Banhez Ensamble
Ejutla, Oaxaca
A 90% espadín and 10% barril blend made by a cooperative of Ejutla families. Sources describe earth-pit roasting, donkey-pulled tahonas, wooden fermentation tanks and copper alembic distillation.
- Congeners
- Moderate
- Histamines
- Low
- Polyphenols
- Low
- Sulfites
- Very Low
- Tannins
- Low
- Sugar
- Very Low
- Additives
- Very Low
In its favor
- ✓No additives allowed under DO Mezcal
- ✓Cooperative production, tahona milling
- ✓Only 10% wild barril in the blend
What to watch
- !Smoke phenols and methanol typical of pit-roasted mezcal
Factor by factor
Congeners Moderate ▾
Byproducts of fermentation (methanol, acetaldehyde, fusel alcohols). Strongly linked to hangover severity; darker, less-distilled spirits carry more.
Histamines Low ▾
Produced by bacteria during fermentation/aging. Trigger flushing, headaches, congestion in sensitive drinkers. High in red wine, beer, aged spirits.
Polyphenols Low ▾
Plant compounds with antioxidant activity. Slightly protective at low doses but at high concentrations may worsen hangover via tannin/quercetin reactions.
Sulfites Very Low ▾
Preservatives (SO₂) added to wine and some beers. Common trigger of headaches, asthma, and allergic-type reactions.
Tannins Low ▾
Astringent polyphenols from skins, seeds, barrels. Bind proteins, slow alcohol clearance, and aggravate dehydration-style symptoms.
Sugar Very Low ▾
Residual sugar amplifies hangover via blood-sugar swings and dehydration. Liqueurs and cocktails are the main offenders.
Additives Very Low ▾
Colorants, flavorings, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbates. Cheap spirits and ready-to-drinks often hide these in trade-secret formulas.
Banhez Ensamble is a cooperative bottling, not one mezcalero’s. The small barril share keeps its congener load nearer to an espadín joven than to wild ensambles such as Bozal.
Banhez Ensamble questions
Is Banhez Ensamble gluten-free? ▾
Yes. Banhez Ensamble is gluten-free, with no wheat, barley or rye at any stage.
What proof is Banhez Ensamble? ▾
Banhez Ensamble is 84 proof, which is 42% alcohol by volume.
Does Banhez Ensamble give you a bad hangover? ▾
Banhez Ensamble scores 5/10 on the SpiritFacts Hangover Index, against 5/10 for mezcal overall. It is low on every hangover factor we track, so most of the morning after comes down to how much ethanol you drink.
Is Banhez Ensamble vegan? ▾
Yes. Banhez Ensamble is listed as vegan, with no animal-derived ingredients or fining agents.