Nose: The nose on this Still Austin Cask Strength bourbon is immediately deep and dark, packed with rich dessert tones and heavy wood influence. Caramel, chocolate, and fudge lead the way, with flashes of German chocolate cake and toasted marshmallow. Alongside that sweetness is a bold, workshop-like character—leather, shoe polish, and fresh-cut wood that honestly feels like walking into a woodworking shop.
Palate: The palate comes in sweeter than expected, though still firmly rooted in dark flavours. Chocolate-forward notes dominate, resembling an overcooked chocolate chip cookie— sadly slightly bitter, slightly burnt. There’s a distinct “wood stain” character throughout, like gnawing on stained oak, thankfully softened by sugar and caramel. Despite the high proof, the mouthfeel is lighter than expected, though the bitterness and wood notes could use a touch more sweetness for balance.
The finish stays dark and wood-driven. Oak, char, and that same wood stain profile linger as the proof slowly dries out the mouth. Some sips finish smoother than others, but alcohol heat does show up if you rush it. Nothing new really emerges here—this pour commits fully to its dark, masculine profile all the way through.
It all started in 2012. Cleveland Seals was looking for a post-retirement project to occupy his time and had the wild idea to start a whiskey distillery. Cleveland shared his dream with his son, Chris, and asked for his help.
Chris —a longtime economist and risk manager— knew all too well how difficult it would be to bring his Dad's dream to life. Looking at the risks, Chris thought that the chances of success were pretty low, but he liked the idea of spending time with his dad, so he suggested to Cleveland that they do a “feasibility study.” The supposed “study” would ostensibly determine the chances of success in starting an Austin-based whiskey distillery, but secretly, Chris’s real plan was just to spend time with his dad, get him settled into retirement, and after having a lot of fun, decide not to actually do it.
Over the course of the next year, that is exactly what Cleveland and Chris did. The two traveled together, visited whiskey distilleries, and had a lot of fun drinking whiskey together. Prior to this “study” the father-son duo rarely talked with one another, but they soon found themselves talking every day. And not just talking about business. After a few whiskeys they were talking about everything -- even their feelings! As Chris says, “it was the best thing that ever happened to me and my dad.”
Then, as fate should have it, in 2013 state laws in Texas changed. The changes made it easier to open a craft Bourbon distillery in Texas, and also made it likely that a Texas Whiskey category would emerge. Having devoted a year to studying the market, the two realized they just might be at the right place at the right time. They assembled a team of local farmers, whiskey experts, local artists, and crazy co-conspirators — and together with the support of their whole community, Still Austin Whiskey Co was born.
The distillery broke ground in 2014 and began distilling in 2017 (yes, it took three years to build this special distillery). In 2020, Still Austin's first straight bourbon whiskey was released. Over the past decade, Cleveland and Chris discovered the power of believing in a special future - especially for someone you love. Cleveland's dream came to life as an authentic Texas whiskey, made from grain to glass in Austin, Texas. Together we make whiskey for everyone: the musicians, the visionaries, the lovers, the scientists, the oddballs, the artists, and the everyday dreamers.
Everybody knows that really great whiskey HAS to come from Kentucky, right?
And everybody knows bourbon HAS to come from Bourbon County, right? Right?
The truth is great whiskey can come from anywhere, and great bourbon can come from anywhere in the United States (as long as you follow the rules).
Dozens of fantastic whiskeys have popped up over the last few years from all over the world, even from places as far away from the U.S. as Australia. As whiskey-making has grown more popular, people from all over the world have learned how to make great
whiskey, and Texas is leading the way.
Whiskey tends to take on the flavors and characteristics of the area from which it was made. In wine making, that’s called terroir, and since we make 100% of our whiskey from Texas grown grains, grown by Texas farmers, and aged in the Texas Hill Country, you can be sure that inside every bottle of Still Austin Whiskey is a little taste of our home. (and it tastes great) But don’t just take our word for it.We work with some of the best in the business to fully leverage Texas grown grains and the erratic Central Texas weather to make the best whiskey to ever come out of the state. (and maybe a few others too)
Right from the start, we set out to create a different kind of whiskey brand. We wanted to build a brand that reflected the craftsmanship and artistry that goes into making grain-to-glass whiskey while also representing the vibrant, creative soul of the city from which is was born. Take one look at any of our whiskey labels, and that’s pretty apparent.
Each of our flagship spirit labels features original artwork hand-painted by world-renowned Austin artist, Marc Burkhardt. The Musician, The Artist, and The Naturalist are are all inspired by the archetypes of Austin which share our spirit of creativity.
But as they say, beauty is only skin deep.
We mill, mash, distill, barrel, age, and bottle every drop of our whiskey ourselves in Central Texas. This painstaking labor love begins with our grains. 100% of our grains are grown in Texas, by Texas farmers. No grain from any other state or country is ever used in our whiskeys.
Not too many other distilleries are able to make whiskey from grain to glass, and NO other distillery is as dedicated to our level painstaking perfection. As we said before, it might not be the easiest way to make whiskey, but it is the right way. That’s how we make whiskey that’s as beautiful inside as it is out.
