La Venenosa Los Gigantes is a once-in-a-lifetime special edition batch from maestro Manuel Salcedo and Ruben Peña.
About this raicilla
La Venenosa Los Gigantes is made with four massive Agave americana. Seventeen years ago, Manuel and Ruben began their joined farming project with two adjacent farms that they work on together, growing primarily Agave maximiliana with four Americanas planted to identify the property line. These Americanas grew into massive agaves. Harvested two years ago, these four agaves, known as Los Gigantes, were produced by Ruben and Manuel together for this one in a lifetime batch.
La Venenosa Raicilla
Raicilla has been produced for over 500 years in the Mexican state of Jalisco, Mexico. Jalisco offers a plethora of agave species, second only to Oaxaca, however the Tequila made in Jalisco can only be made with the blue agave. Raicilla from Jalisco can be made with many different types of agave that are scattered across the landscape. These, along with great diversity in terroir, equipment and techniques, give Raicilla an amazing spectrum of flavor and history.
La Venenosa Raicilla range was created by Chef Esteban Morales to bring these hidden jewels to the global market. Esteban traversed the state in search of the best producers in each region. Every one of these Raicilla expressions is unique; created by different Maestro Taberneros in distinct regions, from different species of agave using diverse techniques, the individual results are astounding. Due to the relatively raw nature of Raicilla production, the ABV of each La Venenosa may vary slightly by batch.
Learn more:
- Don Luis and La Venenosa Sierra del Tigre on the Mezcal Reviews blog
Review this bottle
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bluImbibe
40 reviewsBatch #2
Nose: Sweet, tannic red wine, fatty deli meat, stuffed bell pepper, vinegary hot sauce, cinnamon rolls,
Palate: wet vegetation, collard greens, popcorn ; medium-full body, mild heat, slight bitterness. I’m left with stuffed bell pepper long after the vapors dissipate
Really love this bottle. Every time I revisit I get a couple new notes but it keeps that funky bell pepper nose every time. I’ve been hunting down batch #1 so I’ll update y’all on what I get once I’m able to snag one.
Batch #2
Nose: Sweet, tannic red wine, fatty deli meat, stuffed bell pepper, vinegary hot sauce, cinnamon rolls,
Palate: wet vegetation, collard greens, popcorn ; medium-full body, mild heat, slight bitterness. I’m left with stuffed bell pepper long after the vapors dissipate
Really love this bottle. Every time I revisit I get a couple new notes but it keeps that funky bell pepper nose every time. I’ve been hunting down batch #1 so I’ll update y’all on what I get once I
James Christian
45 reviewsGigantes Batch Two
Proof: 44.9%
Bottle: 87 of 150
Nose: Wet earth, stewed agave, round, and vegetal with some cheese. No alcohol burn whatsoever
Palate: Immediately fully coating and mouthwatering. Very viscous and luxurious.
Flavors: Very fatty stewed green veggies and funk. Caramelized green bell peppers (if that were a thing), canned stewed cactus, loads of pure agave, beautiful lingering soft smoke throughout.
Finish: Keeps on going like a long winding desert road
It’s really freakin delicious.
Gigantes Batch Two
Proof: 44.9%
Bottle: 87 of 150
Nose: Wet earth, stewed agave, round, and vegetal with some cheese. No alcohol burn whatsoever
Palate: Immediately fully coating and mouthwatering. Very viscous and luxurious.
Flavors: Very fatty stewed green veggies and funk. Caramelized green bell peppers (if that were a thing), canned stewed cactus, loads of pure agave, beautiful lingering soft smoke throughout.
Finish: Keeps on going like a long winding desert road
It’s really freakin delic
zeepuzzler
25 reviewsBottle 321/500. Whoa! Gen X nostalgia bomb here! Not only is there movie theater cheese on the nose – the kind you put on tortilla chips and pretzel bites – but it also smells like a freakin’ Blockbuster! Once I climb back out of the 1990s wormhole that’s opened up in my copita, I also get aromas of canned hatch peppers, pepperoni grease, caramelized garlic, honey, and…grape jelly?! The palate is light and surprisingly buoyant with notes of salami, oregano, fresh jalapeño peppers, and whipped cream. On the finish I get white pepper, parmesan rind, and chocolate milk (excellent call there, Rakhal!). I absolutely love this and, as a former mall rat, give it an extra half star for the happy flashbacks.
Bottle 321/500. Whoa! Gen X nostalgia bomb here! Not only is there movie theater cheese on the nose – the kind you put on tortilla chips and pretzel bites – but it also smells like a freakin’ Blockbuster! Once I climb back out of the 1990s wormhole that’s opened up in my copita, I also get aromas of canned hatch peppers, pepperoni grease, caramelized garlic, honey, and…grape jelly?! The palate is light and surprisingly buoyant with notes of salami, oregano, fresh jalape
Rakhal
421 reviewsAfter reading the reviews I was really excited to taste a Mezcal with pepperoni notes, but even though it smells a bit like cured meats I didn’t really get that on the palate. It’s very good though! Very light and clean. Pineapple, maple donut glaze, chocolate milk, green bell pepper, dried basil, and dried oregano.
Zack Klamn
542 reviewsNose: Honey. Hints of medium cheddar. Very slight genoa salami saltiness.
Palate: Agave syrup sweetness. White pepper spicy in the finish. A tad medicinal all around.
HighWine
76 reviewsAroma of oregano, cayenne, pepper jack cheese, and cured meat. I get big green pepper flesh up front followed by honey, and some jalapeno or Anaheim heat. The subtle honey sweetness really brings this together. Earthy, vegetal, and complex. Medium-light bodied in the mouth with barely any alcohol burn. Another winning raicilla from La Venenosa.
Tyler
643 reviewsABV is a bit low but the flavor is there. Italian seasoning notes on mall pizza e.g. Sbarros. I really like it. Super unique. Not something you’d sip all night but a real unique treat. Others have mentioned pepperoni flavors which is valid. Really fun agave spirit.
LittleArm
32 reviewsVery interesting bottle. Smells like meat. Straight up. Smells like walking into a deli. Crazy smooth, great mouthfeel. Tastes (almost overwhelmingly) like peperoni with a bit of briny minerality. I think this is the meatiest mezcal I’ve ever tasted. Fades fast. I have very mixed feelings on this one. I really like it but it gets old quickly (dropped a half star from first taste to finishing my very small second pour). Going to keep coming back to this bottle but I don’t see myself ever having more than 1-2 pours of it at a time. If possible try this before buying it because I can see it turning off a lot of people. Hoping it will develop some more depth now that its open.
Very interesting bottle. Smells like meat. Straight up. Smells like walking into a deli. Crazy smooth, great mouthfeel. Tastes (almost overwhelmingly) like peperoni with a bit of briny minerality. I think this is the meatiest mezcal I’ve ever tasted. Fades fast. I have very mixed feelings on this one. I really like it but it gets old quickly (dropped a half star from first taste to finishing my very small second pour). Going to keep coming back to this bottle but I don’t see myself e
GreenspointTexas
385 reviewsWasnt expecting how clean this was. Tequila-esque. Some minerality present, but not much beyond that. Gonna go ahead and update this review next month if oxidation changes anything