Binder’s Stash Bourbon Reviews: “Tommy Pitts”, “Make it Make Sense”, “Maiden Voyage”
Front and center, a disclaimer- these samples were provided to me by Bill Binder at no cost, no obligation to review and with no strings attached. I thank him for the generosity in doing so.
Background
Back with another Binder’s review! Last time I covered three ryes, this time I’m digging into three bourbons:
“Tommy Pitts”: an 8 year, MGP bourbon aged exclusively in Kelvin Cooperage barrels. Mashbill is 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
“Make it Make Sense”: conspicuously sourced 5 year bourbon from Owensboro, KY. Combine the fact that Barton Brands/Sazerac/Glenmore Distillery is there, with this wonderful Bourbon Culture article on the 75/21/4 KY mashbill and I would GUESS this is Barton source. Bill did not confirm any of that, it’s purely an educated guess.
“Maiden Voyage”: a 15 year, hazmat MGP bourbon bottled exclusively for friends and family. It’s one of four short barrels of 15 year MGP under the Binder’s Stash label, this one comprising of only 69 bottles.
Binder’s Stash “Tommy Pitts” Bourbon (8 Years, 107.3 Proof)
Nose: Syrupy, maraschino cherries and all around fruit pie. Honestly let me double down on that- McDonalds Cherry Pie. Pair that with a bit of star anise and a very gentle bit of mint.
Palate: Dr Pepper… and actual, black pepper. Pair it with some dark chocolate and again that star anise note. The texture is a bit syrupy, and it has a nice burst of flavor for its 107 proof.
Finish: Still that Dr Pepper, and also a nice toasted oak note. Graham crackers and hot honey. Almost a szechuan peppercorn note as well. Like the palate, it leaves a strong impression than you’d expect from the 107 proof.
Great (7/10)
Overall: This is yet another fun entry in the great cannon of “lower proof does not equal less flavor” whiskeys. I’d love to find out more about where and how this was aged. If the barrel entry proof was 125, a drop down to 107 proof over the 8 years of aging is pretty wild and would suggest an incredibly mild rickhouse.
Binder’s Stash “Make it Make Sense” Bourbon (5 Years, 130 Proof)
Nose: Cranberry concentrate, with all the really bad for you sugars. Cornbread slathered in butter and honey. It’s definitely on the sweeter end of the spectrum, and you also get an indication of the 130 proof to come.
Palate: Tart berries and a wallop of cinnamon red hot candies. Candied nuts, again with all of the relevant baking spices. Again- pretty punchy. My first sip was a knee jerk “that’s hot” reaction, but after a little acclimation the flavors shown through.
Finish: There’s a nutty funk that I find most prominent, and beneath that a baseline of red berries. Leather, tobacco, and all in all a pretty baking spice forward crescendo brings the sip home.
Very Good (6/10)
Overall: What is striking on this whiskey that is impossible to convey in a review is how vivid the color is. It’s basically a red amber in the glass. It teeters on the edge of too brash for me, but it’s hard to resist the bold red fruit and spice flavors that explode on the palate.
Binder’s Stash “Maiden Voyage” Bourbon (15 Years, 141.5 Proof)
Nose: Chestnuts… roasted chestnuts. Dark chocolate and dark roast coffee. What strikes me first and foremost is that it’s oddly mellow, tempting you in without a hint of the 141 proof to follow.
Palate: Toasted marshmallows, molasses and maple syrup, leather. It’s riddled with these bold, roasted notes. Nutty as well, alongside dark chocolate covered cherries. It covers A LOT of ground.
Finish: Black licorice and coca-cola, again dark roast coffee. Tobacco and a bevy of spice notes. I personally get a prominent crushed red pepper note. It never crosses the boundary of being too hot or spice forward.
Perfect (10/10)
Overall: Yeah, you pour a glass of this and then you just let it take you on a ride. Layer upon layer of these dark, robust flavors and anchored in this profile I would describe vaguely as “roasty”. I’ve noted dark roast coffee a bunch above, and I’m searching for something with that note I can’t quite put my finger on. It’s not bitter like coffee, but it’s almost if you directly took the smell of a fancy coffee shop and translated it directly to a flavor. Anyways, this is quite the whiskey.
