sotol

noun

so·​tol ˈsō-ˌtōl How to pronounce sotol (audio)
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 Swizzles are usually made with rum, but this version uses sotol instead, for a more earthy cocktail, balanced with the sourness of fresh citrus and sweetness of the liqueur. Aly Walansky, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Unsavory opinions about sotol have worn off since it was legalized in 1994. Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 2 Aug. 2023 Also gaining popularity is sotol, an earthier cousin to tequila hailing from northern Mexico. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 3 Dec. 2023 After Spanish colonial rule, European distillation methods took over to produce new drinks like mezcal, tequila and sotol. Constanza Eliana Chinea, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2023 Then stick around for fun restaurant news, from a new Fort Worth sotol distillery to breakfast trends to the — gasp — decline in Whataburger quality. Erin Booke, Dallas News, 10 Aug. 2023 La Pulga’s bridge from Mexico to Texas starts with sotol. Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas News, 2 Aug. 2023 The drinks menu focuses on agave spirits of every ilk, from tequila and mezcal to sotol and raicilla. Caviar on the room service menu? Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 29 June 2023 While tequila and mezcal may have the greatest name recognition in the US, sotol is also gaining ground. Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, 28 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sotol.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish, from Nahuatl zōtōlin palm tree

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sotol was in 1881

Dictionary Entries Near sotol

Cite this Entry

“Sotol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sotol. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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