Tepoztlan-Vacation-Rentals.com Blogueria

Sotol - A Success Story 800 Years in the Making

Sun, 04 Dec 2022 23:40:55 GMT

September 2026 blog from T epoztlan-Vacation-Rentals.com

Sotol: A Success Story 800 years in the Making

by Jorge Lane Terrazas

Photography by author except as noted.

Copyright © 2022 Jorge Lane Terrazas. All Rights of story and photographs reserved.

DISPLAYS BEST IN HORIZONTAL VIEW

Tres Amigos: Desert Door, Flor del Desierto, and Hacienda de Chihuahua Sotol

Introduction.

Sotol dates back over 800 years. The Anasazi, Tarahumara, Paquimé, and other indigenous peoples in northern Mexico and the states of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, made this alcoholic beverage for ritual and curative purposes, and, one would assume, for pure pleasure too. Modern-day archeologists reportedly found receptacles with traces of what they identified as sotol at the Paquimé archaeological site on the southern end of my hometown, Casas Grandes, Chihuahua.

Sotol is made from varieties of dasylirion plants referred to as Sotol in Spanish and Desert Spoon in English. Contemporary botanists no longer consider sotol plants to belong to the same family as agave plants, which effectively differentiates sotol from tequila and mezcal.

A little known liquor in the United States and even in a great part of Mexico, sotol has been garnering international attention in recent years amongst a small but growing community of aficionados. Julia Roberts, the famous Hollywood actress, is credited with coining the phrase “Like Tequila, Love Sotol” and is said to offer tasting samples to guests. Lenny Kravitz, the American singer-songwriter, recently became the latest celebrity to launch a brand of alcohol, in this case Sotol Nocheluna in late 2022.

Below, this blog covers basic information about sotol, as well as a summary review of 10 sotol brands. And, if you are interested in story-telling, click on the down arrow in the text box below to open a short story about my early experiences with sotol.

Illustration of Doña Luz, a Town Distiller in the 1960's

Background Information

Sotol plants thrive in the wild and most commonly in arid and hot climates. Since sotol plants are abundant in the wild and harvesting the “heart” of the plant to make sotol does not kill the plant itself, most commercial sotol brands rely on naturally growing plants. As a distilled spirit, sotol, with at least one exception, is an artisanal product.

Following traditional methods, most sotol makers, known as “sotoleros” in Mexico, cook the harvested hearts using in-ground pits and firewood or volcanic rock, thus giving it an earthy and sometimes smoky appeal. Sotol is usually both softer than tequila and more agreeable than mezcal. On the nose and palate it is unique: it brings a sensation reminiscent of being in a desert setting following rainfall as you take in the aromas of wet vegetation, soil and minerals.

Following the centuries-old traditions, some lines of sotol are cured with rattlesnake venom or meat, which was thought to have curative qualities.

Sotol was illegal in Mexico until 1994. A denomination of origin was granted to the country in 2002, something that the United States, to this day, has refrained from recognizing.

Due to the small-scale artisanal nature of sotol, as well as traditional methods of production, nose and taste can vary a fair amount from batch to batch. This also means that after the last drop of your favorite sotol is gone, finding the same one again can be particularly difficult and even more so as it continues to gain in popularity.

Image of shot of sotol and agate gemstone from Chihuahua (Casas Grandes Region)

RATINGS

The following are summary ratings for 10 sotol brands that I have tried. I must confess that I am not an expert taster. Indeed, I am often either amazed or befuddled by experts who speak to the myriad of flavors in wines, spirits, and beer. I can't even start pretending that I can discern those myself. The spirit either works for me or it doesn't. It's that simple. I do lean towards peaty and silky qualities. Having said this, all sotol in the reviews below range from 3 stars (good) to 5 (excellent).

Where available, I list the name of the distiller of the sotol, or "maestro sotolero" in Spanish. Sotoleros often make sotol under contract rather than producing it under their own brand name. Nonetheless, one name, Gerardo Ruelas, keeps popping up across a wide gamut of sotol brands as you will see below. Ruelas is today one of the most renowned sotoleros on either side of the border.

Sotol Hacienda de Chihuahua - Reposado

The commercial mainstay of them all, Hacienda de Chihuahua is recognized as the largest and most influential brand of sotol. As such, it is not an artisanal product and the heart of the sotol plant is not cooked in the traditional ground pit and firewood or volcanic rock methods. Hacienda's sotol is consistently similar from batch to batch. For newbies and those that prefer libations on the lighter side, it represents a good introduction to sotol given its lighter aroma and flavors. Call this one "sotol lite." That's not necessarily a bad thing. I have also tried Hacienda's añejo line, which is aged for over 12 months, but found that it lost too much of the earthiness I have come to associate with sotol.

