The Musician was my introduction to the Still Austin brand—a craft distillery based in Austin, Texas, that began distilling in 2017. Founded by father-and-son duo Cleveland and Chris Seals, Still Austin is a grain-to-glass operation: they mill, mash, distill, barrel, and age everything on-site at their distillery. Their grains are thoughtfully sourced from farms across North and West Texas, reinforcing their commitment to local agriculture and quality craftsmanship.

This expression is crafted from a mash bill of 70% corn, 25% rye and 5% barley. It is aged at least two years in oak barrels. Let’s dive into this expression.

Nose: oak, fruit and coconut

Palate: rye, cinnamon and spices

Finish: spices and oak

ABV: 49.2%

Cost: $2.99 (What we spent for a 50ml bottle; 750ml goes for about $43)

I’ll start by saying that, over the years, I’ve found myself enjoying rye whiskies less and less. While this isn’t a full-on rye, the rye character is the most prominent note on my palate, followed by hints of cinnamon and spice.

It’s worth noting that this expression is nearly cask-strength, which adds intensity to the experience. However, beyond the bold rye profile, it tastes quite young and a bit rough around the edges. It didn’t quite resonate with me, but I’m still curious to explore their other expressions to see how they compare.

Cheers!

Note: The contents on my blog are solely my opinion. To me every palate is different! Although I may or may not like a product, I always recommend for people to try it and make up their own minds.