend is reported to be approximately 60% Fortaleza Reposado, 20% first-fill wine-cask tequila, and 20% second-fill wine-cask tequila, bottled at 46% ABV.

Collectability

Winter Blend releases are among the most sought-after annual tequila releases. Reviewers generally place the 2025 release among the stronger recent Winter Blends, particularly praising its balance of agave character and dessert-wine-cask influence. 

Distillery: Fortaleza
Type: Reposado Tequila
Origin: Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico
ABV: 46% (92 Proof)
Production: Traditional stone-oven cooking, tahona-crushed agave, open-air fermentation, copper pot distillation.