Banhez Ensamble Mezcal is comprised of 90% maguey Espadin and 10% maguey Barril. It is mild, floral and fruity with notes of pineapple and banana.
About this mezcal
Banhez Ensamble Mezcal is produced by a co-op families from various villages in the Ejutla district of Oaxaca. They are producing mezcal the same way it’s been done by their ancestors for nearly two centuries using underground wood-fired pits, donkey-pulled tahonas, wooden fermentation tanks, and distillation in copper alembics. At 42% ABV, Banhez Mezcal is perfect for first-time mezcal tasters and works well in cocktails. Banhez Mezcal was the 2017 Double Gold Winner for “Best Mezcal” at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Banhez Mezcal
Banhez Mezcal is a co-operative comprised of 35+ families in the tiny village of San Miguel Ejutla in the central valley of Oaxaca. The Banhez Mezcal co-op is committed to sustainable, fair trade mezcal production the same way it’s been done by their ancestors for nearly two centuries. The Banhez Ensamble is made by the collective and the brand also has single agave varietals produced by a single mezcalero from the co-op.
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GMAD
94 reviewsLOT: B0059EB4220, 42%, 375ml
Nose – Rich and earthy; wet dirt, fresh cut grass, fresh laundry, pine, and some funky sweetnesses like mango, cream cheese, orange cream, and a typical sharpness like permanent marker to round it out.
Palate – Creamy, earthy, and a little fatty; unsalted butter, peanuts, a bittersweetness like fruit rind, and a tanginess like raw honey.
Finish – A little savory and vegetal in an abrupt finish; parsley, some bittersweet orange rind, and something smoky and tangy like a bbq sauce.
Great value and a good low-to-mid pick as a sipper. Worthy if it’s all that is available. Can appreciate the messaging behind the brand.
LOT: B0059EB4220, 42%, 375ml
Nose – Rich and earthy; wet dirt, fresh cut grass, fresh laundry, pine, and some funky sweetnesses like mango, cream cheese, orange cream, and a typical sharpness like permanent marker to round it out.
Palate – Creamy, earthy, and a little fatty; unsalted butter, peanuts, a bittersweetness like fruit rind, and a tanginess like raw honey.
Finish – A little savory and vegetal in an abrupt finish; parsley, some bittersweet orange rind, and something s
Imperium
105 reviewsA good cocktail mezcal. The barril flavor (coppery, green vegetal, nail polish remover) actually comes through pretty nicely on this one, and blends well with the smoky fruitiness of the espadin. I would suggest it’s sort of indicative of what blends can be if we ever need to “cut” other agave types with espadin due to sustainability.
ElAgaveJefe
1 reviewThis is my favorite cocktail mezcal. The gasoline notes from the espadín give it a nice edge. Perfect for margaritas. Doesn’t make me feel guilty at the low price point.
copa llena
13 reviewsWell priced and probably interesting to palates new to mezcal. Easy to drink, and likely best suited for cocktails. Floral and fruit flavors are subdued, so not ideal to drink neat if you’re looking for a complex mezcal.
MezcalBabe
67 reviewsGood for cocktails
Carluminatti
3 reviewsLiked this even less than Del Maguey VIDA Clásico. Tasted like a car tire shop that was set on fire.
Dom
29 reviewsGreat value for this ensamble & perfect for cocktails.
aarild
153 reviewsReally nice for the price. A bit like Union but it has more mouthfeel and bite. A bit strong alcohol vapours, but nice balance of fruit, spice and nuttiness. Fried banana, lemon rinds, baked agave, and cinnamon. Probably a very recent batch, as it was opened upon my ordering at a bar.
GreenspointTexas
385 reviewsPerfect for cocktails. Not a great sipper.
Will
13 reviewsLot: BA0036EBA21
Very good, especially for the price. Hints of rubber, vanilla and fruit. A little less smokey than I’d like, but still noticeable. Excellent for mixed drinks.
KoalaCoelho
8 reviewsTasted this with a friend, who said it reminded him of a stripper at a gas station. Vanilla, a little smoke, and a lot of petrol LOL. We didn’t get any of the tropical fruit notes that I see in a lot of the other reviews here. Maybe it was an off batch? Either way, it’s about as cheap as you can find in Seattle ($28), so it’s hard to complain too much.
Ranger_Ryan
47 reviewsLot BA0003EBA22. Very approachable, fun to drink, and damn delicious. Fruity agave, mango, lime. Maybe some mint on the back.
PNWill
11 reviewsLot BA0045EBA21 I get some vanilla and lime notes on the front and just a touch of smoke and black pepper in the finish. Moderately sweet and not terribly complex. I dig it, though. Good value for money and easily procured. I hope to introduce friends and make some cocktails with this one.
EDIT: Didn’t find it interesting enough to return to as a sipper. I mostly used this for margaritas and it was pretty good for that purpose.
Cy Bister
26 reviewsFairly typical jackfruit with an herbaceous quality. Semi-sweet sipper on the front. I’m not picking out anything unique or different from the barril in aroma nor taste. Smoke and minerality do finally make an appearance on the finish though. It’s fine. The low ABV really handicaps this one for me as being anything more than average.
tecolotesweet
14 reviewsHerbaceous and fruity with a touch of clay on the nose. Smooth up front with big tropical notes to transition into that black pepper smoke on the way out. Solid mezcal that I could imagine would be outstanding not only as a sipper, but in cocktails as well.
HighWine
77 reviewsLOT: BA00028EBA21
84 proof
Nose of peppermint, green hay, and wet clay. Very mild in the mouth but pleasing. Parsley, mint leaf, and seasoned firewood. Oily in the mouth but not overly viscous. Excellent value mezcal and a good one to introduce people to the spirit.
L_Matos44
4 reviewsThe quality is definitely equivalent to the price. A little fruity, which I like, and the smokey flavor isn’t too overpowering.
ReeBarbill
6 reviewsCream soda. Really nice.
Lote: ebj42uk0120 which sounds like a default WiFi password.
jmehrk35
46 reviewsLot B005EB4220
42% ABV
Baked tropical fruit, Jasmine, pumpkin, sweet potato and dry oregano on the nose.
Oily mouth feel gives way to minty eucalyptus, melon rind and agave on the flavor. The 10% Barril adds a nice sweetness to this mezcal. An excellent beginner mezcal, a mixer or a “just want to sip and enjoy/drink and not think” mezcal. Should be on every mezcal drinkers shelf.
Firesidesipper
40 reviewsA smooth, versatile, bargain-priced mezcal. Nice tropical fruit notes with a wisp of smoke. A pleasant sipper that also stands up well in cocktails.