Fortaleza is made by fifth-generation tequilero Guillermo Sauza (yes, that Sauza, though the family sold off its eponymous brand decades ago), who in the 1990s sought to re-create the tequila his great-great-grandfather made a century before.
The agave is crushed by a traditional tahona (or stone wheel), fermented in small wooden vats, and distilled in tiny copper-pot stills for maximum quality control.
Notably, Fortaleza is a "lowlands" tequila, which is made from agave that takes longer to ripen than highlands versions and typically has a sweeter flavor. Sure enough, Fortaleza is silky smooth, coming on sweet and a little spicy – like coconut candy with a touch of cinnamon – but leaves you with a briny finish, almost like a salted glass rim.
Fortaleza is perfection.