Review: Codigo 1530 Cristalino Reposado
Codigo 1530 Cristalino Reposado was released December 2023. 1530 represents the year the town of Amatitan received their first official charter from Spain. Federico Vaughn was long the custodian of a hand crafted tequila that was only available to close friends and family. He partnered with Ron Snyder the former CEO of Crocs Footwear and Country Music Star George Strait to launch the brand in 2016. Codigo is crafted from 100% blue agave grown in the Lowland region. Codigo is the only tequila distilled at Varo Destileria. The entire Codigo tequila product line starts with 100% blue agave grown in the Lowland region. The trimmed agave is slow cooked in stainless steel ovens. A proprietary chopper extracts the best juice and pulp from the first press of ripe agave. The juice is fermented with organic bakers yeast for 4 days and double distilled in a still built by the distilling family. Codigo 1530 Cristalino is made from a blend of their Reposado aged 6 months in French oak Cabernet wine barrels from Napa Valley. Once blended a proprietary charcoal filtration system removes the color and tannins. A splash of Codigo Origen, their 6 year old extra anejo tequila is added before bottling. The aroma leads with vanilla and cooked agave. Additional time brings out toasted oak, and sliced lime notes. The sweet agave and oak entry is joined by pineapple, lime, and cold brew coffee building to a buttery agave, lime, and caramel peak. It fades with lime, and salted caramel and finishes with creamy cooked agave, sea salt, lime peel, toasted oak, cocoa, and black pepper.
NOM: 1616
Agave Region: Lowland
40% Alcohol
Score: 91
Award: Gold Medal