Mezonte Raicilla Japo is a small batch Raicilla from Cabo Corrientes, which is a cape on the Pacific coast of Jalisco, south of Puerto Vallarta.
About this raicilla
Mezonte Raicilla Japo is made with maguey Amarillo (agave Rhodacantha), which is either synonymous or very closely related to maguey Mexicano. This Raicilla is made by Hildegardo “Japo” Joya in Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco. Japo is 87 years old (as of 2019) and still producing regularly. Per tradition in this region, he only harvests agave under the light of a full moon.
Mezonte
Mezonte is a noprofit organization that promotes, supports, and preserves the production and practices of traditional agave spirits. Mezonte’s main objective is to create awareness of the cultural and biological value that these spirits represent. They feature agave spirits from all over Mexico, with an emphasis on Jalisco and Michoacán. Their producers make mezcal, raicilla, barranca, tuxca, sikua, or any other name used for distilled agave in this region. When Mezonte buys a batch from a producer, they only buy 60% of the batch because they want the community and the culture of the community to continue to consume and enjoy as they have for hundreds of years.
Learn more about Mezonte:
- Mezonte Supports Family Producers & Damn Good Mezcal on the K&L Wines Spirits Journal blog
Review this bottle
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Gregg T&T
62 reviewsLactic cheese funk on the nose – greek yogurt, dill and cucumber. Really velvety body, honeysuckle and a faint spice of pepper. Relatively short but complex finish.
BartFargo
21 reviews2018 Lot 1, 400 liters
Nose: Savory and herbal – fresh queso, tzatziki sauce and banana peppers, with a hearty sprinkling of oregano, cilantro, chopped sweet onion and pancetta. A little fruit shows with time in the form of lightly smoky roasted pineapple.
Palate: Still savory and pungent, with a big spoonful of yogurt seasoned with sautéed onions, mixed green herbs, bacon and citrus zest. Sweet baked agave peeks through here and there. Medium, silky body.
Finish: Savory herbed yogurt and bacon notes continue, complemented by sweet and sour sauce and a little blackberry. Medium-long length.
Thoughts: Consistent profile from start to finish, but really impressive. The funky yogurt and bacon notes are far more in balance than other raicillas I’ve tried, and the rich herbal bouquet provides a great deal of depth. If you like your agave savory, this is a must try.
2018 Lot 1, 400 liters
Nose: Savory and herbal – fresh queso, tzatziki sauce and banana peppers, with a hearty sprinkling of oregano, cilantro, chopped sweet onion and pancetta. A little fruit shows with time in the form of lightly smoky roasted pineapple.
Palate: Still savory and pungent, with a big spoonful of yogurt seasoned with sautéed onions, mixed green herbs, bacon and citrus zest. Sweet baked agave peeks through here and there. Medium, silky body.
Finish: Savory herbed yogurt
justsomedude
17 reviewsAnother fantastic offering from Mezonte. Jony found this to be incredibly complex but did not fit his palate. Well it fits my palate perfectly because I love the tangy yogurt notes found in both the nose and palate. I’m not sure about pickles and hotdog water though, I got mostly red and black berries, lemongrass, yogurt, creme fraiche, honey and agave. Mouthfeel is rich and coats the whole palate. Finish is long and leaves only the pleasant aspects of yogurt with honey and agave. 93/100
Another fantastic offering from Mezonte. Jony found this to be incredibly complex but did not fit his palate. Well it fits my palate perfectly because I love the tangy yogurt notes found in both the nose and palate. I’m not sure about pickles and hotdog water though, I got mostly red and black berries, lemongrass, yogurt, creme fraiche, honey and agave. Mouthfeel is rich and coats the whole palate. Finish is long and leaves only the pleasant aspects of yogurt with honey and agave. 93/100
Jonny
443 reviewsLot 01 from 2018. 400 litres in the batch. Aromas of spoiled yogurt, hot dog water, and pickles… in kind of a good way, but very funky. Slight ammonia or cat piss aroma as well…again not off putting, but very funky. A bit thin on the palate with notes of freshly picked cotton, lemon peel, potatoes skins, and more boiled hot dogs. This is dynamic and complex for sure. Not my favorite however, but it might just not be a good fit for my palate.
GreenspointTexas
211 reviews10/10 would smash again