Is raicilla legal?

Even today, some producers make their raicilla underground and sell it by the roadside in Jalisco in unmarked plastic bottles. Arik Torren, owner of Fidencio mezcal, is leading the charge to bring raicilla legally and earnestly to the United States.

What is raicilla made from?

Like its Oaxacan cousin, mezcal, raicilla is an ancient spirit distilled from pit-roasted, fermented agave piñas, the heart of the agave plant. Produced in the Mexican state of Jalisco, raicilla has a subtle smokiness, but is generally more pungently acidic, fruity and floral than either mezcal or tequila.

What is the difference between raicilla and tequila?

Like tequila, raicilla is made in Jalisco state; unlike tequila, it is made from two varieties of agave—lechuguilla and puta de mula. Raicilla tends to be sweeter and fruitier than most other mezcals.

Where is raicilla made?

“Raicilla is the mezcal of Jalisco,” says Nikhil Bahadur, co-owner of raicilla brand Las Perlas. An agave spirit made from a variety of wild and cultivated plants in Jalisco, there are two distinct strains of raicilla: de la costa (coastal) and de la sierra (mountainous).

Is raicilla a Smokey?

Raicilla tends to be fruitier (and more tequila-like) than the deep, smoky mezcals for which Oaxaca is famed. The spirit is a favorite in Pare de Sufrir, one of the coolest bars in Guadalajara—the heart of Mexico's tequila-producing region.

Illegal Mexican Agave Spirit? | What is Raicilla

How do you pronounce Raicilla?

To make raicilla (pronounced rye-see-ya), distillers roast agave, then crush, ferment and distill it.

Is mezcal like moonshine?

Unlike tequila, mezcal doesn't come from a gleaming factory but is made in small batches in primitive copper alembic and sometimes clay pot stills. “Mezcal is the moonshine of Mexico,” says Raul Yrastorza of the dedicated downtown L.A. mezcal and tequila bar Las Perlas. “From glass to glass, it's amazing.”

What's Mexican moonshine called?

Raicilla: The Mexican Moonshine.

What proof is moonshine?

On average, a proof moonshine could range somewhere between 100 to 150 proof. When you convert that alcohol by volume, 150 proof is equivalent to 75% alcohol by volume.

What does Bacanora taste like?

Both Dacy and Rios Murrieta describe agave spirits in terms of terroir, and say it's the dry, arid climate, the hot days and cold nights, of Sonora that give bacanora its alluring flavor: dry, complex, and peppery with an earthy finish.

Is raicilla an agave?

Like tequila and mezcal, raicilla is made from the agave plant. It is roasted like mezcal, not steamed like tequila.

What agave is raicilla made from?

Many different species of agaves are used to produce Raicilla, including Agave angustifolia ("Chico Aguiar" or "Yellow"), Agave maximiliana, Agave inaequidens and Agave rhodacantha. It is usually more than 100 proof before water is added to control proof.

How strong is bacanora?

Bacanora Reposado

Artfully aged in American White Oak barrels at 80 proof (40% ABV), Reposado is a unique experience for agave aficionados.

What is Raicilla Pechuga?

The first Raicilla Pechuga commercially available in the USA, this bottle is a limited seasonal release from Estancia. Maestro raicillero Alfredo Salvatierra roasts his Maximiliana in an adobe oven, fermenting the agave in clay amphora pots, then distills it twice using traditional copper pot stills.

Is agave a liquor?

Agave is the term used to describe spirits such as tequila, mezcal, and other lesser known varieties which are distilled from any species of the agave plant.

How do you make Mexican moonshine?

Is Everclear illegal?

States that currently ban the sale of Everclear include California, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan, New York, Nevada, Ohio, Washington, North Carolina, New Hampshire and Minnesota.

What is the strongest alcohol?

Spirytus Stawski (96% Alcohol) This is the world's most strongest and potent liquor, that has a gentle smell and a mild taste.

Why is moonshine illegal?

So why is moonshine still illegal? Because the liquor is worth more to the government than beer or wine. Uncle Sam takes an excise tax of $2.14 for each 750-milliliter bottle of 80-proof spirits, compared with 21 cents for a bottle of wine (of 14 percent alcohol or less) and 5 cents for a can of beer.

Why do they put the worm in mezcal?

Larvae began appearing in mezcal bottles in the 1950s, when a mezcal maker discovered a moth larvae in a batch of his liquor and thought the stowaway improved its taste. He started adding “worms” to all his bottles as a marketing strategy. Soon, other mezcal manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon.

What liquor is only sold in Mexico?

And when you're in Mexico City, that booze has gotta be mezcal.

Is Bacanora a moonshine?

Modernizing Mexican Moonshine: The Future Of Bacanora In Sonora And Beyond. Makers of a traditional agave distillate in northern Mexico are trying to take their product to the international market. But they face a struggle between modernization and maintaining artisanal production.

Is mezcal illegal in the US?

Is Mezcal Tequila Illegal? There is no such thing as an illegal act. The practice wasn't legal at one point. (It would not be legal to export mezcal until 2006, when John Rexer, owner of Illegal Mezcal, had decided to sell mezcal in his Antigua, Guatemala, bar.

Can you drink mezcal straight?

You can drink mezcal straight, but garnish it with an orange wheel sprinkled with sal de gusano to enhance the texture, flavor, and aroma of the spirit. Replace the tequila in a margarita with mezcal for a smokier, fuller-bodied version of the drink.

Does mezcal get you drunk?

Will Mezcal Get You Drunk? There is no need to worry about hallucinating if you drink and eat mezcal with the worm. Yes, some mezcals come with a creepy crawly surprise at the bottom, but no, it won't make you hallucinate.