Puntagave Rustico Raicilla
Puntagave Rustico Raicilla is a wild-agave spirit from Jalisco, Mexico, bottled at 44% ABV (88 proof) in a 750mL bottle. It blends two agaves — Rhodacantha and Maximiliana (lechuguilla) — harvested for two different raicilla tabernas: one on the coast at Cabo Corrientes, 700 meters above sea level, and one in the mountains. Earthen-pit roasted and double-distilled in a Filipino still of copper and hollowed tree trunk, it's the most funky, individualistic expression in the Rustico line. Order online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 44% (88 proof) — brand-stated for the Rustico line
- Size: 750mL
- Agave: Rhodacantha + Maximiliana (lechuguilla), wild/semi-wild, slow-maturing
- Production: Earthen-pit roast, double distillation in a Filipino still (copper and hollowed tree trunk)
- Origin: Two tabernas in Jalisco — coastal Cabo Corrientes (700m elevation) and a mountain taberna
Raicilla, Jalisco's Wild Card
Raicilla — "little root" — was Mexico's moonshine spirit for two centuries before gaining its own denomination of origin. Unlike tequila, which allows only Blue Weber agave, raicilla can be made from several wild species, and each taberna (distillery) tastes like its own mountainside. Puntagave's Rustico Raicilla leans into that: two tabernas, two agaves, one bottle at 88 proof. Browse the full Puntagave range and more raicilla.
Tasting Notes
The coastal Rhodacantha side brings a striking lacteous note on the nose — parmesan cheese with a green, earthy touch — over strong acidity and a big, high-proof profile built for sipping neat or mixing. The mountain Maximiliana adds floral citrus, hibiscus, beach plum, and pineapple lift underneath the funk.
How to Enjoy
Neat in a copita to meet the parmesan-and-earth nose head-on, or in a raicilla-based cocktail where its acidity and funk replace both tequila and mezcal. Try it in a riff on a margarita with lime and a pinch of sal de gusano.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is raicilla?
Raicilla is a traditional Mexican spirit from Jalisco with its own denomination of origin, made from wild agave species like Rhodacantha and Maximiliana. It was long produced informally before being regulated as its own category.
Why does Puntagave Rustico Raicilla smell like cheese?
The coastal Rhodacantha agave develops a distinctive lacteous, parmesan-cheese-like aroma during earthen-pit roasting and fermentation — it's a prized, signature trait of this style, not a flaw.
What proof is Puntagave Rustico Raicilla?
It's bottled at 44% ABV (88 proof) — the brand describes it as a "big-bang profile" at that strength.
For the boldest bottle on the shelf, order Puntagave Rustico Raicilla online today from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.