Whiskey Review: Tincup American Whiskey

When this is published, I’ll be on the road heading towards Desert Brutality 2019. Expect this even to be mentioned on this site for the next few weeks, but that’s not the point of today’s post.

I call this little website o’ mine a “Lifestyle Blog”, though I haven’t been doing much beyond gun stuff for a while. My last not-gun posts were back in November. My latest coffee review was in September, and I’ve never talked about alcohol. Well that ends today! Enter: Tincup American Whiskey!

Wait, What?

American whiskey. Not bourbon, not Tennessee, and darn sure not Canadian. No, this is the first one I’ve heard of, too. This is how they describe it on the About Page:

TINCUP is a blend of two great American whiskeys, each aged in #3 charred oak barrels. “High rye” bourbon, distilled and aged in Indiana, is blended with a small amount of Colorado single malt whiskey. These whiskeys are then cut with Rocky Mountain water. TINCUP is named for the Colorado mining pioneers and the tin cups from which they drank their whiskey.

Okay, I take that to mean that Tincup doesn’t actually distill anything, so much as buy and blend two other whiskeys and cut to 84 proof with spring water. Considering that lots of companies buy and blend other people’s spirits, including Johnnie Walker, I can’t really fault them for it. I’d personally like to try the whiskeys they blend from, but that’s for another day.

Tasting

So, what does this maybe-unique style of whiskey actually taste like? You know, the only part that really matters? I’m no whiskey sommelier, so let’s see what some internet experts say it tastes like:

From “Billy A” on The Whiskey Exchange:

Nose: Big spice and fruit – apple with cinnamon, clove and toasted, spiced brioche. Rich toffee and caramel, ginger nut biscuits and sweet oatcakes with honey.
Palate: Quite light with sweet grain, cinnamon spice and a trio of apple notes – ripe, skin and Jolly Ranchers. Toffee follows, with spicy rye and toasted fruit loaf.
Finish: Cinnamon toast, tannic raisins and soft caramel sweetness.

From Ginny on Bourbon Banter:

NOSE: Vanilla | Brown Sugar | Sweet Corn 
TASTE: Maple Sugar | Vanilla | Sweet Pepper

From Flaviar:

Appearance / Color – Medium amber.
Nose / Aroma / Smell – Red fruits, honey, clove, and roasted Brazil nuts. 
Flavor / Taste / Palate  – Good body with light brown sugar, apple, oak, and a burst of Rye spice on the back palate.
Finish – Medium length and warming with cinnamon.

That’s what the experts think, but what do I think? I can definitely taste caramel, a little brown sugar, some rye, and maybe some sort of apple-y finish. I like that while it is sweet, it’s not bourbon-sweet. It’s got that unmistakable rye flavor, though it’s not as pronounced as in a straight rye whiskey (though I do enjoy those as well). Since it’s 84 proof you definitely know it’s there but it’s not bad. I’d recommend this to someone looking for a sipping whiskey. I’m not much of a cocktail mixer, so I can’t say anything in that regard.

Intangibles

Let’s be real. There are many reasons that we buy things that aren’t actually performance based, and alcohol is one of them. Since alcohol is a luxury item in even it’s cheapest forms, how it makes you feel is the only reason to buy it. Most companies understand this and use it to their advantage via marketing, Tincup is no different. Seriously, look at the pictures I’ve included. Take a look at Tincup’s Instagram page. If it wasn’t for the distinctive bottle, that page could be for a hiking store or outfitter shop.

I’m actually going to say that this is a good thing. When I drink Tincup, I think about these pics, about the advertising campaign and the life style they’re trying to sell me, and I enjoy it. I live in the heart of the great plains, but sipping a little bit of this on a cold evening makes me think about how fun it would be to go on a multi-day hike with friends. Feeling the burn reminds me that not everything in life should be comfortable. It really makes me think of practicing skills that used to be commonplace for men not too long ago, but that have now fallen by the wayside in our modern society.

Don’t get me wrong, it has to taste good, and this one does. Whiskey that doesn’t taste good is like a gun that won’t shoot: completely worthless. It’s also been subject to government bans, is frowned upon when used in public, and your mom probably doesn’t want you having it in you house.

Conclusion

I’m a big fan of Tincup American Whiskey. The flavors are good, it’s not too strong, and it’s not one of those drinks that ‘experts’ gush over but a common man doesn’t understand. This is a good whiskey for people who have moved beyond doing shots of Jack by default. If you like to sip whiskey but don’t have the budget for exploring the ‘good stuff’, I’d look into this one. It’s not overly strong, its not overly sweet, and it’s not overly pricey.

See you next Friday. -S_S