Still Austin Cask Strength Rye Whiskey Review & Tasting Notes

When you hear the name Nancy Fraley, it should immediately pique your curiosity. Nancy is known as “The Nose,” she has a reputation for helping distilleries deliver the best out of American whiskeys (and works with overseas distillers, too). Nancy doesn’t screw around. She has strict standards that she doesn’t deviate from.

 

Still Austin was founded in 2015 as a grain-to-glass distillery. It does everything in-house, including milling, mashing, fermenting, distilling, and bottling. Its Head Distiller is John Shrepel, and the Master Distiller is Mike Delevante. Still Austin runs both a column and pot still, the former named Nancy (not after Fraley) and the latter The Queen.

 

Almost exactly a year ago (January 2, 2023), I reviewed Still Austin’s “The Artist” Straight Rye. It held the place of my favorite American Rye for the year until very late in the game (it won my 2023 Runner-Up Award). It is an excellent whiskey and a great representation of what Texans can do with whiskey.

 

Today, I’m checking out the Cask Strength Rye Whiskey.

 

“Like painting, distilling represents an intermingling of calculated craft and wild intuition. This impressive cask-strength whiskey combines the nuance of our beloved ‘Artist’ Rye Whiskey with the robust intensity of a barrel-proof spirit. The result is an all-new ‘Artist’ of distinctive vigor and complexity.” – Still Austin

 

This Straight Rye whiskey is distilled from 100% Texas rye grains and slept in new, charred oak barrels for at least two years. If you’re unaware, whiskey ages faster in Texas than in many other parts of the country. My experience is that two years is plenty for this state, no matter the size of the cooperage used. It weighs in at 58% ABV (116°), and you can expect to pay $65.00 for a 750ml package.

 

So, before we get to the #DrinkCurious part, I must thank Still Austin for providing me with a sample of this American Rye in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

Appearance: A neat pour inside my Glencairn glass revealed a whiskey possessing a dark, amber liquid. It produced a thin rim and watery tears.

 

Nose: My first sniff exposed my olfactory sense to an intense blast of cherries and caramel. Smells of wintergreen, floral rye, ginger, and tea followed. Notes of dried apricots and pastries caressed my tongue while inhaling through my mouth.

 

Palate: The texture was softer than I’d imagine for a whiskey of this proof. It was bold but lacked a classic alcohol burn. The front held flavors of caramel, plums, and baked apples. I tasted mint, rye spice, and orange peel at its midpoint. The back featured tastes of cinnamon Red Hots, oak tannins, and nutmeg.

 

Finish: Whereas the mouth had no real heat per se, the finish was a different story. Here, it became evident that you’re drinking a higher-proofed American Rye. While the cinnamon Red Hots were noticeable on the palate, they intensified on the finish, as did the rye spice and mint. Strangely, the nutmeg offered a calming effect. Baked apples seemed to round things out. Overall, the duration was very long and lingering.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: If more Texas distilleries did what Still Austin does, Texas whiskey would not have the reputation it suffers from. Too many whiskey enthusiasts won’t even try a Texas whiskey – at least not willingly. I know them. They’re serious whiskey drinkers.

 

Three years ago, Still Austin’s “The Musician” was the whiskey that changed my mind about Texas whiskey. Last year, “The Artist” wowed me. And, now, in 2024, Still Austin did it again with its Cask Strength Rye.

 

Is it purely Nancy Fraley? Probably not. Credit must also go to Mike Delevante. As a team, they’ve produced one hell of a great American Rye that is sure to please. I’m thrilled to have this in my whiskey library, and at only $65.00, you’ll want to pick up a Bottle of your own. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.