Cover Código 1530 makes for one of the world’s finest tequilas
Código 1530 makes for one of the world’s finest tequilas
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What was once unavailable to the open market, premium tequila Código 1530 has become a frequent face behind some of the world’s best bars. Now, it sets its sights on conquering Asia, starting with Singapore
There’s something rather rebellious about discovering that one of the world’s finest tequilas has been deliberately kept from plain sight for generations, locked away like precious family heirlooms that only a select few Mexican families were privileged enough to enjoy. Once a tequila privado, meaning it was unavailable to the open market due to private ownership, Código 1530 is now regularly seen at some of the world’s best bars since its commercial debut in 2016. From family secrets to international acclaim, the Código 1530 backstory reads like premium spirits folklore.
Read more: Sips, not shots: How tequila is becoming popular in Asia for all the right reasons
Above Código 1530 reposado is made 100 per cent blue weber agave from Jalisco
Above The Código 1530 18-month aged añejo
Código 1530 reposado is made 100 per cent blue weber agave from Jalisco
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In the early 2000s, co-founder Federico Vaughan was the catalyst, hailing from one of the families that had been quietly purchasing this unbranded spirit by the barrel. Vaughan then met current business partner Ron Snyder, former CEO of Crocs, sharing the spirit with friends and family at dinner parties and on the golf course. By 2015, their Cabo circle had become so enamoured with this mysterious spirit that they ventured to Amatitán to meet the artisan distilling family.
What they discovered was a craft so pure, so steeped in tradition, that they convinced the family to share their centuries-old códigos with the world. Much like stumbling upon your grandad’s secret paloma recipe that he has been holding out on the family for decades, Vaughan and Snyder have unveiled a rare breed of absolute authenticity in the agave landscape.
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Made with nothing but 100 per cent blue weber agave from Jalisco, volcanic-soil filtered Amatitán water, and natural yeast, with no artificial colours, flavourings, or sweeteners to mask what Mother Nature intended, the Código 1530 tequilas represent a premium that is far from head-splitting, hangover-inducing spring break tequilas.
Above Código 1530 rosa blanco is the world’s first naturally pink tequila
Código 1530 rosa blanco is the world’s first naturally pink tequila
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In recent times, tequilas aged in wine casks have become trendy, birthing an unofficial category of tequila called rosa. Código 1530, however, has long since adopted and mastered this practice, with its rosa blanco being the world’s first naturally pink tequila. This is not a deliberate result of lazy food colouring but a month-long maturation in uncharred French oak barrels that previously cradled Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon. It deserves particular mention for its blush hues and complex flavours of agave, subtle caramel, warm spice and fruit notes.
Even dark spirit enthusiasts are paying more attention to tequilas with longer aged statements. Código 1530’s 18-month aged añejo and six-year aged Origen are proving particularly seductive to whisky and cognac devotees across Southeast Asia. For instance, in Japan, where whisky is fervently appreciated, aged tequilas are gaining ground as an intriguing discovery for connoisseurs seeking something beyond their usual single malts.
Above Código 1530’s 18-month aged añejo proves particularly seductive to whisky and cognac devotees across Southeast Asia
Código 1530’s 18-month aged añejo proves particularly seductive to whisky and cognac devotees across Southeast Asia
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In Singapore, the market’s discerning palate comes into play. When Código 1530 launched in Asia in 2017, Singapore was their first port of call. It was a strategic choice that reflects upon the city-state’s reputation as the leading luxury gateway of Asia, spiking growth in both Japan and Indonesia, with the latter ranking as one of the leading global markets. “The aim is simple; we want people to drink the best tequila,” affirms Justin Tan, managing director of Código 1530 International.
When spirit conglomerate Pernod Ricard acquired a majority stake in 2022, it signalled confidence and industry recognition for the premium tequila brand. In a globalised market, cluttered with spirits brands shouting about their authenticity, Código 1530 stands firmly on two feet, backed with credentials that speak volumes without resorting to distasteful marketing gimmicks. And as the lore goes, sometimes, the best secrets are truly worth the wait.
Explore the world of Código 1530 at codigo1530.com.sg
Credits
Images: Código 1530
