"No Way, Rose!"
This cocktail features George Strait's Código 1530 Rosa Tequila. The Rosa is a white tequila that reposes a month in red wine barrels that have not been charred, allowing the spirit to come into direc...
Strait up Tequila
From an old family distillery in Mexico, George Strait is producing some mighty fine tequila.
Country music and strong spirits have a long history together in sad songs like “There’s a Tear in my Beer” and “She’s Acting Single, So I’m Drinking Doubles” Maybe that’s what motivates so many of country singers to start their own brands of liquor (Florida Georgia Line, Darius Rucker, Toby Keith to name a few).
But in a league by himself is George Strait and his Código 1530 Tequila. The superstar musician met buddies Federico Vaughan, Ron Snyder and Betsy Heneghan, years ago in Cabo San Lucas where the group used to vacation and drink local tequila. They liked the tequila so much that they convinced the family-run distillery in the historic town of Amatitán, (the birthplace of tequila, located in the state of Jalisco) to produce exclusively for him and his friends.
They rebranded the small operation as Código 1530, named after the year that Amatitán received its official town charter from the Spanish government. Strait and Código now offer five different expressions of tequila ranging from Blanco to Origen, a rare bottling aged six years in the finest French White Oak barrels that once held Napa Cabernet, making it one of the oldest and most refined Extra Añejos on the market.
Perhaps the most intriguing item in the Código line is their Rosa, a white tequila that reposes a month in red wine barrels that have not been charred, allowing the spirit to come into direct contact with the residue from the wine grapes. That contact contributes a lovely light pink hue to the tequila and a slight floral finish to the spirit.
How does a tough cowboy like George Strait feel about selling a pink drink? “The reception of our Rosa tequila has been incredible,” he shares. “ Any hesitation on the color has been quickly negated when people hear the amazing production story: that it’s all natural and aged in uncharred, fine red wine barrels.” With rosé wine taking off, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Rosa tequila from Código has garnered such an avid following.
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