Quick answer: Fortaleza and Don Londrés are both 100% agave, 40% ABV blancos made slowly in Jalisco, and neither takes the shortcuts common in big tequila. Fortaleza comes from the town of Tequila, is stone-crushed with a tahona and comes from the Sauza family. Don Londrés comes from Atotonilco El Alto in the Highlands and is made by a family that has distilled since 1905. Fortaleza is the purist's reference point. Don Londrés is the rounder, easier first pour.
Full disclosure: we make Don Londrés. Fortaleza is one of the bottles we respect most in the category, so this comparison sticks to what each producer says and what independent sources report. Where the two differ, we say so plainly.
Side by side
| Factor | Fortaleza Blanco | Don Londrés Blanco |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Tequila, Jalisco (NOM 1493, Tequila Los Abuelos) | Atotonilco El Alto, Jalisco, Highlands (NOM 1518) |
| Cooking | Brick oven, about 36 hours | Brick ovens, 48+ hours |
| Milling | Tahona (stone wheel) | See the note below |
| Fermentation | Wooden vats | Natural fermentation |
| Distillation | Double distilled in small copper pot stills | Distilled twice in pot stills |
| Agave | Grown roughly 7 to 8 years, per the brand's description | Mature single-estate agave, 7 to 10 years |
| Strength | 40% ABV | 40% ABV |
| Family | Sauza family, restarted the distillery in 2005 (Guillermo Erickson Sauza) | Dre London and master distiller Francisco González, whose family has distilled since 1905 |
| Price | Varies widely by state and store, so check your retailer | $49 suggested retail ($51.99 direct online) |
Where each one comes from
Fortaleza is made at a restored distillery in the town of Tequila. According to a 2021 VinePair profile, Guillermo Erickson Sauza founded Tequila Fortaleza in 2005 on land his grandfather kept after selling the family business in 1976, and the family traces its first distillery to 1873. In Mexico it is sold as Los Abuelos, and in the U.S. it carries the Fortaleza name.
Don Londrés is made in Atotonilco El Alto, in Los Altos, the Highlands of Jalisco, under NOM 1518. Dre London, the music executive who discovered and managed Post Malone, built the brand with master distiller Francisco González. The González family has distilled tequila since 1905. If you want to know how the region shapes flavor, we broke it down in Highlands vs. Lowlands Tequila. And if the NOM numbers above are new to you, this guide explains what a NOM tells you.
How each is made
The shared ground is bigger than the gap. Both cook agave in a brick oven rather than a pressure autoclave, both ferment in a traditional way and both distill twice in pot stills. That puts them in the minority. Autoclaves and diffusers dominate volume production, which we cover in Horno vs. Autoclave.
The real production difference is the tahona. Fortaleza crushes cooked agave under a roughly two-ton volcanic stone pulled by a small tractor, according to VinePair. A tahona gently presses rather than shreds the fiber, and the result tends to read earthier, with more cooked agave and a slightly oily texture. We explain the trade-offs between tahona, roller mill and diffuser in our milling guide. The tahona is a real distinction, and we are not going to argue with it. It is the main reason Fortaleza has such a loyal following among tequila nerds.
Don Londrés's own story is about time. Agave harvested at 7 to 10 years, brick ovens running 48+ hours, natural fermentation, two passes through pot stills, and nothing added beyond agave and time. Longer cooking is not automatically better, but it does give a deeper cooked agave sweetness, and it is a deliberate choice.
How they taste
Expect Fortaleza to be earthy, peppery and savory, with olive brine and herbs that some drinkers love at first sip and others find intense. Expect Don Londrés Blanco to lean toward cooked agave, with a rounder body and a smoother finish. Highlands agave tends to read sweeter and fruitier, and long oven time pushes that rounder. Neither should burn. Taste is personal, so pour both neat in the same glass and decide for yourself.
Price and availability
Fortaleza's price and shelf availability swing by state and store, and its higher proof Still Strength bottling (46% ABV) costs far more and is often sold out. Don Londrés Blanco is $49 suggested retail, or $51.99 direct online, and is sold at 900+ U.S. retail locations including Total Wine, Spec's and ABC Fine Wine & Spirits. Check the retailer's own site before you plan a trip around either bottle.
Which should you buy?
Buy Fortaleza if you want the tahona-driven, earthy, vegetal style and you are curious about the Sauza family's restoration story. Buy Don Londrés if you want a rounder, easier blanco from the Highlands, made by a smaller family-distilled brand, and want to taste a slow-cooked mature agave blanco next to a benchmark. If you drink tequila neat, buy one of each. If you like how it compares to a bigger name from the same region, see Don Londrés vs. Patrón.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fortaleza the same as Los Abuelos?
Yes. It is the same tequila from Tequila Los Abuelos, sold under the Los Abuelos name in Mexico and as Fortaleza in the U.S., according to the brand's description on Tequila.net and to Cocktails and Bars.
Does Fortaleza use a tahona?
Yes. VinePair reports that Fortaleza crushes cooked agave with a roughly two-ton volcanic stone wheel after a 36-hour cook.
Where is Fortaleza made?
In the town of Tequila, Jalisco, under NOM 1493. Don Londrés is made in Atotonilco El Alto, Jalisco, under NOM 1518.
Do Don Londrés and Fortaleza both use brick ovens?
Yes. Fortaleza reports a roughly 36-hour brick oven cook, and Don Londrés cooks in brick ovens for 48+ hours.
Which is smoother, Fortaleza or Don Londrés?
Smoothness is subjective. Fortaleza tends to be earthier and more savory, while Don Londrés tends to be rounder with more cooked agave. Taste them side by side.
Keep reading: Tequila FAQ | Don Londrés vs. Don Julio | Tequila by the Numbers 2026. To taste Don Londrés yourself, start at the offer page.
Sources
- VinePair, Need to Know: Fortaleza (May 2021)
- Cocktails and Bars, Guillermo Erickson Sauza interview (2016)
- Tequila.net, Fortaleza Blanco listing
- Consejo Regulador del Tequila
Last reviewed October 2026 by the Don Londrés team.