Highly anticipated Tequila Fortaleza Grayslake allocations and fresh Thursday craft drops have officially landed at Beer Bazaar! Happy #NewBrewThursday! Rachelle is behind the counter this evening serving fresh draft pours—though her mouth is currently full of pumpkin pie. ‘Tis the season!
Our retail displays and coolers are stocked with the holy grail of artisanal blanco tequila, award-winning Wisconsin rye whiskeys, imperial autumn lagers, fruit-forward hazies, and hemp-derived THC tropical tonics organized below by producer.
- Release Date: Thursday, September 4, 2026
- Bartender on Duty: Rachelle
- Location: Beer Bazaar Bottle Shop & Taproom (107 Center St, Grayslake, IL 60030)
- Store Hours: Open daily until 10:00 PM (Fridays & Saturdays until 11:00 PM)
- Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes
- Content Curator: Beer Bazaar Beverage Curation Team
Tequila Fortaleza Grayslake: The Holy Grail of Blanco
Finding genuine, artisanal, additive-free tequila has become incredibly difficult, making Tequila Fortaleza one of the most sought-after spirits in North America. We have secured a strictly allocated shipment for our local tequila enthusiasts.
Blanco Tequila (40.0% ABV — VERY LIMITED RESTOCK • LIMIT 1 PER PERSON)
- Accolades & Ratings: Tequila Matchmaker: 89/100 (#1 Top-Rated Blanco) | Distiller: 93 Points | Beverage Testing Institute: 95 Points
- Production Style: Crafted from 100% estate-grown Blue Weber agave, stone-crushed with a traditional tahona wheel, and double-distilled in traditional copper pots.
- Tasting Notes: Delivers alluring aromas of rich cooked agave, fresh lime zest, and cracked black pepper over a palate of buttered squash, briny olive, and crushed mineral earthiness.
- Note: Due to extreme national scarcity, this bottle is strictly limited to one per customer.
Driftless Glen Grayslake Whiskey & Brandy
Hand-crafted in Baraboo, Wisconsin, Driftless Glen Distillery sits at the edge of the Driftless Area—a unique geological region renowned for its pristine aquifer water and intense climate variations that produce exceptional barrel-aged spirits.
1. 5-Year Straight Rye Whiskey (48.0% ABV / 96 Proof — Restocked!)
- Accolades & Ratings: San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Gold Medalist | Wine Enthusiast: 93 Points (Top 100 Spirits)
- Grain Bill: Distilled from a local Midwestern grain bill featuring 75% rye.
- Tasting Notes: Delivers a rich, warming palate loaded with spicy rye grain, cracked black pepper, dark cinnamon, honeyed caramel, and toasted oak with a long, bold finish.
2. 5-Year Brandy (46.0% ABV / 92 Proof — Restocked!)
- Accolades & Ratings: San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Gold Medalist | Beverage Testing Institute: 92 Points (Exceptional)
- Aging Process: Matured for five full years in charred American oak barrels.
- Tasting Notes: Pours a deep amber with rich aromas of toasted oak, dried raisin, buttery caramel, and subtle vanilla bean that finish warm, smooth, and velvety.
Avery The Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest & 9th Hour Brewing
Heavy-hitting autumn lagers and sessionable ales have arrived from Colorado’s Avery Brewing Company and Villa Park’s 9th Hour Brewing Co..
Avery Brewing Company (Boulder, CO)
- The Kaiser (8.0% ABV Imperial Oktoberfest): A colossal imperial Märzen built to conquer autumn. Pours a deep burnished copper with a heavy-hitting malt backbone bursting with toasted bread crust, dark honey, caramelized malt, and a firm, cleansing German noble hop bitterness (Untappd: 3.82 / 5 | BeerAdvocate: 90 Outstanding | RateBeer: 97).
9th Hour Brewing Co. (Villa Park, IL)
- Hopped to Adopt (6.5% ABV Grapefruit Hazy IPA — Restocked!): A high-juiciness hazy IPA infused with real grapefruit. Pours cloudy golden with a pillowy soft mouthfeel brimming with fresh-squeezed ruby red grapefruit zest, candied orange peel, and tropical hop aromatics (Untappd: 3.82 / 5).
- Emily’s Ale — Strawberry Edition (5.4% ABV Strawberry Blonde Ale — Restocked!): A smooth, golden blonde ale conditioned on real ripe strawberries. Light-bodied and approachable with a delicate grain backbone and a clean, sweet berry finish (Untappd: 3.72 / 5).
- Umlauts Not Optional (4.8% ABV German-Style Kölsch — Restocked!): A crisp, traditional German-style light ale brewed for pure sessionability. Features subtle pilsner malt sweetness, delicate floral noble hops, and a bone-dry, snapping finish (Untappd: 3.68 / 5).
Surly THC Tonics Lake County & Willie’s Remedy Mixers
For non-alcoholic alternatives, we have restocked our alternative beverage coolers with fast-acting tropical THC mocktails and water-soluble THC mixology elixirs.
Surly Brewing Company (Minneapolis, MN)
- Surly Brewing Company — Limelight Lounge: Blue Lagoon (10mg THC Tonic): A vibrant, zero-proof tropical cocktail tonic inspired by the classic poolside drink. Delivers zesty lemon-lime citrus, sweet blue curaçao flavor, and 10mg of fast-acting hemp-derived THC over a crisp, sparkling finish.
