TINCUP Fourteener Longs Peak (Release No. 1)

This is a bourbon I was actually excited to try, its been a while since I could say that. What we have here is 14 yr age statement MGP juice wrapped in a Colorado blanket for $60-65. That's a lot of good news for the price range nowadays. Only 84 proof so don't expect a flavor punch to the head but I think that is just fine for what you do get. Nose is deep and sophisticated with rich marshmallow creme and dense fragrant applewood. Ethanol is nowhere to be found making it easy to inhale. In the background lurks some scotch tape and fleeting tobacco leaf. Palate is soft and warm. Heavy sweet oak alongside bullseye caramels and some melted butter. Its not super complex but has heavy flavor saturation and baby butt smooth. Adding a water drop or two opens things up a bit but still solid neat. Finish pours on the barrel tannins but doesn't go bitter deftly walking the over-oaked line. Lingering raw vanilla sweetness and flash of coconut milk add balance. This is a well executed seasoned bourbon for someone that does not demand high proof excitement and is an overall great value. I generally prefer the bombastic style of higher proof whiskey but this is good stuff.......88/100.... not quite A level but I'm betting many will enjoy this smooth operator more than myself

High-proof purests need not apply. This bourbon is certainly a step up from regular Tin Cup, and at $10 per year of ageing, it's not badly priced with competitors. I found it sweet and simple to drink, but really could have done with a higher proof bottling to give it more punch and complexity. It's a cool bottle, fun concept, and sips just fine neat. There's certainly way better juice out there for $70, but I don't regret adding it to the shelf, and I think it will go nice on a hot summer day when I don't want to think too hard about what I'm sipping.

NOSE Oak, dried dark fruit, leather, roasted nuts, complex baking spice, and a touch of pepper. Deep and rich, this is the kind of bourbon aroma I miss finding more. Reminds me a bit of old Heaven Hill. PALATE Oak, dried dark fruit, roasted grain, roasted nuts, caramel, complex spice and slightly tannic with touches of menthol and vanilla. The palate though makes me think a bit more of Old Forrester, but still quite nice. FINISH Long -> Oak, spice, dried dark fruit, brown sugar.

Very nose forward whiskey with fresh cut wood (in particular, an aspen tree) and honey. Flavor is of caramel apple and loose leaf tobacco. Starts strong but soothes out on the end. I like the uniqueness of this being Coloradan and the 14er aspect. I do wish it got to be in the barrel a little longer, theres some upfront flavors that i think need to mellow that would make this whiskey really great.

Honey and rye bread on the nose, not much else. Tongue is smooth and forgiving, the age doing its thing. I get mellow apple and…and…i feel like there’s gotta be more going on. Maybe some hay? I’ll return to it later but this one seems to be a letdown.

Very smooth and a nice charcoal finish. There are many pleasant things about this whiskey. However, at only 84 proof, it stops short of being special. At a higher proof, this could be outstanding.