You probably haven’t heard the word “Fourteener” unless you’re a native Coloradan or an active hiker (14er). When I married my wife, she was from Colorado, so it had been a long time since I got there. The good news is that she just wasn’t like hiking, so I won’t have to worry about the brutal competition of climbing all of Colorado’s fourteeners.
To those unfamiliar, a “14er” is a mountain with an elevation of fourteen thousand (14,000) feet or more. Hiking these mountains is something many people do deliberately because they hear it’s “fun.” Mt. Hood (Wyeast) is the highest point in Oregon, standing at an impressive 11,249 feet. Mount Whitney, with an elevation of 14,505 feet, and Mount Rainier, at an elevation of 14,411 feet, are the two highest mountains on the West Coast.
Aside from Alaska, the West Coast is home to around 14 mountains that reach or surpass 14,000 feet in elevation. The number of Colorado residents who speak 58 languages is 58. Climbing a fourteener is spectacular, but you never begin at sea level, and you can drive the majority of the way up. In fact, at the summit of several of these mountains, you may use the parking lot. Ask how high the parking lot was the next time someone brags about climbing a 14, you know, mountain.
Nonetheless, Coloradans have a deep affection for their mountains. Each year, Stranahan’s chooses a different 14er peak to honor with the introduction of their Snowflake beer. Since Jess Graber, the creator of Tincup, also created Stranahan’s, that establishment is a good place to begin this evaluation. He has established himself as a mainstay of the Colorado whisky community. Like Stranahan’s, each bottle of Tincup comes with a handy cup. The whisky consumed by the miners gave rise to the moniker “Tincup,” after the metal cups from which it was poured. If the myth is to be believed.
This is Tincup’s first step into limited-edition releases, and the bottle art features an illustration of Long’s Peak, a mountain in Colorado’s “Front Range.” Other 14ers will be included in future albums. “I’m so eager for Tincup fans to taste this new aged bourbon whisky,” says Jess Graber, “not only does Fourtneer’s name pay respect to the rocky peaks that dot its native state of Colorado, but it genuinely reflects our spirit of adventure. If you’ve ever reached the summit of a fourteener, you realize how much of an accomplishment it is.
Tincup will also contribute $14,000 to the Colorado Fourteener Initiative to assist in maintaining and improving trails in the state.
In this reviewer’s opinion, few things are as enjoyable as sipping whisky in the great outdoors, and one of the few exceptions is when the whisky in question contributes to the improvement or maintenance of our great outdoors. As such, our attention now shifts to the wine glass.
Taste Notes: Tincup Fourteener Bourbon
Vital Stats: 14 years old. El Dorado Springs water was used to cut to evidence. 42% ABV. $70 MSRP.
Appearance: burnished copper with medium-sized, graceful legs.
Aroma: This smells seasoned. As for the first impression, I pick up on cherry, pine, and maybe citrus. White sugar and lemon blossoms are beginning to emerge after a few more sniffs. Oak is there, although it serves more as a carrier for the other tastes than a protagonist. Overall, the aroma is inviting and pleasant, with only a hint of alcohol on the tail end.
Taste: This hits you instantly with a pine-like, even juniper-like flavor, which smoothly transitions into a pleasant oak character. The nose’s suppleness is only apparent in the profile, although it looks to play down a few features. Before the finish takes over, there’s a little taste of dark chocolate on the tail end. This whisky amplifies the signature Tincup flavor while smoothing down the spirit’s more modern edges. We detect notes of caramel, fresh leather, and what could be incomplete esters with a harsh aftertaste. The end result is smooth and easy to work with. It’s a solid anchor, but it only accomplishes a little to advance the story before it vanishes.