Codigo 1530 Barrel Strength Anejo Tequila
Codigo 1530 Barrel Strength Anejo Tequila is the private-recipe anejo poured at full strength — 44% ABV (88 proof), 750mL, 100% lowlands Blue Weber agave from Amatitan, Jalisco (NOM 1616), aged two years in French white oak barrels that previously held Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, bottled undiluted and additive-free at origin. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 44% (88 proof) — barrel strength, undiluted
- Size: 750mL
- Ageing: 2 years in French white oak Napa Cabernet barrels
- Agave: 100% lowlands Blue Weber
- Additives: None — no sweeteners, flavouring or colouring
- Origin: NOM 1616, Amatitan, Jalisco, Mexico
- Awards: 2023 TAG Global Spirits Awards — Best in Show and Platinum
The Private Tequila, Poured Undiluted
Codigo began as "El Tequila Privado" — a nameless tequila made for generations by an artisan distilling family in Amatitan and shared among a small circle of local families, following the old customs the brand calls Los Codigos. Co-founders Federico "Fede" Vaughan, the recipe's custodian, and Ron Snyder brought it to market in 2016 (country singer George Strait is a co-investor who helped popularise it). The Barrel Strength Anejo is that recipe at its most direct: two full years in French oak Cabernet barrels and nothing taken away at bottling — no dilution, no additives. Find it in our tequila range and the anejo tequila shelf, or browse the house on the Codigo 1530 vendor page.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Toasted oak over cooked agave, with dried fruit and light cinnamon in retailer pours. Palate: Caramelised vanilla and dark chocolate with salted caramel and coffee, the Cabernet-seasoned oak and the extra proof adding spice. Finish: Smooth and delicate for its strength, lasting and slightly sweet (official notes).
How to Enjoy
Neat, rested in the glass — barrel strength rewards patience, and a few drops of water open the chocolate and caramel further. This is the anejo for bourbon drinkers who like their oak honest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "barrel strength" mean here? The tequila is bottled undiluted at the strength it reached in the barrel — 88 proof on the brand's official page — rather than being proofed down to the standard 80.
How is it different from the standard Codigo Anejo? Longer in oak (two years vs eighteen months), a higher bottling proof (88 vs 80), and the same French white oak Napa Cabernet barrels used with nothing removed at bottling.
Is Codigo 1530 additive-free? Yes — the brand states the tequila is made with no chemicals, sweeteners, flavouring or colouring, and bottled at origin in Amatitan.
The private recipe at full strength — order Codigo 1530 Barrel Strength Anejo Tequila online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.