Review: Tincup Bourbon and American Whiskey 6 Years Old

Tincup hit the scene in 2014 as an offshoot of the beloved Stranahan’s, taking MGP bourbon stock, adding a small amount of Stranahan’s single malt to it, and calling it a day.

Since then, the Tincup brand has expanded, including a rye and several well-aged bourbons — all with a little tin cup on top as part of a surprise-and-delight bonus.

This year, Tincup expands again, launching a new, no-age-statement bourbon (with no malt in the mix) and, gulp, killing off the original Tincup American Whiskey altogether. In its place: The new Tincup American Whiskey, which takes the old Tincup and adds, at long last, a 6 year old age statement to it. As master blender Justin Aden explained to me as we tasted both expressions over Zoom, it’s the same old Tincup you know and love, only older.

Why Tincup over any other MGP-based product? Says Aden: It’s all in the water, and you can thank Colorado and those famous Rocky Mountains for all that.

Let’s dive into these two new expressions.

Tincup Bourbon Review

Tincup’s new bourbon is a blend of two MGP bourbon mashbills — one high rye and one low rye — but not the same blend that’s used in the American Whiskey product. As a straight bourbon, it’s a minimum of 4 years old, but it does not carry a formal age statement otherwise.

The whiskey is better than any value bourbon has a right to be, immediately sweet and nutty, with gentle peanut butter aromas abutting cinnamon toast and a light note of charred bbq brisket. It’s simple and understated but elegant, mildly corny but not overwhelming in the slightest, touched with spicy rye as you breathe deeply.

The palate harbors few surprises, chewy caramel and gentle vanilla complementing some dusky spice notes, with butterscotch becoming the dominant flavor characteristic as it evolves in glass. Notes of apple butter, baking spice, and toasted rye bread all drift in and out of a creamy, nougaty experience.

It’s a straightforward experience that will never blow your mind or turn heads (especially at 80 proof), but the real takeaway is the price: At just $25, this makes for ideal mixing material day in and day out.

80 proof. A- / $25

Tincup American Whiskey 6 Years Old Review

Still a blend of MGP bourbon — again, two mashbills — plus the addition of a little Stranahan’s single malt. Now six years old, but still 42% abv.

Fans of the original Tincup will find plenty to like here, the added single malt making for a softer and more obviously approachable whiskey on all fronts. The nose is nutty and lightly lemony, featuring evolving notes of vanilla cream, milk chocolate, and a hint of mint. Plenty of caramel on tap — but also a bit more in the way of barrel char than you may remember from your last encounter with Tincup, which is to be expected due to the added age.

Creamy and again a little lemony on the palate, the whiskey winds its way into more milk chocolate and a little rum raisin, eventually evoking notes of Andes mints and hazelnut-vanilla syrup in coffee with cream. Soft, so soft — the added malt really makes a profound impact in ways that are immediately evident and which settle the experience down across the board.

If Tincup Bourbon is your easy-drinking cocktail buddy, the new Tincup American Whiskey 6 Years Old is its soft-spoken wingman.

84 proof. A- / $28

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