Marzipan | Fresh marshmallow | Cherry wood chips | Nougat | Touch of vanilla | Intriguing

Dry oak | Crisp pie crust | Rye grain | Muddled vanilla extract | Faint corn syrup

Rye spice | Light cinnamon | Oak | Faint tobacco leaf | Dried cherries | Short

Based out of Austin, Texas, Still Austin is guided by industry experts Nancy Fraley and Mike Delavante. The company launched its flagship bourbon, “The Musician” in 2020 and launched its Bottled in Bond series earlier this year. Their High Rye bottled in bond bourbon marks the second release in the four part series. According to the company, “Still Austin’s Seasonal Bottled in Bond Series includes four limited-release whiskeys distilled to capture the ingredients, flavors and themes of the seasons from which they were inspired.” The company goes on to state that the artwork on each bottle was created by Texas native Marc Burckhardt and “draws influence from the animals and the seasons while paying homage to the Texas terroir.”

The bourbon opens with a strong array of expressive sweet scents along with a cherry wood chip note that stands in for typical oak notes. Transitioning to the midpoint sees a decrease in the sweeter flavors and an increase in drier notes. Ending on a shorter note, the finish starts with a predominant rye spice note up front, layering in light cinnamon and faint tobacco, along with a touch of dried cherries. It’s a good sip overall, and while it starts much stronger than it ends, it still demonstrates why Still Austin is quickly becoming a name to pay attention to.