Tincup Fourteener Bourbon arrives, carrying 14 years of maturation at 42% ABV. Priced at $70, we assessed it with care.
Nose
Burnished copper, with medium quick legs. This greets you immediately with some pine almost juniper taste, which folds evenly into a nice oak profile. The softness of the nose does not immediately translate into the profile, but it seems to help mute some of the characteristics. There is some dark chocolate on the back end right before the finish takes over. This whiskey dials up the classic Tincup profile but helps mellow some of the younger edges of the standard offering. There is caramel, young leather, some incomplete esters which seem to give off a bitter taste. The finish is subtle and manageable. It holds nicely but doesnt really push the narrative further before disappearing.
Palate
This smells well-seasoned. To start off I find cherries, pine, maybe citrus hiding in the background. With a few more whiffs I can pick up some white sugar, and yellow flowers. The oak is there but sort of a binder for the other flavors. There is the softest touch of alcohol on the last third of the smell, but overall, it is pleasant and approachable. Overall I think this is a very nice whiskey. For some reason, and it might have been the marketing materials I read, you feel like this belongs in a backpack as you go hiking. This is an excellent reward for spending a whole day outside. It has the punch of a vintage whiskey with the mellowness of age. This feels to me like a whiskey that wants to go out and do something, not just sit on a back porch or on a shelf. If you already like TINCUP youre going to really enjoy this.
Finish
Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by Whiskeyful or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.
Verdict
Tincup Fourteener Bourbon represents solid craftsmanship at $70. While it may not redefine expectations, it offers genuine quality and reliable drinking pleasure.
