Review: Still Austin Tanager Cigar Blend Bourbon 2024
Still Austin continues to make waves in the burgeoning Texas whiskey world — its Bonded Red Corn Bourbon won all kinds of awards last year, and narrowly missed a spot on our Top 20 Whiskeys of the Year list.
Now Still Austin is back with an even more tantalizing expression, its most expensive and limited release to date. The whiskey is called Tanager, a “cigar blend” bourbon made from all Texas-grown red, white, and blue corn in the mash (plus Texas rye and malted barley) and aged for five years. Based on the appearance of “2024 Release” on the bottle, this looks like it is shaping up to be an annual affair.
One of the things that makes the whiskey unique is the way it is proofed — not using plain water but rather a lower-proof version of the same spirit, a process called Petites Eaux.
I’ll let Still Austin explain. Per the company:
As Still Austin’s most premium whiskey to date, Tanager showcases a masterful blend of artistry and innovation, using the old-world Petites Eaux (“Small Waters”) blending technique.
Crafted from a combination of red, white, and blue corn bourbon, along with select rye and malted barley, Tanager is a testament to the distillery’s dedication to premium quality. Aged for a minimum of five years, this super-premium whiskey was selected by Still Austin’s Master Blender Nancy Fraley and Head Distiller John Schrepel for its exceptional qualities.
To craft Still Austin’s most premium offering to date, Nancy and John combined Still Austin’s finest six-year-old high rye bourbon with pure Texas water, allowing it to age at 50 proof for at least a year before adding it to the base whiskey for final proofing. The ancient Petites Eaux blending technique has been practiced for centuries in the Cognac and Armagnac regions of France. Petites Eaux creates a rich and complex flavor profile, adding more caramelized wood sugars and length to the palate of the final product. Similar to the bourbon practice of ‘barrel rinsing,’ the small waters approach takes this concept further by extending the aging process. For Tanager, the result is a cigar blend whiskey with a remarkably sweet and soft finish.
“Tanager represents the culmination of years of careful blending and aging expertise. By using the Petites Eaux technique, we’ve created a whiskey that offers a unique complexity, with layers that reveal something new with each sip,” said Nancy Fraley, Master Blender at Still Austin. “Getting to leverage Texas’ unique weather to produce such a smooth sipper in just five years is a career highlight.”
While Petites Eaux originated in France, the technique works exceptionally well in Texas’ unique climate. Aging water in Texas’ hot summers and dramatic temperature shifts results in unparalleled depth and flavor, producing superior quality that can not be matched in other regions.
“Unlike traditional cigar blends, which often rely on finishing barrels sourced globally from sherry, rum, or cognac, Still Austin’s Tanager stands apart,” said John Schrepel, Head Distiller at Still Austin. “This whiskey draws its robust flavor profile exclusively from Texas ingredients, with no need for finishing barrels. The result is an authentic Texas expression—rich, bold, and reflective of the region’s distinctive terroir.”
Each bottle of Tanager is a visual and sensory work of art. The packaging features an original hand-painted piece by renowned Texas artist Marc Burckhardt, whose whimsical yet grounded style beautifully pays tribute to Texas’ landscape and undeniable unique terroir. At the heart of his artwork stands the Summer Tanager bird – Still Austin’s iconic symbol of creativity found on each flagship bottle label – seen basking in the sun, a beautiful complement to the work of art found inside the bottle. [And don’t miss the nest filled with eggs on top of the stopper. -Ed.]
“Tanager is the epitome of our dedication to Texas, our heritage, and our commitment to creating excellent Texas whiskeys,” said Chris Seals, Co-Founder and CEO of Still Austin. “Every bottle of Tanager tells a story of patience, artistry, and the spirit of Texas. From its Texas-grown ingredients to its rich flavor, Tanager is a fearlessly unique whiskey that embodies everything we stand for at Still Austin.”
This whiskey is reportedly already tough to find. so we were excited to receive a bottle for review. Let’s spread our wings — I have tanagers in my own Austin backyard — and give it a whirl.
To kick things off, there’s a certain Texasness to this whiskey that you often find around these parts — but which Still Austin has carefully sidestepped for the most part. The nose is woody in a way that I don’t often get from Still Austin, toasty with well-charred oak, but tempered by oxidized raisins, black tea, anise, and patchouli. Resting time is a huge help with this whiskey, and the longer the better — helping to tame the more aggressive, hot wood notes and coaxing out a more herbal quality. That said, this is a Texas Whiskey… capital T, capital W.
The palate has that same burliness, though the aged raisin character is amped up to 11. I could have easily been convinced this was finished or aged entirely in Pedro Ximenez casks, there’s so much of an oxidized, austere, old wine character on display. The sherry element is tempered however by notes of tobacco — a bit green — and wet leather. Makrut lime adds a citrusy quality, and a swirl of bittersweet chocolate adds a light touch of much-needed sweetness. Again, the wood vibes are strong with this one, and resting time in glass rewards the drinker with a more rounded, tempered experience. Even after an hour of sipping on this, it remains peppery and vibrant on the finish. A dropper or two of water is a stellar idea. The bird would agree, I think.
106 proof.
A- / $149 / stillaustin.com
Still Austin Tanager Cigar Blend Bourbon 2024
$149
