Still Austin Tanager Cigar Blend Bourbon Whiskey
The Stats
- Distillery: Still Austin Whiskey Co.
- Type: Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Style: Cigar Blend Bourbon
- Proof: 107.5 Proof
- Age: 6 Years (select mature barrels)
- Mash Bill: Blend of Blue, Red, and White Corn Bourbons (predominantly Blue Corn)
- Master Blender: Nancy Fraley
- Release: Annual Limited Release (Edition Two)
- MSRP: $150
VIDEO REVIEW COMING SOON ↓
The Still Austin Tanager arrives with a reputation before the cork is ever pulled. Annual, limited, and unapologetically dressed for attention, it’s the kind of bottle that invites both excitement and doubt. Premium artwork. A sculpted bottle. A cigar blend designation. A $150 price tag.
All fair reasons to pause and ask the question we always ask when design is this good:
Is the whiskey doing the work, or is the packaging doing the talking?
This bottle wasn’t sent to us. We bought it. We stood in line. We paid retail. Real money, real expectations. What we found was a whiskey that doesn’t hide behind presentation; it earns it.
More Than a Beautiful Box
Tanager is one of Still Austin's most talked-about limited releases, and for good reason. Built as a Texas straight bourbon cigar blend, it’s designed to hold its own alongside bold flavors rather than fade into the background.
This is the second edition of Tanager, following its debut in 2024. The 2025 release comes in at 107.5 proof and is blended from some of Still Austin’s most mature barrels, widely understood to be 6 years old, no small feat in Texas, where heat accelerates aging and amplifies flavor.
The mash bill blends blue, red, and white corn, with blue corn making up the majority. That approach has long been central to Still Austin’s identity, and here it’s used with restraint rather than excess.
The blend is crafted by Nancy Fraley, whose cigar blends have become something of a gold standard. Her fingerprints are all over this whiskey: layered, expressive, and confidently balanced.
Tasting Notes
Aroma
The nose opens brighter than expected, led by zesty citrus that reads more like lemon peel than fruit flesh. Tobacco follows, joined by light herbal and earthy notes that add depth without weight. It’s not tropical, not jammy, and not aggressive. Instead, it’s composed and quietly complex.
As the whiskey opens, leather emerges alongside a creamy sweetness reminiscent of dessert icing rather than overt sugar. Subtle floral and grassy notes round things out, creating an aroma that feels intentional, layered, and restrained.
Taste
The first sip arrives with warmth and clarity. Baking spices lead. Cinnamon most prominently, followed by creamy vanilla sweetness that transitions into richer, earthier tones. Leather returns on the palate, supported by subtle fruit and a full, rounded mouthfeel that keeps everything in balance.
With subsequent sips, pepper and spice become more pronounced, baking spices dial up, and a faint lemon note lingers beneath the surface. Occasional grassy and floral flashes keep the experience dynamic without ever feeling unfocused.
Finish
The finish is controlled and balanced, carrying warmth and spice through the back of the palate before fading cleanly. It doesn’t linger as long as some might prefer, but it avoids bitterness or heat. Instead, it leaves a composed, measured impression that invites another sip rather than overstaying its welcome.
Artfully Bourbon Rating
9 / 10 - Excellent
Still Austin Tanager is a thoughtfully blended, beautifully designed bourbon that delivers substance to match its presentation. The nose and palate are rich, expressive, and layered, showcasing how refined modern Texas bourbon can be when handled with intention.
While a longer finish or a touch more warmth could push it into once-in-a-lifetime territory, there’s no denying this bottle earns its place. At $150, it’s a confident buy for those who value balance, complexity, and craftsmanship over sheer power.
This isn’t just a beautiful box.
It’s a whiskey that deserves the attention it demands, and one we’ll be revisiting when Whiskey of the Year conversations begin.
