Riding With La Venenosa Raicilla: Tabernas, Sierra del Tigre, PUNTAS reviews

I'm very much in love with Raicilla, that distinctive agave spirit from southwestern Jalisco; in particular, Las Perlas ( • Raicilla's Revenge: Es... ) is still one of the most crushable bottles I own and I try not to think about it too much lest I just not drink anything else. But today we're tasting through a few offerings from the La Venenosa folks, one of the largest Raicilla specialist bottlers out there. It's a very impressive lineup, and actually also extremely varie- PUNTAS. PUNTAS PUNTAS PUNTAS. PUNTAS???? PUNTAAAS!!!
La Venenosa Tabernas II Edición Raicilla (distilled by Chalio Rodriguez in El Tuito; wild fermented Chico aguiar/wild espadin, double distilled in Philippine still; Lot 4, 03/2018, 2900 bottles; 44.5% ABV), 85/100
La Venenosa Sierra del Tigre de Jalisco Raicilla (distilled by Don Luis Contreras in La Manzanilla; wild fermented Inaequidens/Bruto, single distilled in clay pot stills; Lot 27, 01/2021, 280 bottles; 44.8% ABV), 90/100
La Venenosa Puntas El Lobo de la Sierra Raicilla (distilled by Don Gerardo Peña in Jacales; wild fermented Maximiliana, double distilled in steel alembic stills; Lot 04, 09/2016, 300 bottles; 64% ABV), 88/100
The Sierra del Tigre has completely seduced me and I absolutely adore it, but be warned: even if you usually trust me when I score something high, stay away from this stuff unless you try it first. Or unless you really love gorgonzola and sour cream. But at a third of the price the Tabernas is excellent too, a quieter and really fresh take on Espadin that I'd love to see more folks experimenting with.
And then there's PUNTAS. PUNTAS?? PUNTAS. The Maximiliana Puntas here is a hulking cartoon character, easily the strongest agave spirit I've ever had and also the newest on my list of palate destroyers (where it can sit with pride alongside DOK, early bottles of Octomore, Zind-Humbrecht 1976, and other such night-ending luminaries). It is extremely fruity, high-toned, and almost gin-like, and... you know what, none of what I say matters, PUNTAS. PUNTAAAS.
Question of the Video: What is your experience with raicilla?
Extra special thanks to my Different Spirits on Patreon ( / differentspirits ) -
Eric Amig
Kingsbury bushcraft
Rob D
Joe Devine
Steve Frazee
John Halliday
Jason Newquist
No Thanks
Matthew Ruiz
RumSquirrel
Dallas Shatel
Chris Sherman
Gordon W
Zach W

[@cartermayfield]

Funny you should do this review right now. I had the Sierra Del Tigre at a liquor store and was blown away. Another liquor store was having a close out and I bought an older batch that had insane floaters in it. I have seen flocked fatty acids before, but nothing like this. Both batches were great, but the one with the flocks had insane mouthfeel. Anyway… I’m a fan. I have never had a distilled spirit like this. It opened up a whole new world for me.

[@differentspirits4157]

There's a real "welcome to the real world" quality to a lot of these backwoods Jalisco offerings, isn't there? I'll be on the lookout for bottlings with floaties, then!! 😂

[@bobbcorr]

First Sotol now Raicilla - I’m grooving on the exotics.

[@differentspirits4157]

Just wait, I've got more baijiu lined up! 😁

[@eumeliovazquezjr1630]

The puntas was the best mezcal I have ever tried but at the second pour it turned into straight peat or dirt flavor for me

[@differentspirits4157]

I could see that, these really seem sensitive to air. Something which I'll sometimes do with bottles like this (which sounds stupid and, well, probably is), is pop the top for around two minutes the day (or even just an hour or two) before I feel like pouring it - _sometimes_ this can put it into a better mood.

[@psilo110]

Hoping you get your hands on Lagrimas del Valles from 1123. I have the El Chequeno estate plata + repo, I think 46% is the sweet spot for tequila. Interested in your take on it.

[@differentspirits4157]

I'll look out for it! Frankly I'm very behind on all the new projects coming out of Cascahuin/1123, they just make too much stuff... 😅

[@psilo110]

@@differentspirits4157 I'm happy to contribute samples to the channel if you're up for it. My go to shop has some amazing tequila, bacanora, mezcal, sotol, & raicilla.

[@differentspirits4157]

@@psilo110 This is tempting! Let me see about setting up some kind of official channel email...

[@psilo110]

@@differentspirits4157 I'll be in MX next month, no rush. I appreciate your content.

[@differentspirits4157]

@@psilo110 Aww, thanks!! 😁

[@almageist]

Which batch of the puntas do you have? I've heard its very hit or miss. The one I bought was unfortunately pretty horrid and just tasted like rubbing alcohol and acetone. I've heard there's a lot of variation in this one from batch to batch.

[@almageist]

lol see the batch now oops

[@differentspirits4157]

Yeah I could see there being a lot of variation in this style just due to the way the cut is being made...

[@almageist]

@@differentspirits4157 A friend actually knows the producer well and says lately he hasn't been producing the greatest stuff. My bottle is batch 20 so maybe these later batches aren't as good.

[@timothymuehlfeld6975]

I wish I had access to these….

[@differentspirits4157]

You don't? I could have sworn spots like Whisky Exchange were selling these things internationally...

[@kaktuskontrafaktus]

Trigger warning: Cheese

[@differentspirits4157]

🧀🧀🧀😂