Raicilla (, "little root") is a

distilled spirit Liquor (or a spirit) is an alcoholic drink produced by distillation of grains, fruits, vegetables, or sugar, that have already gone through alcoholic fermentation. Other terms for liquor include: spirit drink, distilled beverage or hard ...

originating in the south western part of the Mexican state of

Jalisco Jalisco (, , ; Nahuatl: Xalixco), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Jalisco ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco ; Nahuatl: Tlahtohcayotl Xalixco), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal ...

. Like

tequila Tequila (; ) is a distilled beverage made from the blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila northwest of Guadalajara, and in the Jaliscan Highlands (''Los Altos de Jalisco'') of the central western Mexican state ...

and

mezcal Mezcal (, ), sometimes spelled mescal, is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from any type of agave. The word ''mezcal'' comes from Nahuatl , which means "oven-cooked agave", from and .What is MezcalElmezcal.org Traditionally the word ...

, it is a product of the

agave ''Agave'' (; ; ) is a genus of monocots native to the hot and arid regions of the Americas and the Caribbean, although some ''Agave'' species are also native to tropical areas of North America, such as Mexico. The genus is primarily known ...

plant. Raicilla is a traditional beverage with about 300 years of history and a protected Denomination of Origin. Its aroma and flavor are derived from the species of agave and characterized by the soil, topography, climate, water, producer ("Maestro Raicillero"), yeasts, and other factors. Raicilla is colorless when it is matured in glass or yellowish when it is matured in wood.

Process

Raicilla is distilled in rudimentary stills from a fermented mash made from the central stem (''piña'') of the

maguey Maguey may refer to various American plants: * Genus ''Agave'', especially ** Species ''Agave americana'', the century plant ** Species ''Agave salmiana'' * Genus '' Furcraea'', a source of natural fiber * Maguey flowers, an edible flower Other us ...

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 species of agaves are used to produce Raicilla, including

Agave angustifolia ''Agave angustifolia'' (Caribbean agave) is a type of agave plant which is native to Mexico and Central America. It is used to make mezcal and also as an ornamental plant, the cultivar 'Marginata' that white margins on the leaves is a popular var ...

("Chico Aguiar" or "Yellow"),

Agave maximiliana ''Agave'' (; ; ) is a genus of monocots native to the hot and arid regions of the Americas and the Caribbean, although some ''Agave'' species are also native to tropical areas of North America, such as Mexico. The genus is primarily known for i ...

Agave inaequidens ''Agave'' (; ; ) is a genus of monocots native to the hot and arid regions of the Americas and the Caribbean, although some ''Agave'' species are also native to tropical areas of North America, such as Mexico. The genus is primarily known ...

and

Agave rhodacantha ''Agave'' (; ; ) is a genus of monocots native to the hot and arid regions of the Americas and the Caribbean, although some ''Agave'' species are also native to tropical areas of North America, such as Mexico. The genus is primarily known ...

. It is usually more than 100

proof Proof most often refers to: * Proof (truth), argument or sufficient evidence for the truth of a proposition * Alcohol proof, a measure of an alcoholic drink's strength Proof may also refer to: Mathematics and formal logic * Formal proof, a con ...

before water is added to control proof.

References

Agave Distilled drinks Mexican alcoholic drinks {{distilled-drink-stub