Confirmed Additive-Free Brand
On the nose, that distinct Fortaleza agave and saline/brininess. The green olive notes, minerals and that earthiness that I have come to enjoy. On the palate, rich mouthfeel, completely coats the taste buds and they’ve really nailed the proof. It tastes a little hotter but the flavor is intense. I think at higher proof, the heat would overwhelm the flavor punch. Interestingly enough, I’m getting all agave and spices and brine, some citrus, but not that really nice pineapple rind note I got from the Lote 20. It’s really hard to pick which one is better, I’d have to line them up in a blind. This is, yet again, another exquisite tequila from Fortaleza. The price has gone up a little bit here so I’ll knock a little down on value, but it’s still solid at $65. Very delicious tequila. Definitely my second place valle pick.
The infamous Lot 43! A friend shared a glass with me and I finally got to try a holy grail tequila. What can I say about this supposedly XA-blended Añejo other than it was delicious aged Fortaleza.
104-R, Yikes! It tastes like wood chips. Bitter herbal finish. Hot. Not the repo I’m used to from Los Abuelos. This felt rushed & not stabilized or cohesive. Sharp oak, fast mid palate and a rough finish. Will gladly buy another Lote and try again as I love Los Abuelos. Hold the line and don’t sacrifice quality for quantity y’all! Salud
Nose: Citrus, mineral, green pineapple, mint, thyme and spices. There’s a hard to identify umami note underpinning the profile. Flavor: Pepper warmth and tag along vanilla/cinnamon. Buttery, honey sweet agave. A touch of salinity. Finish: Fairly aggressive pepper finally integrates into a pleasing profile finish.
The 12 finalists are tequilas that offer vibrant and varied aromas and flavors with good texture and a pleasing aftertaste.
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Lou gives his seal of approval on this special reposado release from Fortaleza.
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One hundred percent. The term seems straight forward enough. You see it listed on labels constantly. But in the case of 100 percent blue agave tequila, you shouldn’t be so sure.
The team behind the Tequila Matchmaker have launched a “Verified Additive Free” program for tequila brands and distilleries. This is the first known independent, additive-free verification in the spirits world.
Instead of sampling tequila in its birthplace, I reached out to six of the top tequila experts in Mexico to unearth their favorites.
Each tequila has its own "flavor fingerprint," and each person has his or her own flavor preferences. Our propietary matching algorithm uses nine different characteristics to find the best matches for you. And, it gets smarter the more you use it. Download the app today - it's free - and let the Tequila Matchmaker figure out your own flavor preferences.
