With the celebrity tequila market becoming more saturated by the day, it’s increasingly difficult to parse what differentiates one tequila from the next. Luckily, we’re here to do that for you. And while the Código brand is backed by a country singer, a pair of pro athletes, and a prolific businessman, it’s far from a commercialized contrivance of tequila.
The super-premium spirit hit shelves in 2016 after being produced privately by five Mexican families for over a hundred years. And though its big debut was the idea of a handful of men from north of the border, Código is careful to adulate its Mexican origins in both branding and production.
Read on for nine things you should know about Código 1530.
It comes in five variations.
Código has five different tequilas: Blanco (unaged), Rosa Blanco (aged for one month), Reposado (aged for six months), Añejo (aged for 18 months), and Extra Añejo Origen (aged for six years.) As is the rule of thumb for most liquors, the longer it’s aged, the more expensive it gets. Código 1530 Extra-Añejo Origen will run you almost $300, but it’s one of the oldest Extra Añejos on the market, and is considered a super-premium tequila.
It’s made using some of the purest water in the world.
Código is made with rainwater that’s been filtered through volcanic rocks — this water is naturally purified as it runs down the mountains in the Amatitán region of Mexico.
Código likes to mix wine and tequila.
Like you on your rowdiest of nights out, Código thinks mixing wine and tequila is a good idea. Código 1530 Rosa Blanco is a rosé tequila that’s aged for a month in uncharred French white oak Napa Cabernet barrels, a process that marks it with a blushing hue. The aging process also imparts the earthy, vegetal tequila with vibrant floral and berry notes, making for a balanced and sweet spirit. Even though rosé tequila may sound like a gimmick, we promise it’s delicious.
There are country songs about it.
Even though you’re probably used to country singers crooning on about their beloved whiskey, the iconic George Strait looks even farther down south for his hooch of choice. He even wrote a ballad about how much he loves Código, called… Codigo. His undying love for the liquor may have something to do with him being an investor in the brand, but that’s all speculation, of course.
For most of its existence, it was a top-secret recipe.
For five generations, Código wasn’t called Código. In fact, it was called El Tequila Privado (the private tequila), or simply “the special stuff.” It was a secret recipe made at a local distillery and shared among five families in Amatitán. The family that produced the spirit never strayed from the centuries-old tequila-making customs, or “Los Codigos,” the sacred craft rules that have become the brand’s namesake.
The brand has more to do with Crocs than you think.
While tequila might not immediately bring to mind footwear brand Crocs, you can thank the clog company for your Código. Ron Snyder, former CEO of Crocs, discovered El Tequila Privado after moving to Cabo San Lucas and befriending Federico Vaughan, who was privy to this tequila through an exclusive drinking club that he was a member of. Snyder, being the rubber clog-wearing baller he is, saw dollar signs and teamed up with Vaughan, NFL coach Mike Shanahan, and NHL star Brett Hull to create the Código brand.
The “1530” in Código’s name has historical significance.
The “1530” is a nod to the Spanish conquistadors who founded Amatitán in that very year. The city’s slogan is “donde todo empezó,” which means “where it all began,” a reference to this region being the birthplace of tequila.
The cross on the label also pays homage to tequila’s heritage.
The Código logo coalesces the Jerusalem cross and the Jalisco coat of arms, symbolizing when the Spanish monarchy — represented by the cross — bestowed the region with a coat of arms. After it was conquered, the city was officially recognized by the crown as part of New Galicia. While the logo of Código is a tribute to the region’s New World Spanish history, the name, rooted from “Los Codigos” pays heed to the Old World customs of tequila making. So yes, even though it looks strikingly similar to the Tory Burch logo, the Código logo is actually full of cultural significance.
It has three times the agave as the average tequila.
Código is made with three times the agave as the average tequila, which provides it with a subtle sweetness without using any artificial additives or sweeteners. You can compare this with tequila giant Jose Cuervo, which sells some popular tequilas that are made with only 51 percent agave-derived alcohol. Código likes to keep it natural. As opposed to commercial yeast, the brand sources its yeast from a small local Amatitán bakery that the original family had been going to for generations.
Recent Codigo 1530 Reviews
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