Think of Raicilla as a cousin to Tequila, Mezcal and Sotol. It is also a distilled spirit and it originates from the south western portion of the Mexican state of Jalisco. Like tequila and mezcal, it is a product of the agave plant.
Raicilla is now protected by a Denomination of Origin and tends to comes from “de la costa” (of the coast) and “de la sierra” (of the mountains). Most of the major producers are from the latter, and their production can be loosely split into two based on the roasting techniques they use. Pit-roasted agave produces a smokier taste, similar to Oaxacan Mezcal, and clay-roasted agave gives the spirit a cleaner, more herbal character.