I gotta admit that when I saw aged hazmat MGP available I had to pick one up. Have had a few pours from this bottle and is not at all what I expected based on trying another 14yr MGP bottling from Four Gate. This one seems to have considerably less oak and drinks a bit smoother than the other but I haven’t done a formal review and I know several people are curious about this one and it’s single barrel counterparts.

Age: 14yrs

Mashbill: MGP (rumored to be 36% rye)

Proof: 144.9pf

Nose: strong rye spice without as much ethanol as I would expect, some interesting notes that I feel is reminiscent of Play-Doh but I can’t figure out what else to compare it to, slight perfumed sweetness, light floral essence as well

Palate: Spicy, and lots of dark brown sugar, and way more heat than I remember. This one definitely is drinking its proof tonight. Chewy palate with lots of viscosity, citrus peel brightness emerges after a few sips 

Finish: Dry, but not as oaky as I would expect from 14yr hazmat whiskey, long and punchy finish, gums are left tingling for several minutes after each sip

Overall: Not sure if this has evolved over time for me or if I just normally have had more of lead up to trying it previously but it’s much spicier and sharp than I remembered. Ironically, it makes me enjoy it more than before because it seems to have the kind of tasty fireworks I was hoping for from it initially. Would give this an 8.5/10 and now I am intrigued to revisit again soon to see if this experience was a one-off tonight or if it’s indicative of where the whiskey is currently with several months of air time. 


Review #59: Binder’s Stash 14yr Small Batch (144.9pf)