Codigo Barrel Strength Anejo – JJ’s Single Barrel 1st Edition

Here Skin IS Cinnamon – Click here before reading – Turn up the volume

You are either going to thank me for this one, or hate me. If you listened to the song in the link above, or are listening to it while you read, then you are getting a big component to today’s entry into the 2023 Spirited Holiday Countdown Calendar. Why would you hate me? Because this song is not going to leave your brain for quite some time. You’ll thank me when you sip on this tasty treat from our friends at Codigo.

I go back to the anecdotal support we like to add to our single barrel picks.

When we decided to bite the bullet and put the investment into a single barrel of Codigo Barrel Strength Anejo tequila, we did so with some apprehension, but knew that it was important for a variety of reasons.

Primarily, because this is an exquisite bottle of tequila. I don’t throw that out there lightly, because there is a lot of really good tequila in the market right now, and it’s not slowing down. More on that in a minute.

The other reason this bottle is important, is because it really exemplifies the nature of our single barrel program, even though it’s not whiskey. Single barrels are about the significance of singularity. What does that mean? It’s somewhat self explanatory, but if you’ll let me indulge for a moment.

Every barrel that we acquire is done so with a maticulous process from deciding to purchase, to selecting, to branding, to marketing. I have said this before, we don’t just buy whatever comes across our radar so that we can have the most to offer, we buy what we feel is going to be impactful and have a purpose within the spectrum of the singularity that defines us as a business. If you haven’t noticed, we do things a little differently than most run-of-the-mill bottle shops.

Codigo Barrel Strength Anejo tequila came on the scene about 18 months ago. One of the unique aspects to Codigo tequila is it’s distillation proof. While most tequilas are distilled to 110-120 proof, Codigo distills to only 90 proof. This lends to a textural component to the tequila that no one has been able to match while providing more of the fruit forward and spice elements that tend to get lost at those higher distillation points.

With Barrel Strength and other anejo styles, the majority of the work is then done by the barrel. Barrel Strength is aged in French oak for 24 months. This lends to more character from the barrel and a refining of flavor that is unmatched, in my opinion.

So, where did the name come from? We love music at JJ’s. You will note when you stop in that there is usually a different variety of genres playing on a fairly regular basis. Except on Fridays, that is reserved for the Beatles, which is a whole different story in iteself.

We have a playlist that is queued up fairly regularly called “Jesus Drives and Astrovan” (A tune by a band called Mt. Joy). It’s one of Joe’s favorite playlists and offers a fairly good variety of eclectic tunes. One of the songs that is found on this list is “Cinnamon” by the Long Winters. When we were discussing the branding of this Codigo Barrel Strength Anejo, I had sent a photo of the rendering of the bottle to the group with our logo on it and Joe made a proclamation… “Her skin IS Cinnamon”… Largely because of the look of the bottle, and it stuck.

I hope you enjoy today’s entry!

• Name: Codigo Barrel Strength Anejo Single Barrel Tequila – JJ’s 1st Edition – “Her skin IS cinnamon”
• Country of Origin/Locale: Jalisco, Mexico
• Proof: 88.0
• Glass: Double Old Fashioned Glass or Glencairn
• Temperature: Room or slightly chilled
• Cocktail Options: None
• Available: Yes
• Price: List Price – $209.99 JJ’s VIP Price – $167.99

Tom’s Tasting Notes: What drew me to BS Anejo originally was the textural component that I spoke of earlier. It’s like velvet. What this particular barrel offered was that velvety texture combined with an subtle, yet edgy component that put it above the rest. The aromas are caramel, vanilla, cooked agave and baking spices. The flavor is full and filled with luscious notes of creme brule, pepper and tropical fruit. The finish is exceptionally long and memorable with baking spices and, of course, cinnamon.