Raicilla

Raicilla is a distilled spirit, originating in the south western portion of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and pre-dates the arrival of Hispanic people in the country. It is similar to Tequila and Mezcal as it is also a product of the agave plant.^[1]

Traditionally raicilla has been created and sold as a "moonshine" product without government sanction or approval.^[2] Recently a distiller, La Venenosa, has begun to market a variety of legal brands of raicilla.

Process

It is distilled in crude, primitive stills from a fermented mash made from the central stem, or Piña of the maguey plant. The mash is slow cooked, and the steam condensed on a copper cone cooled, traditionally, by spring water. To make a liter of Raicilla takes 10 kg of agave. Many different varietals are used to produce Raicilla, including agave angustifolia ("Chico Aguiar" or "Yellow") Agave Maximiliana, Agave Inaequidens and Agave Rhodacanta ^[3] If not watered down it is usually more than 100 proof.

References