Sierra Norte Rainbow Corn Mexican Whiskey
Sierra Norte Rainbow Corn Mexican Whiskey is a 90-proof (45% ABV), 750mL single-barrel whiskey distilled in Oaxaca, Mexico, from a mash bill of 85% native multicolored Oaxacan corn — white, yellow, red, purple, and black — plus 15% malted barley, aged a minimum of two years in French oak barrels. Created by master distiller Douglas French (the man behind Scorpion Mezcal), it's a genuine expression of Mexican terroir: corn cultivated in Oaxaca for over 7,000 years, turned into whiskey. Order a bottle online at Del Mesa Liquor for San Diego delivery or pickup.
- Proof / ABV: 90 proof / 45% ABV
- Size: 750mL
- Age: minimum 2 years in French oak barrels; single-barrel bottling
- Origin: distilled and bottled by Scorpion Mezcal S.A. de C.V., San Agustín de las Juntas, Oaxaca, Mexico
- Production: 85% heirloom rainbow corn / 15% malted barley; hammer-milled, open fermentation, double-distilled (stainless then copper pot stills)
Whiskey From the Birthplace of Corn
Corn has grown in Oaxaca for seven millennia, in dozens of native varieties — and until Sierra Norte, almost nobody had made whiskey from it. Master distiller Douglas French set out to change that, working with traditional farmers to source heirloom, non-GMO corn and distilling each variety to showcase its character. The Rainbow Corn expression blends the full spectrum — white, yellow, red, purple, black — into one single-barrel whiskey that tastes like the Sierra Norte mountains themselves. It's part of a quiet revolution putting Sierra Norte and Mexican whiskey on the world map. Discover more in our whisky collection.
Tasting Notes
The nose shows sweet corn, dried fruits, and warm spice. The palate is rich and full-bodied — honey and toasted oak with a hint of pepper, cinnamon, and cooked fruit. The finish is long and smooth, with vanilla and a subtle, lingering sweetness.
How to Enjoy
Neat or with a splash of water to open the corn sweetness — this is a sipping whiskey built for slow evenings. It also makes a fascinating Old Fashioned, where the honeyed corn character replaces bourbon's caramel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sierra Norte a bourbon?
No — it's a Mexican whiskey made from native Oaxacan corn and aged in French oak. It follows whiskey-making tradition but with Mexican ingredients and identity.
What does "rainbow corn" mean?
The mash uses a blend of native Oaxacan corn varieties in white, yellow, red, purple, and black — the "rainbow" of heirloom corn grown in the Sierra Norte mountains.
Who makes Sierra Norte?
Master distiller Douglas French, creator of Scorpion Mezcal, distilling at Scorpion Mezcal S.A. de C.V. in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Taste 7,000 years of corn heritage in a glass — buy Sierra Norte Rainbow Corn Mexican Whiskey online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.