Rye spice | Anise | Stone fruit | Slight heat | Straightforward

Habanero | Touch of chocolate | White pepper | Honey | Nutmeg | Rush of rye spice

Cinnamon | Chocolate | Allspice | Light oak | Caramel on the backend

Still Austin Whiskey Co. is definitely an up-and-coming distillery you immediately want to root for. Located in Austin, Texas, production is led by head distiller John Schrepel, a New Yorker who “adjusted to the Texas heat,” he says. The company credits much of their success to the guidance provided by industry experts Nancy Fraley and Mike Delavante. Incidentally, they also affectionately refer to their custom 42-foot column still as “Nancy,” though the reference has nothing to do with Fraley, instead named after the main character in the sci-fi classic "Attack of the 50-Foot Woman."

Sister to their flagship bourbon “The Musician,” Still Austin’s “The Artist” is the distillery’s flagship straight rye. It clocks in with the same 2 year age statement and at a similar proof. Like the bourbon, “The Artist” is quite developed at only 2 years old, showcasing a fairly complex array of flavors and void of any unwanted “young distillate” notes. It leads with a fairly straightforward aroma on the nose, and then gets interesting with nuanced flavors on the palate including a touch of habanero, along with a well developed finish. “The Artist” is evidence of how far craft whiskey has come in recent years, and a worthwhile whiskey to seek out for the price even at its young age.