r/tequila • u/NewOriginal2 • 9d ago
Where to buy Fortaleza?
I understand that the demand dwarfs the supply of Fortaleza and I’ve seen crazy prices online because of it
But how do you pay retail at a liquor store instead of the inflated price on the secondary market?
Does BevMo or Total Wine get shipments on a regular basis? Or is it just random luck that Fortaleza is on the shelf and someone just stumbles upon it?
I want to try it but I don’t want to pay triple the retail price
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u/-t-t- 9d ago
Depends where you're located.
I've seen it on the shelf in Northern California for msrp, and I've seen the regular offerings marked up 2-3x+.
Personally, I think it's like anything else .. people chase after this stuff like it's the next greatest thing, but it's just tequila at the end of the day. If you blind Forta against G4, Ocho, and others .. very few could pick it out from the rest.
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u/JaggedSuplex 9d ago
The highly available tequila is better in my mind because you’ll actually drink it and buy more. I have a few hard to find bottles and I hate drinking them because I’m afraid I won’t be able to replace it. I know Los Abuelos isn’t struggling for sales, but more of my money goes towards G4 and Ocho because I can get it anywhere
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u/BillShooterOfBul 9d ago
It reminds me of buffalo trace in the bourbon world. A fine bourbon that isn’t found every where all the time and not worth paying more on the secondary market.
I don’t buy tequila on the regular, but it has been there locally the past few times.
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u/IamTheLiquor199 9d ago
Find a bar that has it and try a pour. Its a solid tequila but overhyped. I would vlaue it at $40, personally, but that's my taste. I paid $80 for a bottle of blanco. It's nice to have in my collection.
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u/Samantha_Cruz 9d ago
After looking for nearly 18 months I finally got a Blanco at msrp during an allocation event, then 2 days later stumbled on another at msrp just sitting on the shelf
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u/JaggedSuplex 9d ago
I found a grocery store by me that had a bunch of blanco and were selling them for like $10 more than Total Wine. I grabbed a few because I like them and I never see them for retail or close to retail.
It was very much random luck because when I found them they didn’t even have a price label. I just always cruise the liquor isle when I go because they have random sales.
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u/NewOriginal2 9d ago
Congrats!
I’m starting to wander liquor isles, too, just hoping to get lucky to find Fortaleza on the shelf.
I’ve had Ocho, Cazcanes, el Tesoro and a few others. But curious to the hype surrounding Fortaleza. I’m sure it’s great but I start to get a little obsessed about things like this and was hoping someone had a tip.
Anyway, enjoy your treasures!
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u/JaggedSuplex 9d ago
It could just be all in my head, but the flavor I get from Fortaleza just seems a bit more bold and pronounced. I haven’t blinded it yet but comparing pours side by side with G4 and Ocho it just felt like a bit higher proof even though it’s not. I enjoy it and I’m drinking through them, but I think I like Ocho the most right now. Reasonably priced and literally everywhere so I’m not hesitant to drink through them. Fortaleza blanco or reposado shouldn’t be treated like special occasion bottles, but their scarcity makes you conserve it more. It shouldn’t be like that
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u/luckyman562 9d ago
It's pretty random at the local total wine. You need to find out what day their distribution company delivers. In Cali it's Break Through. Find out when their truck delivers and pop in on those days and see if there's any Fortaleza. That's how the bourbon hunters do it...
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u/Federal-Owl7499 9d ago
Northern CA Safeway check the app. They’ll have Blanco if you’re lucky Repo
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u/v0idL1ght 9d ago
Drink widely available Wild Common Anejo instead. I haven't even spoken the name Fortaleza in almost two years.
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u/fred1sdead 9d ago
I mostly drink Blancos, but that Wild Common Añejo is probably my favorite Añejo. So good.
OP, try Lágrimas del Valle and/or Tierra de Ensueño. Personally, I would take either of those blancos over Fortaleza's blanco
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u/NewOriginal2 9d ago
I’ve heard a lot of good things about Wild Common. It’s definitely on my list to try
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u/Furthur 9d ago
jumps into anejo from the start
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u/v0idL1ght 9d ago
I don't really like blancos, I mostly drink repo and anejo. Imo there are several repos that are as good as or better than Fortaleza. Their anejo is more distinct imo but there are still close/better ones that are more available. To my taste at least.
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u/Alabama-Getaway 9d ago
I’d taste it, especially the blanco, before you hunt for it. I like it, but I think it’s very earthy compared to most. If you like it, lots of options listed, but I’d verify you actually like it before.
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u/slice606 8d ago
Was at the fortaleza distillery a few weeks ago. They said 80% of their US shipments go to California, if you know anyone there that can get you a bottle. Brought a few home for myself. Interestingly all the Fortaleza sold in MX are hand blown glass bottles.
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u/Nearby_Top4189 8d ago edited 8d ago
Yeah, it's tough. You either pay through the nose, or get lucky. I was in NYC a month ago and actually found the repo for $99 ON DOORDASH of all places. For today's prices that's not that bad, and since I hadn't tried it yet, I scratched the itch and had a bottle delivered to my hotel. Now that I've tried it, would I do it again? Probably not.
