La Venenosa - Raicilla

Raicilla, like tequila and mezcal, is made from the agave plant, it is roasted like mezcal, not steamed like tequila. It has been produced for the last 500 years and can be made from a variety of agave varieties just like mezcal but is made in Jalisco which is not an official area where mezcal can be produced! Its origin hailed from humble farmers who wanted to make and enjoy mezcal but avoid the heavy taxes, so they claimed it was made from the root of the agave rather than the heart hence the name Raicilla which means 'little root'. Jalisco offers a plethora of agave species, second only to Oaxaca. These, along with great diversity in terroir, equipment and techniques, give Raicilla an amazing spectrum of flavour and history.