406: Still Austin Brings Kentucky-Style Bourbon to Texas, and It Doesn’t Taste Like “Texas Whiskey”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. Bourbon Lens, the weekly bourbon and whiskey podcast, today released a new episode with Chris Seals of Still Austin, the Austin, Texas distillery known for grain-to-glass bourbon and rye. The conversation covers the distillery’s origin story, its use of the élevage maturation method, and a major expansion in Austin’s Saint Elmo Arts District.

From a “terrible idea” to 23,000 barrels

Still Austin began as a feasibility study meant to bond with a retired parent. Seals, an economist by training, expected the study to end the idea for good.

“I used to do feasibility studies for a living, and when he showed me his plan, I was like, this is actually the worst idea that has ever been on my desk.”

The project went ahead anyway, and it changed more than the family business.

“We used to hardly ever talk and now we talk every day.”

Today the distillery says it is raising about 23,000 barrels.

Texas grain, Texas character

Still Austin makes everything in-house from Texas-grown grain. Seals said Texas white corn runs sweeter than the yellow corn of the Ohio Valley, and that Texas grain has some of the highest starch content in the country. The rye is a Texas variety called Brassetto, which he described as sweet and spicy.

The Musician straight bourbon uses a mash bill of 70% white corn, 25% Brassetto rye and 5% malted barley. The Artist straight rye is made from 100% rye.

The élevage method

Still Austin borrows its maturation approach from Cognac and Armagnac. It relies on slow reduction with water, aged water, long marrying and master blending. Seals said the method helps control tannin extraction in the Texas heat.

“I’m fairly certain we’re the largest producer that uses the Elevage philosophy in any type of whiskey making in the world.”

Tasting notes from the hosts

Bourbon Lens host Jake Lewellen sampled both rye expressions and called the 100% rye profile one of his favorites. Seals described the contrast between the straight and cask strength versions.

“If the straight rye is a watercolor, the cask rye is technicolor.”
On the bourbon side, he put it this way:
“If the Musician, our straight bourbon, is acoustic, the cask strength is heavy metal.”
Lewellen offered what he called the best compliment he could give:
“It doesn’t drink like Texas whiskey.”
Co-host Scott said the bourbon would pass for Kentucky whiskey in a blind tasting.
“It’s what bourbon should taste like.”

Listen now

The full episode is available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. Subscribe for weekly bourbon discussions, tastings and industry insights from the Bourbon Lens community.

About Bourbon Lens

Bourbon Lens is a weekly bourbon and whiskey podcast and community hosted by Jake Lewellen and Scott. It features distiller interviews, tastings and bourbon insights. Visit www.bourbonlens.com.

About Still Austin

Still Austin is an Austin, Texas distillery producing grain-to-glass bourbon and rye whiskey from Texas-grown grain, matured with the élevage philosophy.