Willie’s Remedy (Hemp-Derived Mixers)
- Willie’s Remedy — Social Tonic (Restocked!): Crafted by Willie Nelson’s legendary hemp brand as an approachable alcohol alternative. These water-soluble liquid mixers are highly versatile and easily mixed into custom mocktails or sparkling water.
- Low Dose Option: 5mg THC per serving (85mg total per bottle).
- Standard Dose Option: 10mg THC per serving (170mg total per bottle).
In-Depth Craft Spirits & Brewing Breakdown
To help beverage enthusiasts navigate this Thursday drop, here is an educational look at the distinct distillation techniques, malt profiles, and alternative beverage science featured in today’s inventory:
1. The Traditional Tahona Wheel Extraction
Tequila Fortaleza is globally celebrated for honoring historical agave production methods. Rather than using industrial roller mills to shred the roasted agave, Fortaleza uses a massive volcanic stone wheel (the Tahona) to gently crush the cooked piñas. This labor-intensive process extracts the sweet agave juices without releasing bitter tannins from the plant fibers, resulting in an exceptionally smooth, earthy, and complex blanco tequila that industrial methods cannot replicate.
2. Imperial Oktoberfest (Märzen) Construction
Traditional German Oktoberfest lagers (Märzens) typically hover between 5.5% and 6.0% ABV. Avery Brewing Company‘s The Kaiser pushes this style into “Imperial” territory by significantly increasing the Munich and Vienna malt bill. The result is an 8.0% ABV behemoth that amplifies the toasted bread and dark honey flavors while maintaining the clean, crisp lagering profile of a true Bavarian festival beer.
3. Water-Soluble THC & Nano-Emulsion
Products like the Willie’s Remedy Social Tonic utilize nano-emulsion technology to make cannabis extract water-soluble. Because THC oil naturally repels water, nano-emulsion breaks the oil down into microscopic particles that disperse evenly into any liquid. This allows you to mix the tonic directly into soda or juice without the oil floating to the top, while also providing a much faster onset time (typically 15-20 minutes) compared to traditional edibles.
Food & Beverage Pairing Suggestions
Elevate your tasting experience at home with these recommended pairings:
- Tequila Fortaleza Blanco: Pair alongside fresh sea bass ceviche, fish tacos with lime crema, or a sharp, aged white cheddar.
- Driftless Glen 5-Year Rye Whiskey: Excellent when sipped alongside smoked beef brisket, dark chocolate truffles, or a mild cigar.
- Avery The Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest: Match with hearty autumnal dishes like roasted pork shank, hot Bavarian pretzels with mustard, or smoked sausage.
- 9th Hour Hopped to Adopt: Pair with spicy Thai green curry, mango habanero wings, or a fresh citrus salad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy Tequila Fortaleza in Grayslake, Illinois?
Beer Bazaar carries highly allocated drops of Tequila Fortaleza in our retail bottle shop at 107 Center Street in downtown Grayslake. Due to extreme scarcity, bottles are strictly limited to one per customer while supplies last.
Is Willie’s Remedy Social Tonic legal?
Yes. Willie’s Remedy products are formulated with hemp-derived Delta-9 THC containing less than 0.3% THC by dry weight, making them federally compliant under the 2018 Farm Bill for adults 21 and older.
Can I build custom mix-and-match 4-packs at Beer Bazaar?
Yes! You can mix and match individual cans across all featured breweries, including 9th Hour Brewing and Avery Brewing, in our package shop.
Does Beer Bazaar offer online holds or store pickup?
Yes! You can view current bottle shop stock and place orders directly on the Beer Bazaar Web Store. (Note: Highly allocated items like Fortaleza may be restricted to in-store purchase only).
Hub & Spoke Cluster: Related Grayslake Events
Explore our connected event hubs and upcoming taproom activities:
- Pillar Event Hub: View our complete lineup on the Grayslake Community Events Calendar.
- First Friday Party: Join us for First Fridays Karaoke Grayslake on the first Friday of every month.
- Tuesday Trivia: Gather your team for Tuesday Trivia Night Grayslake every Tuesday at 6:30 PM.
- Draft & Package Hub: Browse active glass pours on the main Beer Bazaar Taproom Menu.
Visit Beer Bazaar Tonight
Stop by Center Street today to catch Rachelle (once she finishes her pumpkin pie!), browse these fresh spirits and craft cans, and pick up your weekend releases!
For inventory holds or product questions, call us directly at (224) 541-4494. See you in the historic Village of Grayslake center!
Whether you are hunting for Tequila Fortaleza Grayslake to elevate your home bar or seeking a rare Tequila Fortaleza Grayslake pour, our shop remains your premier destination. We pride ourselves on sourcing Tequila Fortaleza Grayslake for local connoisseurs who demand authenticity. Because Tequila Fortaleza Grayslake inventory moves rapidly, we encourage early visits to secure your bottle. Our team is always ready to discuss why Tequila Fortaleza Grayslake stands above the rest. Experience the Tequila Fortaleza Grayslake difference today at Beer Bazaar. With Tequila Fortaleza Grayslake supplies dwindling, don’t miss out on this Tequila Fortaleza Grayslake release. We look forward to seeing you in Grayslake soon!
