While it's not technically Agave, Sotol is about the closest thing to a "little brother" to Agave that you can find. Sotol and its producers have a long and harried history, with laws and law enforcers cracking down in a serious way over the last 100 years for making what the government often referred to as the "spirit of the peasants." Claiming to be toting an anti-alcohol agenda, law enforcers were actually acting to protect investments in other spirits, such as Rum. Now, having garnered legitimate production permits just as recently as the 1990s, Sotoleros are less vulnerable to persecution, but still must fight to show that Sotol can stand up to the other hyper-notable spirits coming out of Mexico, namely Tequila and Mezcal. Made from the Sotol plant that grows wild in the Chihuahuan desert, this surprisingly elegant spirit is bright and clean, with a savory, herbaceous nose. The palate is well balanced, showing itself to be briny, herbal and intensely earthy.