“Allure is a product of the surprising” – Jose Marti
I sit, holding glassware that accommodates a spirit as clear because the glass itself, between two coconut-growing palm timber within the continental United States’ solely tropical area able to supporting such flora: southern Florida. Overhead the breeze is indicated by the swaying evergreen leaves, although it’s hardly felt, and the sand beneath my ft (a pet peeve on most events) is providing a cool and welcome respite from the warmth of the midmorning solar.
That, then, makes no less than two departures from the norm for me: the colour of the spirit and the pleasure of the seashore. The event, as you would possibly assume, is a trip, and I discover myself right here in a meditative temper. Although I’m not sometimes one to benefit from the seashore, I do very a lot benefit from the ocean for all the common causes. It makes you are feeling small and insignificant, and that makes you smile. It gives context; in a world that usually makes little sense, there could be no mistaking that the ocean is giant and we’re small and at Mom Nature’s mercy.
The thought then happens that the spirits world is one other factor far bigger than I’ve given it credit score for. The rationale for that’s fairly by alternative: I don’t significantly dislike different spirits, however I overwhelmingly want bourbon, and so I make it my enterprise to wade in these waters every time doable. Nevertheless, when one is in such a spot (Florida, the seashore, and unfamiliar territory usually talking) it’s good etiquette to comply with the lead of locals. With tequila being the drink of alternative, I assumed I’d embrace this uncharted territory on my Malt Evaluate map and made the choice to evaluate the bottle at hand: Fortaleza Blanco Nonetheless Energy.
For many who – like me – are unfamiliar with a few of tequila’s particulars, enable me to briefly run down a little bit of what makes it distinctive. Tequila is made by distilling the fermentation of Weber Blue agave crops, a succulent within the lily household. It should comprise no less than 51% blue agave distillate and by legislation should come from one in every of 5 Mexican states, essentially the most well-known being Tequila, Jalisco in central Mexico.
The guts of the agave plant is first sluggish roasted and shredded, then mixed with cane sugar and yeast earlier than being fermented for quite a lot of days. As soon as deemed prepared, the fermentation is run a minimal of two instances by a nonetheless. “Blanco” is a designation sometimes reserved for non-aged blue agave plant distillate, although some blancos are saved for as much as two months in both chrome steel tanks or impartial oak barrels.
As somebody conversant in whiskey manufacturing, one instantly hanging parallel is the impact time has on every product. That’s to say: whereas whiskey spends nearly all of its manufacturing time being aged, tequila spends most of its time being cultivated. The blue agave plant mandatory for tequila manufacturing takes between six and eight years to achieve maturity, which can be proper across the candy spot for bourbon ageing. Because of this whereas the time invested in each is comparable; that point is spent in rising and harvesting for blanco tequila the place it’s spent extra passively on barrel ageing in whiskey making.
A few of these ideas swirl in my head as I watch the undulating waves wash proper as much as my toes, however then a good higher thought surfaces: “have a sip.” Earlier than my official notes, let’s parse a few of the specifics. Fortaleza Blanco Nonetheless Energy clocks in at 46% ABV and is so-named due to the additional proof it carries by forgoing water dilution (tequila is permitted to be proofed between 35% and 55%, although most fall on the low finish of the spectrum). Moreover, it’s verified as being additive-free.
The model debuted in 2005 however the household behind it has roots in tequila manufacturing that stretch again to 1843 with Don Cenobio Sauza, the great-great grandfather of Fortaleza’s present Proprietor/Operator Guillermo Erickson Sauza. The elder Sauza is thought merely as “the Father of Tequila” partially as a result of he’s the person who decided blue agave is the perfect agave for the spirit’s manufacturing, and he served as Tequila’s municipal president for a brief interval as nicely. In 1873 Don Cenobio turned the primary to export tequila to the US, pre-dating his largest rival and former companion Don José Antonio de Cuervo (of Jose Cuervo fame) by over 30 years. Let’s discover out what his great-great grandson’s spirit tastes like at the moment in 2022…
Fortaleza Blanco Nonetheless Energy – Evaluate
$55 SRP.
Shade: Clear
On the nostril: Chewing gum is the primary shock and it’s joined by contemporary squeezed lime, cracked black pepper, and honeydew melon. Notes of contemporary almonds and orange cake quickly waft out of the glass in addition to some agave syrup and curiously a candy string bean aroma. Total the scents play collectively properly and mesh nicely.
Within the mouth: Instantly a creamy mouthfeel carries a stunning burst of citrus and peanut shell to go along with the juicy honeydew word from the nostril together with the earthy verdant style of freshly picked string beans – a word that very a lot jogs my memory of my childhood. There’s additionally a little bit of smoky toffee on the again finish which joins the black pepper from the nostril. The end hums, however doesn’t distract from the luxurious texture or the refreshing cavalcade of flavors indicating that the proof level was chosen to spotlight stability slightly than brashness.
Conclusions:
Fortaleza Nonetheless Energy is a scrumptious pour that does a implausible job of melding brilliant fruit notes with earthy, extra vegetal ones. The proof level delivers fabulously for these extra acclimated to spirits over the 100-mark however, due to its creamy texture and alluring taste, it doubles as a strong sipping blanco for anybody extra accustomed to your normal 40% ABV choices. Oftentimes calling one thing a “crowd pleaser” could be a backhanded praise, however I feel it’s actually commendable reward on this case. It’s clear to me that Fortaleza Blanco Nonetheless Energy is well worth the hype, and I’m positive you’ll be inclined to agree whether or not you’re between two palm timber or having fun with it within the consolation of your personal house.
