My Favorite Whiskey Costs the Same as Jack and Jim—But Tastes Twice as Good

In the decade-plus I've been writing about whiskey , some amazing spirits have graced my glass. From touring the best distilleries in Kentucky to traveling through Ireland and Scotland, I've been able to try some expensive and exceptional whiskeys over the years.

And while there is something to be said for getting what you pay for, I’m also a proponent of drinking what you like. No matter how many high-dollar bottles of bourbon or Scotch end up in my collection, there is always one inexpensive whiskey that I keep close at hand—Tincup Original American Whiskey—a great bottle for around $30.

Tincup, founded in 2008, is a bourbon-style whiskey made with corn, rye, and malted barley. It's a blend of two American whiskeys aged in charred white American oak barrels. The recipe is a mix of straight bourbon distilled in Indiana and Colorado single-malt from Stranahan’s Distillery in Denver.

The latter is the key to this bottle. Stranahan's Colorado whiskey was co-founded by Jess Graber in 2004 as Colorado’s first official Rocky Mountain single-malt whiskey. Since then, American single-malt has grown in popularity and is even looking at an official designation in the U.S. But at the time, it was a totally novel concept.

I’m based in Colorado, so Stranahan's is a local favorite But the brand's Blue Peak Single-Malt sells for about $70 per bottle, which is a little steep for an everyday sipper. So, naturally, when Graber launched Tincup, I was curious to see how it would stand up.

To make the whiskey, the brands cuts Stranahan's single-malt with Colorado water, resulting in an amber-colored liquid that's full of caramel and vanilla notes with some sweet, fruity accents. The finish offers rye and spice notes. For a moderate cost, it's a solid whiskey for sipping neat or on the rocks or to mix in cocktails. And, for the same price point as mid-shelf Jack Daniel’s and Jim Beam, it provides a little more heat than its peers.

I recently spoke with Jason Levinson , a whiskey educator in Colorado, who gave me the opportunity to try an unblended bottle of Tincup before blending in some single-malt to see how it impacted the taste. The uncut Tincup stands up on its own with more muted floral and fruit notes that the barrel imparts. This speaks to the fact that even before Coloradan influence, the whiskey's very good. The single-malt imparts a deep, rich flavor, bringing forward spice and pepper notes.

After that experience, I decided to put myself to the test. My wife poured me one glass of Tincup and one glass of the uncut whiskey for a blind taste test. I could tell the difference upon the first sip. Not only did it prove that the addition of single-malt whiskey is more than just marketing, but it also showed that I've enjoyed my fair share of Tincup to know the difference.

Tincup also resonates with drinkers like me because of the the little things that make it a mountain town whiskey. Named for the town of Tincup, Colorado, the whiskey's cap, made of stainless steel and shaped like a shot glass, pays homage to miners who sealed their bottles with tin cups instead of corks. Additionally, the embossed bottle's hexagonal shape was made with outdoor folk in mind; if it gets knocked over, it won't roll across your campsite. It also tastes delicious around a campfire, an experience I've shared with friends many times. (If you want a truly rugged bottle for outdoor adventures, consider picking up the Tincup Adventure Pack .)

Over the years I've found Tincup Original to be a staple low-cost bottle that's a little different from the other whiskeys on my shelf. But more than that, it's a brand that's been by my side through many outdoor adventures—a constant companion, like my mountain bike or favorite fishing rod.

Related: 10 Bottles We'd Pack for a Campsite Happy Hour