Binder's Stash: Café Miéle

There are brands that show up with a story, and there are brands that show up with whiskey good enough to create the story for them. Binder’s Stash feels like the latter.
 
What started as a high-end independent whiskey project from Bill Binder has become one of the more talked about names in the current whiskey enthusiast space. Built around rare barrel access and bold flavor profiles, Binder’s Stash is reimagining what luxury whiskey can look like for a new wave of enthusiasts.
 
That story gets even more interesting with the brand’s strategic partnership with Willett Distillery. The collaboration gives Binder’s Stash access to Willett’s coveted inventory, including experimental mash bills and limited barrels, while also supporting the brand through Willett’s bottling operations and broader distribution platform.
 
Until now we've only been offered a handful of cases from our partners at Prestige Ledroit, but today we're here with a 118 proof, 9-year Canton barrel wheated single barrel bourbon selected for Seelbach's we called Café Miéle. 
 
The nose is dense, buttery, confectionery, and spiced. This one opens with honey, cinnamon, cocoa powder, and espresso right up front. It has that cinnamon spice and everything nice thing going on, but it stays rounded and sweet rather than sharp as it moves into buttercream frosting and gently charred sweet oak.

The palate brings a chewy pocket of sweet oak and more of that buttercream, with honeyed spice and a freshly ground coffee note. Together with the baking spices and creamy sweetness, it reminds me more of a classic café miéle. There’s enough structure to keep it grounded, but plenty of that push and pull between sweetness and spice really sings through the palate.

The finish shows a bit more of the spiced side, with cocoa powder and sweet oak coming forward. For fans of Beam who want something a touch more refined, less earthy, and a little sweeter in the glass.