Puntagave Sotol Desert Spoon is one of the more adventurous bottles on the agave-spirits list at Camp West, the 21+ cabin-inspired cocktail bar and restaurant in the West Seattle Junction. Here is the twist worth knowing up front: sotol is not made from agave at all. It is distilled from the wild desert spoon plant (Dasylirion) of northern Mexico, which gives it a grassy, earthy character all its own. For the curious drinker, it is one of the most rewarding things we pour.
About the Producer
Puntagave is a producer focused on traditional Mexican spirits. Its sotol is crafted in the Chihuahuan Desert of northern Mexico, where the desert spoon plant is wild-harvested rather than farmed. The piñas are roasted in pits, hand-crushed, and fermented in the open air before being double-distilled and rested unfiltered, a labor-intensive, old-style process that captures the wild character of the plant.
Plant & Region
Sotol comes from Dasylirion, commonly called the desert spoon, which grows wild across the high desert of Chihuahua and the broader Chihuahuan Desert of northern Mexico. Unlike agave, these slow-growing plants take many years to mature and reproduce in the wild rather than being cultivated in rows. Sotol has its own Mexican denomination of origin, distinct from tequila and mezcal.
Tasting Notes
Expect an earthy, grassy, green profile with a touch of minerality and a soft, clean smoke from the pit roasting. There are vegetal and herbal notes, a hint of pepper, and a dry, refreshing finish. It reads as wilder and more savory than tequila, which is exactly why people fall for it.
How to Enjoy It at Camp West
We pour Puntagave Sotol Desert Spoon at $12. Sip it neat at room temperature to take in the full earthy, herbal range, the way many people enjoy a good mezcal. It also brings an intriguing, savory backbone to agave-style cocktails if you would like it mixed. Ask your bartender and we will guide you.
FAQ
Is sotol a type of tequila or mezcal? No. Sotol is its own spirit, distilled from the desert spoon plant (Dasylirion), not from agave, and it carries its own denomination of origin in Mexico.
What does sotol taste like? Generally earthy, grassy, and herbal with light smoke, often described as more vegetal and savory than tequila.
Ready to settle in? Book a table, browse our full tequila & mezcal list, or see everything we pour on the beverage menu.