National Sotol Forum Returns to Mexico City: What to Know Before Attending

Mexico City will host the 2nd National Forum of Peasant Sotol Producers from September 18-20, 2026, at Huerto Roma Verde. This event celebrates sotol not just as an alcoholic beverage, but as a living expression of the Mexican desert, its biodiversity, the culture of its producers, and generations of transmitted knowledge.

The forum aims to deepen the understanding of sotol's richness by bringing together producers, specialists, and consumers. The unique sensory profiles of each bottle reflect the territory, the species used, and the ancestral knowledge of every producer. The growing interest in sotol highlights its recognition within gastronomy, haute cuisine, mixology, tourism, and Mexican culture.

Traditional distillers from Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Durango will participate alongside researchers, academics, chefs, sommeliers, restaurateurs, distributors, and consumers. They will discuss the sector's main challenges and opportunities. The event will feature conferences, analysis panels, tastings, and workshops designed to educate the public about this Mexican drink, its origins, and the families preserving its production.

Key themes will include the conservation of this biocultural heritage, the protection and responsible use of Dasylirion species, strengthening producer communities, and sotol's future as a traditional Mexican distillate. Contrary to popular belief, sotol is not made from agave; it is a traditional spirit produced from the heads of Dasylirion plants, which grow wild in arid and mountainous regions of northern Mexico. These plants, such as Dasylirion wheeleri and Dasylirion cedrosanum, grow slowly and require responsible management, with some taking over 25 years to mature.