Brown sugar | Toasted sugar | Lightly charred oak | Spiced apple tart | Cinnamon stick | Dark caramel chew

Rye spice | Cinnamon spice | Baked spiced apple | Light vanilla bean | Charred oak | Caramel drizzle 

Baking spices | Dry oak | Light leather | Rye spice | White peppercorn | Lightly burnt pie crust | Very faint mixed nuts | Lingering cinnamon spice

In the summer of 2023, Still Austin Whiskey Co. introduced a new, ongoing “Seasonal Bottled in Bond Series” releasing a different bottled in bond whiskey for each of the four seasons of the year. Each release is intended to capture the ingredients, flavors, and themes of its respective season, with labels showcasing unique artwork from Marc Burckhardt, with animals and colors intended to conjure the mood of the particular season. Still Austin Master Distiller John Schrepel states that this winter release, which is symbolized by the winter crow on the front of the bottle, utilizes “blue corn to invoke the endless winter night sky.”

The last time we experienced Still Austin Blue Corn Bottled in Bond Bourbon was in the winter of 2023 right after the brand launched. At that time, the bourbon being used was most likely only 4 years old, which would allow it to meet the minimum requirement to be labeled bottled in bond. Fast forward 2 years and the company has added a formal age statement to the bottle which shows the additional 2 years of aging that the bourbon has undergone in the intense Texas environment. That additional time aging ended up rewarding Still Austin, and by association, consumers, in a great way. 

The sip opens with a really pleasing aroma of various scents of sugars and spiced apple tart, along with lightly charred oak and cinnamon stick. The spice notes carry over to the palate as the midpoint displays the 44% rye content with bold spices and classic bourbon notes. The flavors displayed are ones to savor as you head into the finish which pulls through even more spice along with dry oak, light leather and a lightly burnt pie crust note. Trailing off with lingering cinnamon spice, Blue Corn Bottled in Bond Bourbon will make you appreciate the additional aging Still Austin has put on their bottled in bond bourbons, as this line continues to evolve and grow up in a great way.