La Venenosa Étnica Tutsi is an extraordinarily rare agave spirit made by the Wixárika, or Huichol, people of the Sierra in western Mexico. Sold in the raicilla category for convenience, it is known locally as tutsi, and only two or three small batches of about 45 litres are made each year. This bottle is 48% ABV.
Tutsi was lost for around 25 years and today has only one practising producer. This release is made from Masparillo agave (Agave guadalajarana) in Tatei Kie, La Guayaba, by Rafael Carrillo Pizano. The agave is cooked in an earthen pit with volcanic rock and oak, then distilled just once in a hollowed-out tree-trunk still fitted with a copper pipe, an ancestral method that makes each batch unique.
It is a complex spirit, with ripe stone fruit and a deeply savoury, gently smoky character, cooked plum and fresh mint, woodsy notes, citrus and minerality, and an earthy, rustic texture.
The bottle comes in a wooden case and carries La Venenosa's Étnica label with Huichol-inspired artwork, making it a treasured piece for collectors of rare agave spirits.
Sip it slowly and respectfully; it is a living piece of Wixárika culture as much as a drink.
Tasting Notes
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Nose: Ripe stone fruit, savoury smoke and woodsy notes.
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Palate: Cooked plum, fresh mint, citrus and minerality.
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Finish: Earthy and rustic.
Specifications
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Producer: La Venenosa (Rafael Carrillo Pizano, Wixárika)
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Style: Destilado de Agave (raicilla category)
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Expression / Batch: Étnica Tutsi
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Proof / ABV: 96 proof (48% ABV)
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Cask / Finish: Agave guadalajarana; pit roasted, single distillation in a tree-trunk still
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Region: Tatei Kie, La Guayaba, Mexico
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Size: 750ml
How to Enjoy It
Sip it slowly from a copita at room temperature. It pairs with grilled fish, fresh fruit or simply quiet conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is tutsi?
The local name for the ancestral agave spirit of the Wixárika people, sold in the raicilla category.
How is it made?
Pit roasted with volcanic rock and oak, then distilled once in a hollowed tree-trunk still.
How much is made?
Only two or three batches of about 45 litres each year.
Explore more in our Tequila collection.
