What is Texas sotol?

While Mexico’s Denomination of Origin defines and protects sotol as a Mexican spirit from specific states, the sotol or Dasylirion plant is native beyond Mexico. It also grows across parts of the U.S. Southwest, especially Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, where it is commonly called “desert spoon.” This is why people sometimes see “Texas sotol” on shelves: the plant grows there, even though Mexico’s sotol has a protected Denomination of Origin.