“Tanager represents the culmination of years of careful blending and aging expertise. By using the Petites Eaux technique, weʼve created a whiskey that offers a unique complexity, with layers that reveal something new with each sip,ˮ said Nancy Fraley, Master Blender at Still Austin.
Still Austin is a relatively new player in the bourbon game, but they’ve quickly made a name for themselves with their dedication to craft and quality.
So, to look at the back label on a bottle and read ‘produced and bottled by,’ you know you’re getting something truly from that distillery.
I love the lightly piney note that comes right out of every glass of Still Austin whiskeys. It comforts me knowing something good and unique is coming.
What’s most intriguing about this bourbon is its lack of sweetness. A glance at the mash bill shows it’s limited to 51% corn, which explains a lot of it since it’s roughly 25% lower than most bourbons on the market. I can’t decide whether I like that reduced sweetness, but it’s got my attention.
It starts with a whiff of pine lumber—a surprising yet pleasant note discernible in other Still Austin releases—forest floor, sage, and some rosemary, all intriguing and without shortcomings.
This bourbon is a multitasker, great neat, on the rocks, or in an old-fashioned. To make room for a little air in the bottle, I made three old-fashioneds for my guests. That they took notice of their drinks as “really good and spicy” says they caught on to this bourbon’s difference.
The palate is simple, lovely, sweet, and oaky. It’s what bourbon at its simplest should be. No surprises, no disappointments, just goodness that’s so easy to drink that you extend your arm for a refill—before you need a refill.
Still Austin is an artisan distillery in Texas that has impressed me with the quality of their whiskey. I have tried several of their products and liked what I tasted. Their products are still young – only two year old… Continue Reading →
