Código 1530 Tequila shines bright, while tequila extends its moment in travel retail
Vaughan and Snyder partnered with country music legend George Strait [seen on the left] to bring this ultra-premium brand to life
Similar to country music in the mainstream, tequila is having its moment in global travel retail. Nobody knows this better than the co-founders of Mexico-based Código 1530 Tequila, Federico “Fede” Vaughan and Ron Snyder. The two partnered with country music legend George Strait to bring this ultra-premium tequila brand into the mix and they haven’t looked back since. Crafted over five generations, the family recipe offers the most natural form of tequila with no additives. Código 1530 elects to create pure tequila made up of three ingredients: agave, water and yeast. The tequila brand’s primary offering – Blanco, Rosa, Reposado, Cristalino, Añejo and Extra Añejo – ranges from the unaged to the aged with care for six years and stars uncharred French White Oak Napa Valley Cabernet barrels. According to the duo, carefully aged for 18 months to create tequila designed to be sipped and savored, its Añejo (aged to taste) perfectly blends agave and barrel and has won every single competition it’s entered.
Only the best
Sitting down with Vaughan and Snyder it’s clear that both respect the history behind the liquid. “When people sample these SKUs there is so much history across so many years coming from so many different parts of the world,” says Vaughan. “We’ve already waited hundreds of years for the oak, six-to-seven years for the agave, so it’s important not to rush the process of tequila making.”
By only using the best parts of all the tequila that it produces, Código 1530 accepts it wastes a lot of tequila. However, as noted by its master blender, the secret to making good tequila is sacrificing a lot of the product that is produced. “For us, there is a specific purpose for everything that we do. And our purpose is to make it the best way,” he adds.
The margarita is the number one cocktail in the world – and this isn’t lost on Snyder. “What’s unique about tequila is that it’s an all-day, all-night expression. For all age groups,” he remarks. “We have expressions that span all demographics and all drinking occasions. We are focused on the mixology space, whether that’s relatively simple margaritas or more complicated cocktails – all the way up to old fashioneds and higher-end SKUs.”
The choice of vodka can easily be substituted for Código 1530’s Rosa, which was invented by the brand. The use of uncharred French White Oak Napa Valley Cabernet barrels over a one-month aging process gives the expression a rosy hue and floral aroma. Also, in line with new age tequila drinking, the pair recommends using orange to accentuate the flavor of the range (as opposed to lime).
Federico “Fede” Vaughan, Co-CEO & Co-Founder, Código 1530 Tequila, Global Travel Retail Magazine’s Laura Shirk and Ron Snyder, Co-CEO & Co-Founder, Código 1530, pictured at the 2025 Summit of the Americas in Miami, Florida, earlier this year
The gift of choice
Now that Código 1530 is available in Mexico travel retail in partnership with Avolta, it is present in 80% of airport stores. The brand is also listed with Duty Free Americas, DFS Group, Aer Rianta International, Motta Internacional and International Shops. The fact that this is the case within its first year in travel retail speaks to the quality of the liquid and the surge in category demand. Outside of the channel, the brand is available in all 50 states and 41 countries.
“Over the last few years through barrel innovation and techniques, it’s an exciting time. What I love about global travel retail – especially the special editions – people are traveling, they see a new expression. People are willing to try new bottles that they see on the shelf. People are now curious to see what’s coming out in the tequila world,” says Vaughan.
Snyder acknowledges Código 1530 entered the channel at the right time, especially considering its status on gifting. “Tequila has become the gift of choice in alcohol because it’s unique and it’s high-end.” However, there is still a lot of work to do and calculated experimentation to try.
“We’re going to continue making tequila the right way. We have a lot of different types of expressions because we use different types of barrels – all of which start with wine. The first aging starts with wine barrels, then we might have a finish in a sherry barrel or cognac barrel (higher-end SKUs),” says Snyder. “We have fun with it. We even have a very unique offering where instead of fermenting in a big tank in the traditional way, we ferment in individual barrels.”
Since Código 1530 has its own distillery in Jalisco, Mexico, it can create unique offerings that align with the sense of curiosity integrated in travel retail. “With us it’s about continuing to expand globally. Now that people are back traveling and there is a hint of curiosity, there is room for growth,” says Snyder.
