Review #: 187
Description: Still Austin Sherry Cask Bourbon (blind)
Spirit: Bourbon
Background: Still Austin produces whiskey out of Texas. The “Sherry Cask” was a distillery exclusive. From what I could find, the bourbon is aged for about a year before being transferred to PX sherry casks to finish the spirit in. I was provided this sample by a friend as a mystery, so I had no knowledge of what was inside and it was revealed after I sent my notes.
Distillery – Still Austin
Bottler – Still Austin
Brand – Still Austin
Selection – N/A
ABV – 50.2%
Age – 1 Year
Nose – Heavy caramel, dates, raisins, figs, some light tropical fruits in there
Taste – Maple syrup, vanilla ice cream, hershey’s chocolate syrup, figs
Finish – Dark chocolate, coffee beans, bittersweet and the roasted coffee taste lingers for a while
Guess: I don’t know, this could be anything from some sort of single malt with an interesting cask finish, or an old brandy. 50% abv though?
Score: 6
Would I buy a bottle? $40 for a 375ml bottle is a bit high, but I think I’d be happy with a bottle and it would last a decent amount of time.
Thoughts: This was super decadent and rich. A nice pour but not one to have every day. A nice dark color to it and not much spirit coming through so I think it’s either old or heavy barrel influence.
Post Reveal: I was really not expecting this to be a young bourbon, but I seemed to hit the nail on the head with the abv and strong cask influence. I think the alcohol being in check for being aged in Texas, and the strong influence of the PX cask have really helped balance the young distillate. While the price per volume is a bit high, having a 375ml bottle helps and I think you’d get your worth out of it.