Quechol Wheeleri Sotol

Crafted in the dry high-desert region of Durango, Mexico, Quechõl Wheeleri is an artisanal spirit produced by master sotolero Israel Navarro. While often cataloged alongside mezcal due to its shared ancestral techniques and underground pit roasting, Quechõl is distilled from 100% wild-harvested Dasylirion wheeleri (commonly known as desert spoon or spoonwood), a flowering shrub in the Asparagaceae family native to the Chihuahuan Desert that takes 12 to 15 years to mature. The wild piñas are hand-harvested, slow-cooked in traditional underground conical stone pit ovens fueled by oak and mesquite wood, and crushed using a mechanical shredder. Open-fermented in pine wood tubs using natural ambient yeasts, the liquid undergoes double-distillation in small copper pot stills. This unaged expression highlights a crisp, herbal, and stone-fruit forward profile, balancing gentle wood smoke with grassy brightness, citrus blossom, and chalky mineral depth.

Food Pairing: Fresh ceviche with mango, grilled shrimp street tacos, roasted pork carnitas, fresh goat cheese crostini, smoked trout, or dark chocolate with orange peel.

Tasting Notes: Crystal clear in appearance with bright clarity, a silky medium body, and clean, delicate tears.

Nose: Vibrant, fresh, and aromatic, opening with green herbal grass, citrus blossom, and wet river stone, supported by gentle wood smoke, white pepper, eucalyptus, and subtle ripe peach undertones.

Palate: Crisp, round, and herbaceous on the palate, featuring sweet cooked sotol heart, green melon, and lime zest upfront before unfolding into soft mesquite smoke, cracked white pepper, pine needle resin, and a chalky mineral earthiness.

Finish: Medium-long, clean, and refreshing with lingering notes of sweet botanical nectar, gentle oak smoke, zesty citrus pith, and a cooling herbal warmth.

Serve: Enjoy neat at room temperature in a traditional clay copita or Glencairn glass to allow the subtle stone-fruit and forest-floor aromas of wild Dasylirion wheeleri to fully open.