Sotol — a Mexican agave-adjacent spirit native to the Chihuahuan desert — has a new contender in the American market.
On Wednesday, Casa Lotos announced the debut of its flagship Sotol Blanco in select states across the US. The launch intends to bring renewed awareness to a once-niche spirit thrust into the spotlight by the trending popularity of tequila.
Unlike tequila and mezcal, which are distilled from agave varietals, sotol is made using dasylirion wheeleri otherwise known as desert spoon. Throughout the northern states of Mexico, wild-grown desert spoon shrubs can be spotted from a mile away by their characteristic 10 to 15-foot tall flowering spike.
After roasting in brick ovens and distillation in copper pot stills, the spirit boasts an earthy, terroir-driven flavor comparable to a funky mezcal or herbal gin.
“Casa Lotos is a unique spirit whose crisp, bright flavor is the result of fourth-generation sotoleros working in harmony with the natural landscape,” stated Wendy Eisenberg, a Founder of Casa Lotos in a press release.
“Mixologists, chefs and consumers are combining Casa Lotos into creative cocktails, like Chef Julian Medina’s Lotos y Limon, made with lemon and honey, or the Don Pepino, which mixes Casa Lotos with cucumber, lime and jalapeno. Its versatility means it can also be used as a fresh take on classic favorites like martinis and margaritas, or enjoyed on its own.”
Up until recently, finding sotol outside of Mexico was a borderline impossible task. As tequila and mezcal balloon to new heights of popularity, however, sotol has gradually picked up steam.
Brands like Los Magos and Hacienda De Chihuahua have begun popping up on liquor store shelves across the country. Expectedly, even celebrities are getting in on the action — Grammy Award-winner Lenny Kravitz launched his own Nocheluna Sotol toward the end of 2022 in collaboration with spirits giant Pernod Ricard.
