sotol

noun

so·​tol ˈsō-ˌtōl 

1

: any of several plants (genus Dasylirion) of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico that are related to the agave and are often grown for ornament or to produce an alcoholic beverage

2

: an alcoholic beverage especially of northern Mexico that is made from the distilled fermented sap of a sotol (such as Dasylirion wheeleri)

Examples of sotol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There will also be earthy sotols and other agave spirits that are lesser-known in the United States like raicilla and bacanora. —Brittany Anas, The Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2024

With locations in Palms, Torrance, West Hollywood and Santa Clarita, the restaurant boasts one of the most extensive mezcal collections in the country, including hard-to-find Mexican distillates such as sotol, raicilla and tequila. —Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024

Sit on the oceanside terrace, pick a sotol or mezcal from the extensive agave spirits list, and enjoy world-class modern Mexican food by the roiling surf of Cabo San Lucas. —Sunset Magazine, 10 Sep. 2024

There's sotol, an ancient, vegetal spirit made in the Chihuahuan desert not from agave, but from the dasylirion wheeleri or desert spoon plant, which yields only one bottle in its lifetime. —Felicia Campbell, The Arizona Republic, 29 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish, from Nahuatl zōtōlin palm tree

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1