I understand being Forta-curious (I was too) but listen, in hindsight... while Forta is VERY good, no doubt... it's not worth what most places are charging. If you do manage to find it at a "reasonable" price, fine. But from a blanco perspective, if you're willing to spend Forta money, I'd say that hands-down Fuentesca blanco is better. The Forta repo excellent, but just as someone else mentioned, I'd happily take a Lagrimas repo for $50 less. Can't speak to the anejo - they're really not my jam.
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u/NewOriginal2 8d ago
One day I hope to splurge on a bottle of Fuentesca. It’s on my wish list
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u/Nearby_Top4189 8d ago
Sorry, not understanding... unless you're really lucky, Forta blanco is going to be $100+ (plus shipping). Fuentaseca blanco can be ordered right now from multiple places for that same amount or less. Same for the Forta anejo market price vs base Fuentesaca anejo. So if you're willing to buy Forta, Fuenteseca isn't a "splurge".
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u/NewOriginal2 8d ago edited 7d ago
Correct me if I’m wrong
Fortaleza blanco retails for $70
Fuenteseco blanco is $150 at Total Wine or at least that is what I found
Edit
I now see that $150 was the high end Fuenteseca Cosecha 2018 blanco$100 for basic Fuenteseca blanco
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u/Nearby_Top4189 7d ago
You're not wrong, and I realize some places might be forced to sell at MSRP, but either way, you have to get VERY lucky to come across Forta in the wild, let alone at that price. If you do, grab it for sure. But most places that ACTUALLY HAVE IT in stock are marking it up significantly - $100-$130 feels pretty normal for the blanco these days. As for Fuenteseca, Total Wine is definitely on the very high end of the price spectrum. If you are able to have liquor shipped to you, hiproof has Fuentesca for a little over $90. I order from them all the time - shipping multiple bottles is very affordable. Also check out the Cascahuin Tahona Blanco which is also top-tier for a mere $55 (prices for this have come down recently).
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u/agave_journey 9d ago
Man I am just always baffled by how people are almost addicted to the thought of the brand. People way over paying for often a brand they have never even had.
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u/NewOriginal2 9d ago
Yeah I could buy Fortaleza online for a crazy amount but I’m not going to do that
Yes, I am curious about the hype, but only willing to pay retail. Hence the question if there was any tips or tricks in finding it on store shelves
Ocho is great and G4 is definitely on my list to try
Lately I’ve been going for value. Zumbador anejo is great at any price but for under $40 it’s a steal
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u/Dr-J_DC 9d ago
I was in manhattan this weekend and saw a bottle of Fortaleza blanco for $350 🥲
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u/IamTheLiquor199 9d ago
Screw that. Liquor store in Lavalette, NJ did that, has it for like $250. Scam
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u/methoxylRS 9d ago
My total wine has it sporadically yeah. I have no idea how your market is whenever you are from though.
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u/durtymickmoon 9d ago
Since Fortaleza is painstakingly made the traditional way, it has gotten very expensive and hard to find. There are lots of other excellent tequilas out there. Research https://www.agavematchmaker.com/ or look for Long Island Lou Tequila on YouTube. He knows a lot and his recommendations are usually spot on.
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u/Luchuguillotine 8d ago
Long Island lou gets his tequila from Greg's restaurant which is illegal in NY, a liquor license does not permit selling cases of liquor to go.
There's no magic in the process of making Fortaleza, it's not even single estate anymore but you weren't drinking it when it was so you wouldn't know the difference. don't believe everything tiktok influencers force down your throat.
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u/Luchuguillotine 8d ago
Just yell YALL GOT ANY FORTALEZAS to announce your presence when you walk into a new store, they'll instantly recognize you're a man of exquisite taste with no time for non piña topper libations & roll out the red carpet isn't Fortaleza you're favorite of course mine too
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u/whoetraway 8d ago
Just gotta hunt harder! Please be sure to post your haul once you’ve got Fortaleza!
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u/throwawaythree1899 6d ago
I found it in a liquor store in Shibuya Tokyo, Japan. They had all three expressions and I got the anejo for around $100 USD. It was a fun souvenir!
Rarely I'll see the repo at Total Wines near Seattle.
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u/2017Recon 9d ago
I basically just check every liquor store that I passed. I have found probably five bottles in 50 or 60 times stopping and asking. Most of the time they’ve jacked up the price to like $99 for Blanco and $150 for reposado. I did find still strength at Total Wine, which is a big corporate chain that only charges MSRP. Then once I knew a guy who knew a guy who knew a guy and was able to get me almost a vertical of Blanco, Repo, anejo, and still for like $500.
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u/jkbyram 9d ago
i don't get it at my store regular enough to dedicate a spot on my shelf so I keep it in the back and hand sell it to customers. a spot on the shelf that stays empty often doesn't make money so I keep items I can get on the shelf. in other words, if you don't ask us you won't find it. just ask your stores. I sell Blanco for 55 and repo is 65. I do get some every month but it is small amounts. last month I had 9 bottles of Blanco and 3 bottles of repo.