Review: Tequila Codigo 1530 Cristalino Resposado

Review: Tequila Codigo 1530 Cristalino Resposado

Review: Tequila Codigo 1530 Cristalino Resposado

Codigo 1530 is back with another tequila release, and it’s what you’d expect: A cristalino, albeit one made from a reposado base, not an anejo. As as refresher, the reposado is aged in cabernet sauvignon wine barrels made from French white oak. This cristalino is blended with some 6 year old Codigo 1530 Origin extra anejo, which is finished in Cognac casks — all filtered to clear. Let’s give it a try.

Tequila Codigo 1530 Cristalino Resposado Review

The nose certainly evokes a solid Lowlands reposado — Codigo’s is probably the best of its core expressions — with light herbal notes that let the agave speak plenty. Grassy and lemony with touches of lime leaf, plus a slight edge of petrol. Oddly, sweeter elements are kept in check here; on the nose they’re almost invisible.

The palate shows a more traditional reposado character with light touches of vanilla, milk chocolate, and some classic cinnamon notes. These all pair nicely with the stronger, herbal-driven character present on the nose, leading toward a conclusion that again punches with ample lemon peel. Tempered throughout with notes of baking spice and a pinch of black pepper, it’s a lively and expressive ride that never veers far into sugary territory, keeping one foot on the agave pina and another on the barrel. Considerably more interesting than its rack reposado, it’s probably my favorite tequila from Codigo to date.

80 proof. NOM 1616.

B+ / $100 [BUY IT NOW FROM RESERVEBAR] [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]

Tequila Codigo 1530 Cristalino Resposado

USD100
9

Rating

9.0/10

A veteran journalist, the author of four books, a published poet, and an award-winning winemaker, Christopher Null has more than 25 years of experience writing about wine and spirits. He founded Drinkhacker in 2007. He also writes regularly about the science of booze for WIRED and is an occasional contributor to ADI's Distiller magazine. He has been a judge for both the American Distilling Institute Judging of Craft Spirits and Whiskies of the World spirits competitions and often works as a consultant, developing formal tasting notes for spirits brands around the world.

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