Still Austin Cask Strength Rye Whiskey
The Stats
- Distillery: Still Austin (Austin, TX)
- Type: Rye Whiskey
- Age: NAS
- Proof: 116 (58% ALC/VOL)
- Mash Bill: 100% Texas Rye
- Release: Standard
- Price: $65
For years, Texas whiskey has been carving out its own identity—grain-forward, bold, and unapologetically different. And at the heart of that movement is Still Austin, an upstart distillery doing things the hard way: grain-to-glass, locally sourced, and rooted in artistry.
Still Austin Cask Strength Rye Whiskey is a brash and beautiful Texas rye that delivers intense flavor without sacrificing nuance. It’s a whiskey that isn’t trying to be Kentucky—or anyone else. It’s proud to be exactly what it is.
A Texas Original, Grain to Glass
Still Austin isn’t just a cool name. It’s a literal description. This whiskey is milled, mashed, fermented, distilled, and aged entirely in the heart of Austin, Texas. The distillery sources grains exclusively from Texas farms, including Elbon rye, a winter-hardy grain with a deeply earthy and spicy profile that sets this bottle apart from more familiar northern ryes.
The Cask Strength Rye is part of the distillery’s standard cask strength releases that showcase the full-throttle character of their spirits, uncut and unfiltered. This expression was aged at least two years in the extreme Texas heat, a climate that accelerates aging but requires careful blending to avoid going over the edge.
Still Austin embraces that challenge, using a custom-built 42-foot column still and a slow, deliberate distillation process designed to highlight the spirit’s complexity. And it works.
This bottle clocks in at 116 proof, but it doesn’t drink like a dare. It drinks like a declaration.
Tasting Notes
Aroma:
Bright and expressive. You’ll immediately get a wave of rye spice, citrus zest, and dill. There’s a sweet tea note layered in with lemon peel, along with touches of honey, mint, and dry herbs. It’s bold, but not overwhelming—earthy and green with a Texas twist.
Taste:
The front of the palate brings a punch of spice—cracked black pepper and cinnamon bark—followed by candied citrus and herbal tea. There’s a savory layer of clove and spearmint, with some light honey and orange oil cutting through. The mouthfeel is slightly oily, and the heat builds quickly, but there’s enough flavor to keep it balanced.
Finish:
Medium to long. The proof shows up here, leaving a warm, spicy trail with lingering notes of citrus peel, menthol, and fresh-cut herbs. It fades slowly, with a slightly bitter edge that reminds you it’s still a young whiskey.
Artfully Bourbon Rating
7 / 10 - GOOD
Still Austin Cask Strength Rye is a whiskey that knows exactly what it wants to be—bold, grain-forward, and unapologetically Texas. The nose opens with earthy rye spice, dill, and orange zest, accompanied by a hint of sweet tea and lemon peel. It’s lively and aromatic, giving you a pretty good idea of the wild ride ahead.
On the palate, there’s a burst of cinnamon and cracked pepper, followed by candied citrus, dark honey, and a fresh minty lift. It’s spicy, yes—but not in a one-note way. There’s a kind of sweet-savory tension that keeps it interesting, even if it’s a bit unrefined in places. The youth shows up in the heat, which lingers through the finish, but doesn’t entirely overwhelm it.
We gave this a 7 because it’s solidly crafted and full of personality, but it’s not quite balanced enough to land in our top tier. Still, we respect what Still Austin is doing here. It’s a distillery pushing flavor boundaries and representing Texas in a big, loud, grain-to-glass kind of way.
If you like your rye whiskey with a little edge—and a lot of character—this one’s worth exploring.
