One last mezcal to close out the month. This is an ensamble from Banhez that I purchased primarily for use in cocktails. The price is in the neighbourhood of $30 in the Twin Cities and was recommended from a number of different directions as one of the best choices in that end of the price spectrum. As it turns out, it’s also a decent sipping mezcal and so I thought I would also review it as such.

Banhez is an interesting outfit. It is a cooperative comprised of a number of families in Ejutla in Oaxaca: the U.P.A.D.E.C Cooperative. They release mezcals made from single varietals of agave and those bottles have the names of the distilling mezcaleros on them. The ensamble, however, a 90-10 blend of espadin and barril, is a collective bottling by the entire cooperative and does not bear the name of an individual mezcalero. Here are my notes on the first few pours from the bottle.

Banhez Ensamble (42%; Lot BA0024EBA2507; from my own bottle)

Nose: Chillies in vinegar; mild, mineral smoke; a bit of grass; lime and a bit of passionfruit. Flattens out with time. A drop of water wakes it back up and brings out more vegetal notes.

Palate: As indicated by the nose with some pepper added on. A good bite at the lower abv; good texture. Gets a little more astringent as it sits and a slightly meaty, savoury quality emerges as well. More vegetal here too with water.

Finish: Medium-long. Nothing new here; the smoke lingers at the end while everything else fades pretty quickly. With water some herbal notes (sage, mint) emerge on the finish.

Comments: As I said, I bought this for use in cocktails; but I have to say it’s a decent sipping mezcal as well. No complexity and it’s not one to keep in the glass for a very long time but definitely eminently drinkable.

Rating: 83 points.