TINCUP Straight Rye

Ok it's the review I said I wouldn't do. Tin Cup Rye is the Colorado startups venture into the world of Rye and wouldn't you know, it comes from OF ALL PLACES, Indiana. Let me think now, what Rye do we all know about that comes from the only large scale Indiana producer... hmm oh yea,,, MGP. Of course it's just YET another, rebottling of the standard MGP juice we likely have all drank in our sleep by now. Marketed at 90 proof,, (just like Dickel and Bulleit Rye, imagine that) and the standard 3 years which is almost certainly the minimum to get a drinkable rye product. So what does it taste like, have you ever had Bulleit or Dickel or the many other sourced MGP ryes? Yep then you know what it tastes like. Actually I get a bit of a metallic bitterness that I don't normally notice in Bulleit, perhaps it's my pallet or maybe some left over Stranahans from a barreling run, who knows, but the main thing is you will get a slightly dill and saw grassy with hints of pungenty citrus, Indiana rye. Like the folks at Heaven Hill who decided we needed an Elijah Craig Rye, apparently the world was ready for and needed a Tin Cup rye also. Is standard Bulleit or Dickel rye great? No but they are at least drinkable., and that's exactly what Tin Cup Rye is, not great but drinkable. At least they aren't asking a break the bank price for yet another sourced MGP rye, small favors I guess.

Visiting family in VA and thought I'd see if I could find something not available here in NC. I found two, Cooper's Craft and the new Tin Cup Rye. It's Tin Cup's turn... Nose: Dried Spices. Dill, Oregano, Black Pepper, Dry and Dusty. Slight Sweetness with a Polished Oak. Neat: Spicy. Vanilla, Dill, Black Pepper, Grapefruit Peel, Eucalyptus, and a healthy Tingle. The finish is slightly warming with Vanilla, Black Licorice, and Light Oak coating the palate. Splash: Not much change. Only served to slightly mute the flavors. Verdict: About what I expected. Nothing to separate it from MGP's other 95/5 offerings. All are around $30 and make great mixers.

Very light in color. Golden, almost like a Pilsner. Smell is a lot of lemon, almost in a sterile way. It’s sweet with a little time. Bit of honey on the backend with a hint of caramel. A tinge of pepper. Taste - A lot of rye on the front, to be expected with a little bite on the back. It’s an approachable rye; not too peppery, but definitely there on the tongue. The warmth on the backend is nice and rounds out a little at the corners of your mouth; there’s a bit of butterscotch there, but it’s extremely subtle. The aftermath is predominantly grain and a wisp of that lemon with a pretty short finish.

I bought this really as a cocktail rye and that’s what it will stay as. Surprisingly soft for a rye. It does seem like a fine “gateway” rye due to the low heat. Generally sweet with brown sugar and nutty qualities. Finish is probably it’s most pleasant quality as it lingers much longer than what I would expect. Not super complex, but should make a good black Manhattan.

NOSE Dilly rye spice, copper, orange zest, baking spice, touch oak. Everything about this just screams MGP with that heavy dill spice note. PALATE Dilly rye spice, copper, orange zest, baking spice, touch oak. Everything about this just screams MGP with that heavy dill spice note. FINISH Medium -> Dilly spice, caramel, and marshmallow

Harvesting firewood with the family out on the hill with the chainsaws. Oaky and vanilla on nose. Smoother than your average rye, but enough spicy there to remind you what it is. Good value for money as a maintenace rye.