Tincup American Whiskey Goes For The High Rye Line

One of the run away hits of the craft whiskey movement in the United States thus far has to be Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey. One of those behind this, Jess Graber, is now branching out somewhat to a new offering named after an old mining town in Gunnison County, Colo., which itself was named for the tin cups used by miners.

Tincup American Whiskey, as it is being called, was made to honor Colorado’s miners of the mid-19^th century who sought their fortunes in the state’s gold rush. It is described as being a unique blend of corn, rye and malt that’s been aged in new charred American white oak barrels and bottled at 84 proof using pure Rocky Mountain water.

Tasting notes from the distiller indicate Tincup, on the nose, evokes notes of citrus, black pepper and ginger snaps, while on the palate it suggests rye spice, cinnamon and caramel. It comes in rather unique packaging in the form of a “rugged hexagonal bottle that is deeply embossed and suggests the Rocky Mountains.  Its closure is an actual tin cup that can be used for sipping and sharing.”

Now, before you rush out to buy cases of this, take note: it doesn’t look to likely come from Colorado grains, which in part becomes quickly obvious when Graber is quoted as saying in the news release that “I wanted to create an authentic American whiskey that combines the best Midwestern grains with Colorado’s incomparable pure water,” so for those looking for a true Colorado whiskey, you may consider hunting elsewhere.

With this warning in mind, Tincup prices for around $28 per 750 ml bottle.