Rating for Reposado line: 4.0

Aging: Aged from two months and up to one year

Proof: 76%

Production Location: Chihuahua

Sotol plant variety: Dasylirion wheeler

Flor del Desierto - Veneno

The label attracted my attention: “veneno orgánico” (organic poison) with drawings of a snake and the classic skull and bones. It boasts being cured with rattlesnake venom. “Gimmicky,” I thought, “but gotta try this.”

My first reaction was that it was significantly earthier than Sotol Hacienda de Chihuahua, as well as peaty --- very peaty; like really, really peaty, but with a silky sensation on the palate, natural complexity and well rounded. Oh, and did I mention smoky?

Rating for Veneno Orgánico: 5.0

Proof: 90%

Production Location: Chihuahua

Sotolero: Gerardo Ruelas

Aged for an unspecified period of time, but I suspect between 2 and 12 months

Sotol plant variety: Dasylirion leiophyllum

You may have to plan a trip to Mexico for this one as it cannot be commercially imported or sold in the US due to restrictions on products cured with rattlesnake venom.

Desert Door Texas Sotol

A sotol distillery in Texas? Are you serious? Yes, indeed. And, in true western movie fashion, this one will knock you flat on your back.

Barney, a good friend, took me there. While packing quite a punch, it also has a good measure of the earthy qualities characteristic of sotol. A bit too strong for my taste, but I do have to say it was an authentic and unadulterated sotol experience. I was certain it had neither been aged nor seen the inside of a wood barrel, but that did not deter me from asking the bartender/owner about the aging process. "Should I start from the time the truck came in with the harvested hearts?” “Sure,” I replied, playing along. "Today’s Friday and, let's see, the truck came in on Tuesday,” he said chuckling before adding, “there ain't no aging.” Barney and I appreciated his candor and his good-natured sense of humor even more. So much so that we ordered another round.

Alas, a short few years later in early 2026, Desert Door Texas Sotol went out of business, although some stores still have remaining bottles on the shelves as of now.

Rating for Desert Door Texas Sotol: 3.0

Proof: 80%.

Not aged.

Production location: Texas

Sotol plant variety: Dasylirion Texanum

Sotol Coyote - Víbora

An alluring sotol, light in flavor and a silky quality. Cured with snake venom.

Rating for Sotol Coyote - Víbora: 4.5

Proof: 90%.

Aging: Unspecified. Judging by the color and palate, likely aged between 2 and 12 months

Production Location: Chihuahua

Sotolero: Gerardo Ruelas (according to various sources)

Sotol plant variety: Dasylirion Leiophyllum

Sotol Oro de Coyame

A simple sotol with sweetness and slightly silky body. Decent complexity. Won a gold medal at the Sip Awards in 2021. Lower pricing than many others. Considered to be one of the largest artisanal brands of sotol.

Rating for Sotol Oro de Coyame: 3.75

Proof: 96%.

Aging: Joven. Likely aged for up to 2 months

Production Location: Chihuahua

Sotolero: Gerardo Ruelas

Sotol plant variety: Dasylirion wheeler

Sotol Flor del Desierto - Desierto

Not to be confused with Flor del Desierto's Veneno Orgánico in the dark bottle, this white labelled bottle does not contain snake venom. It also does not have the strong peaty flavor of its sibling. This is a strong and peppery sotol, but in a good way.

Rating for Sotol Flor del Desierto - Desierto label: 4.0

Proof: 94%.

Aging: Joven. Aged for up to 2 months

Production Location: Chihuahua

Sotolero: Gerardo Ruelas

Sotol plant variety: Dasylirion Leiophyllum

Señor Sotol

This entry from the state of Durango, is made by sotolero Juan Manuel Conde using Dasylirion Texanum, Cedrosanum, and Wheeleri. The description on the back of the bottle speaks to wild sotol harvested by hand, cooking in an underground pit with volcanic rock, fermentation in open-air wooden vats, and distillation in small copper stills. A simple sotol with sweetness and flavor on the lighter side.

Rating for Señor Sotol: 3.50

Proof: 86%.

Aging: Blanco (not aged)

Production Location: Durango

Sotolero: Juan Manuel Conde

Sotol plant variety: Dasylirion Texanum, Cedrosanum, and Wheeleri

Tall Texan Sotol - Cedro

Notwthstanding that Tall Texan Distilling was named after a nefarious outlaw, Cedro is a legitimate, straight-shooting, and enjoyable sotol. While headquartered in Sanderson, a small West Texas town about 27 miles from the border with Mexico as the crow flies, Gerardo Ruelas from Aldama Chihuahua is listed as the sotolero maestro. This sotol has a good hint of complexity and smoothness.

