(Photo: Codigo 1530)
Whether you know him as a Grammy Award winner, Wrangler jeans spokesperson or inventor of the Honky Tonk Time Machine, George Strait's business acumen requires few introductions. The oft-declared "King of Country" has released 31 studio albums to date, many of which have topped the charts and all of which feature one of his signature cowboy hats perched oh-so casually on the cover. Surprisingly few know, however, that Strait also counts a critically acclaimed tequila brand under his belt.
Nearly a decade after its debut, Codigo 1530 is back in the headlines with its third collaborative tequila bearing Strait's name and likeness. Themed after his most recent album, "Cowboys and Dreamers," it's an añejo aged an unusually long two years in French white oak barrels previously used to mature Napa Valley cabernet wine.
Consider us intrigued. Though celebrity-backed tequila is almost never our cup of tea, it's worth mentioning that Codigo is one of a small handful boasting an additive-free recipe and its fair share of awards. Alongside Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar's surprisingly excellent Santo Spirits, Strait's brand is generally considered one of the few "good" celebrity-owned spirits ventures. (That's a loaded statement we're willing to stand by — and a list we're more than willing to amend if an A-lister ever has something better to offer.)
Sipping glass in hand, we were fortunate enough to sample the brand's latest drop. The limited-edition release costs around $130 and, based on the mini-rendition of a Strait album cover etched on the front, is clearly intended as a country music collector's item above all else.
If you're looking for the short answer: Yes, this is fantastic tequila. Some of the best we've tried all year. But that high praise comes with a couple of caveats.
First, a little background. Codigo 1530 has one of the more unusual origin stories for a tequila, dating back to the early 2010s when Ron Snyder, the ex-CEO of Crocs (yes, the squishy shoe brand), moved to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. There, he discovered El Tequila Privado, a family-run distilling operation that had been producing non-branded spirits in Amatitan for generations.
After a little convincing, the beginning of a lucrative business shipping liquor north of the border began taking shape. The original investor group that made Codigo 1530 a reality included Snyder, Federico Vaughan, Betsy Heneghan and George Strait. NFL coach Mike Shanahan and NHL player Brett Hull were reportedly counted as investors at some point, though the details are a little murky.
Apart from its ballad-singing benefactor, the brand is perhaps best known for its laundry list of limited-edition releases. Unlike most tequilas, which are content to release a blanco, reposado and añejo before calling it a day, Codigo 1530 has plumbed the market with just about everything imaginable. The brand has uncorked several single barrels, a cristalino, a mezcal, a few cabernet-rested “rosas” and not one but two collaborations with Rare Hare, the spirits offshoot of Playboy.
And thus we arrive at the "Cowboys and Dreamers" edition añejo. This is the first Strait-themed release from the brand following its majority stake acquisition by Pernod Ricard in 2022. Though we're not sure how involved the musician is with the day-to-day of Codigo three years out from the business shakeup, he seems eager as ever to throw down one of his cowboy hats on a bottle.
After resting for a few minutes, the tequila is potently oaky on the nose. If we were judging this blind, we'd guess it was an extra añejo rather than an añejo. Doubly so considering its rust-orange hue. Big hits of baking spice, apple pie, stewed plums and cacao nibs dominate the aroma, slowly making way to a nice presence of deeply roasted agave. It's already giving the impression of a whiskey drinker's tequila through and through.
The palate is where those red wine barrel influences come to full force. Sweet, perfumed flavors of cherry, rose petals, vanilla and raspberry are the first impression, teetering on overwhelming without going too far. Underneath lie darker hints of chocolate, macadamia nuts, clove and thickly layered cinnamon. The tightrope between these two very different profiles is pulled off with a deft touch, giving way to an earthy finish brimming with black pepper and raisins.
Fantastic stuff all around and by far one of the most oak-forward 2-year age statements I've ever tried. Would love to see the science on those barrels. Were Codigo to ever give this expression another shot, however, I'd be eager to taste a slightly higher alcohol content. 40% ABV is all well and good for most tequilas, but the baking spice, caramel and nuttiness here would massively benefit from something in the 50% ABV range. But that's a minor complaint for an otherwise all-star spirit.
Click here to read our full review.
George Strait, looking forward to seeing you next time.
[callout-app-promo]
First, a little background. Codigo 1530 has one of the more unusual origin stories for a tequila, dating back to the early 2010s when Ron Snyder, the ex-CEO of Crocs (yes, the squishy shoe brand), moved to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. There, he discovered El Tequila Privado, a family-run distilling operation that had been producing non-branded spirits in Amatitan for generations.
After a little convincing, the beginning of a lucrative business shipping liquor north of the border began taking shape. The original investor group that made Codigo 1530 a reality included Snyder, Federico Vaughan, Betsy Heneghan and George Strait. NFL coach Mike Shanahan and NHL player Brett Hull were reportedly counted as investors at some point, though the details are a little murky.
Apart from its ballad-singing benefactor, the brand is perhaps best known for its laundry list of limited-edition releases. Unlike most tequilas, which are content to release a blanco, reposado and añejo before calling it a day, Codigo 1530 has plumbed the market with just about everything imaginable. The brand has uncorked several single barrels, a cristalino, a mezcal, a few cabernet-rested “rosas” and not one but two collaborations with Rare Hare, the spirits offshoot of Playboy.
And thus we arrive at the "Cowboys and Dreamers" edition añejo. This is the first Strait-themed release from the brand following its majority stake acquisition by Pernod Ricard in 2022. Though we're not sure how involved the musician is with the day-to-day of Codigo three years out from the business shakeup, he seems eager as ever to throw down one of his cowboy hats on a bottle.
After resting for a few minutes, the tequila is potently oaky on the nose. If we were judging this blind, we'd guess it was an extra añejo rather than an añejo. Doubly so considering its rust-orange hue. Big hits of baking spice, apple pie, stewed plums and cacao nibs dominate the aroma, slowly making way to a nice presence of deeply roasted agave. It's already giving the impression of a whiskey drinker's tequila through and through.
The palate is where those red wine barrel influences come to full force. Sweet, perfumed flavors of cherry, rose petals, vanilla and raspberry are the first impression, teetering on overwhelming without going too far. Underneath lie darker hints of chocolate, macadamia nuts, clove and thickly layered cinnamon. The tightrope between these two very different profiles is pulled off with a deft touch, giving way to an earthy finish brimming with black pepper and raisins.
Fantastic stuff all around and by far one of the most oak-forward 2-year age statements I've ever tried. Would love to see the science on those barrels. Were Codigo to ever give this expression another shot, however, I'd be eager to taste a slightly higher alcohol content. 40% ABV is all well and good for most tequilas, but the baking spice, caramel and nuttiness here would massively benefit from something in the 50% ABV range. But that's a minor complaint for an otherwise all-star spirit.
Click here to read our full review.
George Strait, looking forward to seeing you next time.
[callout-app-promo]