Codigo 1530 Cristalino Tequila
Codigo 1530 Cristalino Tequila is a 40% ABV (80 proof) cristalino with an unusual pedigree: it begins as a reposado aged about six months in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon French oak barrels, gets blended with a dash of Código 1530's Origen Extra Añejo (finished in French Cognac casks), then goes through charcoal filtration that strips the color while keeping the aged character. Additive-free, from the brand's own distillery — NOM 1616, Varo Destilería in Amatitán, Jalisco. It's available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Style: cristalino — aged, then charcoal-filtered to clear
- Size: 750mL
- Aging: ~6 months in Napa Cabernet French oak + a dash of Cognac-cask-finished Extra Añejo
- Distillery: NOM 1616 — Varo Destilería, Amatitán, Jalisco (Los Valles)
- Additives: none
A Reposado That Went Clear
Most cristalinos are añejos with the color filtered out. Código 1530 took a stranger path: age a reposado in Napa Cabernet French oak, then — before filtration — blend in a measure of their Origen Extra Añejo, itself finished in French Cognac casks. The proprietary filtration and oxygenation that follow leave a crystal-clear spirit carrying soft oak, sweet agave, and a whisper of wine tannin. It's distilled at the brand's own Varo Destilería in Amatitán, in Jalisco's Los Valles (Valley) region — autoclave-cooked agave, roller-mill extraction, stainless fermentation, double-distilled in stainless pot stills — and launched in December 2023. Discover more in tequila and aged tequila, or browse Código 1530.
Tasting Notes
Cooked agave, vanilla, toasted coconut, and fresh citrus on the nose. The palate shows soft oak, sweet agave, caramel, and cocoa with a touch of wine tannin from the Cabernet barrels; the finish is smooth, clean, and lingering with subtle barrel spice and a silky texture. Think reposado warmth in a blanco's clothing.
How to Enjoy
Serve it neat or lightly chilled — filtration makes it exceptionally smooth, and the aged character deserves a proper tasting glass, not a shot glass. It's the bottle for blanco drinkers curious about aged tequila, and for cristalino fans who've never tasted one built on Cabernet oak and Cognac-cask añejo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cristalino tequila?
An aged tequila (usually reposado or añejo) passed through charcoal filtration to remove color while retaining barrel character.
Why does Código 1530 blend in Extra Añejo?
A dash of their Origen Extra Añejo — finished in French Cognac casks — deepens the aged complexity before filtration; it's the brand's signature twist.
Is Código 1530 Cristalino additive-free?
Yes — verified additive-free via Tequila Matchmaker.
Where is it made?
At Código 1530's own Varo Destilería (NOM 1616) in Amatitán, Jalisco's Los Valles region.
Clear in the glass, complex on the palate — order Codigo 1530 Cristalino Tequila online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.