Hannah’s Tincup American Whiskey Review
Original review written January 16, 2020
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
I underestimated this one majorly. For around $30, it’s a steal if you like fresh and clean whiskies. Even though it’s not my favorite flavor profile, I will be repurchasing. Read my full Tincup American Whiskey Review here! 87/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Denver, Colorado, USA
– Distiller: Tincup founder, Jess Graber
– Classification: Blended whiskey; using sourced high rye bourbon distilled and aged in Indiana, USA as well as a single malt whiskey from Colorado with water from the Rocky Mountains*
– Age: Minimum 4 yrs.
– Mash Bill: Undisclosed
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: Undisclosed
– ABV: 42% (84 proof)
– Price: $29.95 USD in Idaho
*Visit tincupwhiskey.com/ for more information
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.
Check out his review for this whiskey here!
SETTING:
This one has the classic vibe of a 1920’s speakeasy, renovated with industrial light bulbs hung from the ceiling to cast the hidden space in a warm, yellow glow. The air vibrates with booming laughs and mellow jazz as you sip this nostalgic spirit.
Photo by Martin Adams on Unsplash
NOSE:
Pleasantly surprised with this nose, which consists of both spice and sweet. I detect white pepper and a light, but somehow musky vanilla tang along with a hint of leather. I also smell ripe peach fuzz/skin, corn, mellow oak and maybe a twinge of something herbal or floral in nature. The flavors seems easy to tease apart, but that isn’t a bad thing. No alcohol burn whatsoever.
All in all, I’m impressed with the variety I find here in the nose from several classic flavor profiles.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Very soft, like velvet. It has grit when rubbed the “wrong” way, but either way is enjoyable.
– Balance: Fair. Sweetness reigns supreme, but it’s light and easy to like.
– Visual: This whiskey is chestnut sherry in color (meaning to say, middle range), with a nice crown with clinging droplets. Not much for legs.
– Taste: Wow, I was not ready to be as instantly drawn to this one as I am. Still very little alcohol to speak of, but I can say that the herb and flower from the nose is mint and rose. The whiskey is exceptionally fresh and clean.
I still find peaches, decidedly white fleshed ones as opposed to yellow. There’s a mandarin orange quality here as well – not fresh, rather from a fruit cup and bathed in that simply fruit syrup.
I’ve lost the corn from the nose, but I can find sweet wheat instead. The spice is gone too, the mint carrying the seasoning burden alone. The oak is present, but my gosh, it’s subdued.
A Kentucky chew makes the flavors crisp, but the rose, peach, fruit syrup and some unexpected honeycomb kick in to make the mouth water.
I’d love to test this one out on a Mint Julep, but it’s pleasing neat too.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Medium. Not much warmth lingers long, but some of the other flavors remain.
– Between Sips: The rose petals stick to my tongue, and this leaves me with a fibrous sweetness. It’s not my favorite, but this fits with the feel of this whiskey, so I’m not upset or disappointed.
– No More: Some cherries peek out a bit more as I get further into the glass, but the freshness and cleanliness are still dominate. I’ve gotten used to the rose petals here in the finish, and I even like them.
The empty Glencairn is a syrupy oak, sweet and with minimal age detectable.
WORTH THE PRICE?
I will absolutely be buying this one again at the $30 and keeping it on the shelf in the bunker for when I’m in the mood for something light.
RATING: 87/100
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