Rating for Tall Texan Sotol - Cedro: 3.75

Proof: 88%.

Aging: Unspecified. Perhaps some aging of up to 2 months

Production Location: Chihuahua/Texas

Sotolero: Gerardo Ruelas

Sotol plant variety: Dasylirion Cedrosanum

Tall Texan Sotol - Leio

Tall Texan Distilling's second offering has a slightly higher proof than its sibling. As is the case with Cedro, Gerardo Ruelas also serves as master sotolero. On the palate, Leio is more straight-forward and somewhat astringent, which some folks prefer in their sotol.

Rating for Tall Texan Sotol - Leio: 3.25

Proof: 90%.

Aging: Unspecified, but likely unnaged or aged for up to 2 months

Production Location: Chihuahua/Texas

Sotolero: Gerardo Ruelas

Sotol plant variety: Dasylirion Leiophyllum

Nocheluna Sotol

Nocheluna is singer-songwriter Lenny Kravitz's celebrity sotol, a collaboration with experts including Lalo Arrieta, Ricardo Pico, and Iván Saldaña. Authentic, drinkable sotol. Unlike all the other sotol lines reviewed this blog, it is unfortunately near impossible to pour from Nocheluna bottles without some spillage.

Rating for Nocheluna Soto: 3.0

Proof: 86%.

Aging: A Blanco sotol, likely meaning unnaged

Production Location: Chihuahua

Sotolero: Iván Saldaña

Sotol plant variety: Unspecified, but most likely Dasylirion Leiophyllum

Wrens of Tepoztlan at Hacienda Clemente Jacques

Sat, 03 Sep 2022 22:42:25 GMT

September 2022 Blog from T epoztlan-Vacation-Rentals.com

Wrens of Tepoztlan
featuring exclusive photos taken at Hacienda Clemente Jacques and Villa San Clementito

Boucard's Wren (Endemic to Mexico)

Wrens are typically known as small chunky songbirds which encompass a total of 88 species according to recent sources. Thirteen of these are considered endemic to Mexico. During a recent photography project at Hacienda Clemente Jacques, five species were spotted, of which select photos appear on this webpage.

Depending on the particular species, wrens range from 10 centimeters in length and 9 grams in weight and up to 22 centimeters and 50 grams. Colors are typically drab, with common colors being gray, brown, black and white. Only one species, the Eurasian Wren, is found outside of the Americas and the Caribbean islands. The name of wren is applied in some countries, such as New Zealand and Australia, to other unrelated birds.

Canyon Wren

Wrens mostly feed on tiny insects, spiders and other invertebrates but will also snack on other foods, such as small lizards, vegetable matter, seeds, and berries. Most of the time they will be spotted individually or in pairs, although some tropical species will be seen in groupings of up to 20 birds.

True to the ebullient nature of songbirds, wrens can have loud and complex songs, such as is the case with the Canyon Wren pictured above. Singing notwithstanding, they tend to be shy and scurry away from humans.

Happy Wren (Endemic to Mexico)

A common and descriptive name for wrens in Spanish of Mexico is saltapared (wall jumper), surely due to their effortless “jumps” or "hops" over walls and fences while foraging at ground level and in shrubs and low-hanging branches.

Select pictures taken at Hacienda Clemente Jacques of other wrens, as well as over 50 other species of birds, are featured in the bilingual book Birds of Tepoztlan - Aves de Tepoztlán from award-winning photographer Jorge Lane Terrazas .

For the iOs version at $10.99 USD for devices such as iPads iPhones, iMacs and MacBooks, go to:

h ttps://books.apple.com/us/book/aves-de-tepoztlan/id6442835630

For the print or PDF version starting at $10.99 USD, go to:

https://www.blurb.com/b/11166128-birds-of-tepoztlan

Bewick's Wren

Tepoztlan Birds - A Book

Sat, 21 May 2022 20:21:48 GMT

May 2022 Blog from T epoztlan-Vacation-Rentals.com

Now Available:
Tepoztlan Birds / Aves de Tepoztlán - The Book
featuring photos taken exclusively at Hacienda Clemente Jacques and Villa San Clementito

A Ladder-backed Woodpecker graces book cover.

A coffee-table book by award-winning photographer Jorge Lane Terrazas titled Tepoztlan Birds / Aves de Tepoztlán is now available in print, PDF and ebook versions for as little as $10.99 USD. Based on photographs of birds taken exclusively on the grounds of Hacienda Clemente Jacques of the Tepoztlan-Vacation-Rentals.com family, it features over 90 photos of birds and 55 distinct species.

