Forget Cold Beer Conversations. The King of Country, George Strait, has moved on to talk with tequila. The singing legend was in town recently to promote his Código 1530 Tequila.
Strait first started drinking this tequila through his friend and the brand's co-founder Federico “Fede” Vaughan, who was part of a group of Mexican families who funded the private distillation for their own personal use for many generations before the decision was made to make it available for public purchase.
After enjoying the tequila on vacations in Mexico together, Strait, Vaughan and former Crocs CEO Ron Snyder decided to go into business and bring the world the secret tequila they had been enjoying for so long.
The friends were determined to bottle tequila that went back to its original roots; high quality ingredients and a carefully detailed, authentic distilling process that would not cut any corner to meet market demands. “A lot of tequila brands are not what true tequila should taste like these days,” said Strait, who touts the brand’s smooth and full taste.
At a tasting at Perry’s Steakhouse and Grille, guests sampled the Blanco, Rosa and Añejo flavors as part of the entire collection. Another cocktail favorite of the country icon, a refreshing Strait Paloma, made of Código 1530 Blanco, grapefruit juice, and an orange slice garnish, was passed around to media guests. The cocktail was created by a Perry’s mixologist and is exclusive to the restaurant.
Vaughan explained the intricacies of the distilling process that sets Código 1530 apart from its competitors. “From the exact pH of the water and the most naturally grown agave, nothing is sacrificed in order to deliver the finest ingredients," he said.
“Another thing that will set us apart is that we use wine barrels for aging; French white oak barrels to age the tequila. Everything in our distillery is handmade, industrial equipment does not do to the tequila what we want it to.”
This difference in this tequila is definitely noticeable as the traditional “tequila bite” is barely existent among its smooth flavor.
Strait, who usually does not do any product endorsements, made it clear that he wanted to get on board with producing this tequila brand because he wanted to help tell the story of this exceptional and historical recipe. Taking a shot of tequila with his band mates before they return to the stage for an encore is a well-known tradition for Strait. Luckily he has now found a perfect tequila to accompany that tradition.
Guests sampled the refreshing Strait Paloma, made of Código 1530 Blanco, grapefruit juice, and an orange slice garnish.
