Sotol’s Ascent: Desert Door Fuels National Craze with Ambitious Distribution Plan
driftwood, TX – Get ready to discover sotol, America’s next spirit obsession.Desert Door Texas sotol, a pioneering distillery nestled in Driftwood, Texas, is embarking on an aggressive national distribution expansion, aiming to reach a staggering 46 states and Washington, D.C. by the close of 2025. This ambitious move more than doubles their current footprint, signaling a notable moment for the burgeoning sotol market.
Desert Door’s core offerings include their signature “original” flagship, a sophisticated two-year oak-aged variety, and the innovative Pollinator.the latter,a unique botanical infusion,is part of their Conservation Series,with a portion of proceeds directly supporting their nonprofit,Wild Spirit wild Places (WSWP),dedicated to land conservation.
This expansion is more than just a business strategy; it’s a barometer for the future of artisanal spirits. Desert Door, the very first sotol distillery in the U.S. established in 2017, is paving the way for similar enterprises and educating consumers nationwide about this distinctive spirit.
The journey of sotol hasn’t been without its complexities. Mexican makers have navigated a challenging past, with the spirit facing a ban from 1944 to 1994. The subsequent granting of an official Denominación de Origen (D.O.) by the Mexican government in 2002, a designation signifying geographic quality, has led to legal and cultural discussions surrounding U.S. production and the potential for cultural appropriation. However, from a legal standpoint in the United states, the D.O. is not recognized.
for discerning drinkers, sotol offers a compelling choice to the more ubiquitous tequila and the frequently enough-intense mezcal. Crafted from the Dasylirion texanum plant, sotol can possess a subtle smokiness but is generally celebrated for its remarkably smooth, “grassy” profile. reviewers frequently highlight citrus notes, complemented by vanilla and oak in desert Door’s aged expression.
Moreover,Desert Door champions its production methods,including wild harvesting,as a more sustainable approach compared to tequila production. Co-founder Ryan Campbell explained to The Land report, a publication focused on private landownership and conservation, “We only harvest areas of high concentration, and we only take 20 percent of the plants per acre at any given time.” He further elaborated,”Only the oldest plants get harvested. Afterwards, they don’t go near the same area for another 12 years, which is roughly the maturation cycle of the plant.”
The phased rollout of Desert Door’s distribution begins in July with an initial launch in Illinois, Indiana, and Louisiana, followed by an additional eight markets by September. These new territories include Washington,D.C., Maryland, Kentucky, Washington, Hawaii, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. A complete and updated list of locations will be available on desertdoor.com as they become accessible.
This nationwide push is being executed in partnership with Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), a prominent wholesale beverage alcohol distributor headquartered in Atlanta, Texas.
“Their expansive network and deep industry expertise are key to reaching new audiences nationwide,” stated Desert door co-founder and CEO Brent Looby in a press release. “I genuinely believe that sotol will surpass mezcal in the market in the next five years, and I think we’re one step clo[ser to making that a reality].”