For a full preview of the book or to order the print or PDF versions, go to:

https://www.blurb.com/b/11166128-birds-of-tepoztlan

For a limited preview of the e-book or to order the Mobi or e-Pub formats, go to:

https://www.blurb.com/b?ebook=776845

After Jorge completed the photographic phase, which included over 50 consecutive days of field photography, the book became a collaborative effort with two other colleagues. Dr. Fernando Urbina Torres, a leading and widely-cited ornithological expert in not only the state of Morelos, but also all of Mexico, provided bird identification, support and advice. Dr. Urbina is known to periodically lead bird-sighting outings in Tepoztlán. In addition, the book includes drawings for each section by Jonatán Martínez Pérez based on select photos.

Tepoztlan Birds / Aves de Tepoztlán is written in both English and Spanish. Each bird is identified by common names in both Mexican Spanish and American English, and is accompanied by corresponding scientific names.

Tepoztlan Birds at Hacienda Clemente Jacques and Villa San Clementito. Brought to you by Tepoztlan-Vacation-Rentals.com. Tepoztlan, Morelos, Mexico.

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 23:54:19 GMT

Tepoztlan Birds From A to Z
Tepoztlan-Vacation-Rentals.com's bird sightings
at Hacienda Clemente Jacques and Villa San Clementito

Northern Beardless Tyrannulet

Did you know that Mexico is home to 1129 species of birds, 496 of which can be found in the state of Morelos where Hacienda Clemente Jacques and Villa San Clementito are located? Read on to learn how many of these were recently spotted at HCJ and VSC and to see a pictorial gallery.

Jorge Lane Terrazas, an award-winning wildlife photographer, embarked on a journey of over 50 days to capture images of birds on the approximately 10 acre grounds of Hacienda Clemente Jacques and Villa San Clementito. Over 8,000 exposures later, his work resulted in more than 300 pictures he deemed to be "keepers," but more importantly, identifying over 70 species of birds, a good number of which are endemic to Mexico or mainly found in Mexico and Guatemala.

He often saw as many as 15 species on any given day. The most represented groupings were flycatchers (10 species); hummingbirds (7 species); orioles, buntings and warblers (4 species each); and woodpeckers and wrens (3 species each).

Jorge mirthfully titles his project Tepoztlan Birds: From A to Z. The A represents the American Kestrel he spotted on three separate days; the Z represents the Zacatoneros de Cola Rojiza (Stripe Headed Sparrows) he saw on numerous days. He chuckles that if he had only used bird names in English, the project title would have ended in Y, for Yellow Rumped Warbler, which alphabet-wise would have been "close, but no cigar."

Click on the Birding tab or this link to see the pictorial gallery of select photos from Jorge's project:

https://www.tepoztlan-vacation-rentals.com/birding0bbbc42f

Share this newsletter with others---social media links are below. We also welcome your thoughts: look for comments section below.

Gray Silky Flycatcher

Tepoztlan-Vacation-Rentals.com Blogueria

Sotol - A Success Story 800 Years in the Making

September 2026 blog from T epoztlan-Vacation-Rentals.com

Sotol: A Success Story 800 years in the Making

by Jorge Lane Terrazas

Photography by author except as noted.

Copyright © 2022 Jorge Lane Terrazas. All Rights of story and photographs reserved.

DISPLAYS BEST IN HORIZONTAL VIEW

Wrens of Tepoztlan at Hacienda Clemente Jacques

September 2022 Blog from T epoztlan-Vacation-Rentals.com Wrens of Tepoztlan featuring exclusive photos taken at Hacienda Clemente Jacques and Villa San Clementito

Tepoztlan Birds - A Book

May 2022 Blog from T epoztlan-Vacation-Rentals.com Now Available: Tepoztlan Birds / Aves de Tepoztlán - The Book featuring photos taken exclusively at Hacienda Clemente Jacques and Villa San Clementito

Tepoztlan Birds at Hacienda Clemente Jacques and Villa San Clementito. Brought to you by Tepoztlan-Vacation-Rentals.com. Tepoztlan, Morelos, Mexico.

Tepoztlan Birds From A to Z Tepoztlan-Vacation-Rentals.com's bird sightings at Hacienda Clemente Jacques and Villa San Clementito

September 2022 Blog from T epoztlan-Vacation-Rentals.com

Wrens of Tepoztlan
featuring exclusive photos taken at Hacienda Clemente Jacques and Villa San Clementito

May 2022 Blog from T epoztlan-Vacation-Rentals.com

Now Available:
Tepoztlan Birds / Aves de Tepoztlán - The Book
featuring photos taken exclusively at Hacienda Clemente Jacques and Villa San Clementito

Tepoztlan Birds From A to Z
Tepoztlan-Vacation-Rentals.com's bird sightings
at Hacienda Clemente Jacques and Villa San Clementito