Binder's Stash Summary! 14 Year Bourbon Review
Background
I did not want to write this review. Honestly, I kind of still don’t. Binder’s Stash whole vibe is just not really for me. I should be clear that I have nothing particularly specific against Bill Binder. I just see a website that immediately notes “Bill Binder has created a name and brand for himself…”, I see the pictures of an influencer wearing a hat with a logo created from his own profile, and my brain just sort of shuts off. Not knocking the hustle, get that money, I’m just going to try not to engage in the influencer economy if I can.
I first heard about Binder’s Stash whiskey from a friend, who notes it is 14 year MGP, and it’s $750 a bottle. Oh, it also has Binder’s profile stamped on the bottle. Brain powering back down now. Again it’s not a repulsive reflex, I just don’t have approaching secondary price for George T Stagg money lying around to throw at a rich guy’s bottle project. In April I updated my Store Pick Rules to Live By and while this isn’t explicitly a store pick it shares some DNA with one given it’s coming from an established distillery with which I have some familiarity. I don’t have firsthand knowledge of Binder’s credentials, nor does spending $750 blind seem like strong common sense- that’s two strikes against my rules. Yet, another friend comes to the rescue and offers to address one specific concern: try before you buy. Alright, I’ll bite. Let’s see what the fuss is all about…
Binder’s Stash 14 Year Indiana Bourbon (14 Years, 144.9 Proof)
Nose: Loads of rich leather and black cherries. Cinnamon sugar and gentle oak. It's hard to capture how inviting this is, it's sweet but not too sweet, and you can tell from the jump it's an old whiskey.
Palate: Fig newtons, almost in both taste and texture in a sense that it's thick. The leather is still there, and there's hints of cherries still as well. Mulling spices, and oak.
Finish: Black pepper, German chocolate cake and pipe tobacco anchor a rich, oak forward finish. It's exceptionally long, and a little dry but not too terribly so.
Incredible (9/10)
Overall: Fuck. This is some unreal whiskey. If I could sit here and tell you this is a failed vanity project, I would. But alas I must doff my cap to Mr. Binder. The alcohol is exceptionally well integrated, not at all drinking like it’s 144 proof. It’s also clear he not only picked some delicious barrels, but blended them expertly as well. Inevitably, the question then becomes “is it worth it?” I’m going to opt out of answering that, as worth is relative. If you have some dough burning a hole in your pocket you could do worse than buying a bottle. That said, at time of this writing there are still some available online for purchase, and I personally opted not to do so. It’s a delicious whiskey though, and cheers to extraordinary friends who share generously!
