Don Fulano Blanco Fuerte was recently named the world’s best tequila at a spirits competition. A Forbes contributor was able to try it.
Don Fulano
The best tequila of 2024 is Don Fulano’s Blanco Fuerte. That’s according to the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, one of the industry’s most prestigious spirits competitions. The Tasting Alliance, which runs the San Francisco competition and many others, unveiled the winner at a tasting event in October called Top Shelf. Forbes previously covered this news, but I recently had a chance to taste Fuerte and have fallen hard for this overproof boozy tequila. It’s got heavy agave and citrus notes and stands out from the dozens of tequilas I try each month. And at $59.99 a bottle, it’s attainable for me and most other tequila drinkers. Here’s a closer look.
What Makes Fuerte The Best Tequila According To San Francisco World Spirits Competition
One of the most impressive things about Don Fulano, Blanco Fuerte’s win this year is that it was not only named best silver (unaged or blanco) tequila but best tequila overall. To earn this award it had to beat out reposado and anejo tequilas, which are aged and generally cost more than silver or blanco tequilas.
Accomplishing this is no small feat. The San Francisco World Spirits Competition receives hundreds of spirit entries each year that are blind taste tested by a team of industry experts. You have to produce an excellent spirit to earn a double gold medal and a Best In Class distinction is generally the sign of a product that is truly special.
Developing An Elite Tequila
Don Fulano’s origins are steeped in history. The brand is owned by the Fonseca family, who have been farming agave in the highlands of Jalisco for five generations. More than 30 years ago the family, branched out into distilling opening the La Tequileña Distillery (NOM 1146), which produces many tequila brands. Don Fulano tequilas are made with only three ingredients: hand-selected Maduro and Pinto agave, a proprietary yeast and volcanic water. The resulting tequilas are unfiltered and free of additives. I’ve tried several other Don Fulano tequilas and enjoyed them as well but the Fuerte is a critic favorite and personal favorite as well.
My Tasting Notes
I’ve had the chance to taste this tequila several times as a sipper and have also begun experimenting with it for cocktails and it really does succeed on both fronts. At 100 proof it’s designed to have a higher alcohol content than a regular tequila. You might expect more alcohol means more burn, but that doesn’t happen here. You get a strong booze backbone but it’s still smooth and has a mellow mouthfeel that makes for easy drinking. I get prominent agave and citrus notes on the finish and love every part of drinking this tequila.
For margaritas, it adds a level of booze and a strong agave flavor. I also love it in a tequila and tonic — this is a go-to drink for me but sometimes the tequila flavor can be drowned out by the strong tonic. That doesn’t happen here.
Bottom line: this is a world-class tequila that lives up to the hype of its recent award. I love having it around for my own drinking but it’s also fun to ask guests who are over the house if they want to try the tequila that recently was named world’s best by a prestigious spirits competition.
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