Why ZEA Lacks the Day-After Effects of Typical Spirits?

by Alvaro Hernandez, Ph.D.

The reason our spirit doesn’t cause hangovers lies in the meticulous care taken during every stage of distillation. We precisely control the temperatures and the separation of heads, hearts, and tails to eliminate congeners—secondary compounds such as aldehydes, esters, and higher alcohols that are produced during fermentation and are the main culprits behind hangovers and post-consumption discomfort.

Thanks to this carefully controlled process, we obtain an exceptionally pure, smooth, and clean alcohol, ensuring the highest sensory quality and a full enjoyment experience without adverse effects the next day.

The main compounds responsible for hangovers are congeners such as methanol, acetaldehyde, higher alcohols (propanol, butanol, isoamyl alcohol), furfural, and some amines or phenols; these molecules interfere with the elimination of acetaldehyde and increase the inflammatory response. Acetaldehyde specifically blocks glucose production in the liver by inhibiting gluconeogenesis and reducing NAD⁺ availability, and it also disrupts the release of hormones like glucagon, causing hypoglycemia and contributing to the fatigue, weakness, and discomfort typical of a hangover.

That’s why spirits with higher congener content cause more severe hangovers, whereas our clean, high-purity vodka is much less likely to produce these effects.