Move Over Tequila, There's A Mexican Liquor Coming For Your Spot
NEWS
BY ILENE V. SMITH
Sotol-based drinks are becoming one of the hot cocktail trends to watch. Despite some similarities, the ancient Mexican liquor is quite different from tequila.
Sotol is a distilled spirit made from the "desert spoon" cactus. It is traditionally drunk neat, and its earthy notes pair well with citrus fruits and Southwestern flavors.
In 2002, the Mexican government granted a Denominación de Origen to sotol. This restricted the name to sotol made only in three Mexican states: Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Durango.
Locals also infuse the spirits with local ingredients to create curados. As one distiller said to BBC Mundo, "commercially speaking, [sotol is] what mezcal was 12 years ago."
