Texas’ Best Distillery Just Dropped One of 2025’s Best Whiskeys

(Photos: Still Austin)

There are a lot of big, expensive whiskeys chasing attention right now, but few outperform an underrated bourbon that just dropped from a critically acclaimed Texan craft distillery.

Released Dec. 6, the second edition of Still Austin’s Tanager Cigar Blend Bourbon cements what many whiskey fans already believe: the Austin-based distillery isn’t just good by Texan standards, it’s competing on a national level. At $150 and bottled in extremely limited quantities, Tanager won’t be easy to find; but if you can track down a bottle (or just a pour), we’d highly recommend you give it a whirl.

Tanager is blended under the guidance of Nancy Fraley, one of the most respected palates in American whiskey and the central figure in defining the modern cigar blend category in America. Instead of relying on secondary finishing barrels — as is most common with cigar blends — Fraley worked with Still Austin master distiller John Schrepel to employ a far less common approach rooted in French brandy traditions.

The technique, known as Petites Eaux (French for “small waters”), involves lowering a whiskey’s proof and aging it further before final blending. For Tanager, a portion of Still Austin’s bourbon was proofed down to 50 using Texas water and aged for at least an additional year. That whiskey was then blended back into the base bourbon for final proofing.

In Texas’ extreme climate, the process accelerates interaction between spirit and barrel, deepening caramelized sugars. The result is a cigar blend that feels integrated and expressive rather than cheap and engineered.

The 2025 release expands on last year’s blend, introducing blue and red corn bourbon to the mix.

The final composition is made up of 53% blue corn bourbon, 25% red corn bourbon and 22% white corn bourbon, with rye and malted barley used as secondary grains. All components were aged for a minimum of six years, a meaningful statement in Texas, where the harsh climate means maturity comes quickly but true balance is harder to achieve.

Bottled at 107.5 proof, Tanager feels powerful and yet not at all harsh. It carries its proof comfortably, with enough structure to stand up to a cigar but plenty of nuance for slow, contemplative sipping.

The nose is lush and complex, opening with buttercream frosting and marzipan before moving into darker, more savory territory. Truffle oil, duck fat and tobacco add depth, while creamy sweetness keeps everything in balance.

On the palate, the whiskey opens beautifully. Cherries and raspberry preserves lead, followed by butterscotch and cinnamon. Leather, tobacco and lavender provide structure, while candied ginger and strawberry taffy bring lift. That faint truffle note returns just enough to keep things interesting without dominating the experience.

The finish is long and composed, unfolding with cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla, pepper, tobacco and Luxardo cherries. It lingers with warmth and sweetness, exactly what a cigar blend should deliver whether or not a cigar is involved.

Click here to read our review of Still Austin Tanager in full.

Thoughtful Design to Match the Whiskey

The presentation mirrors the care that went into the liquid. Tanager arrives in a custom red gift box with a magnetic closure and a cutout window that offers a glimpse of the bottle. Each box includes original artwork by Texas artist Marc Burckhardt, depicting a stylized landscape that nods to the state’s character and terroir.

The bottle itself is rich in detail without feeling overworked. A metallic Tanager emblem anchors the design, the glass neck is embossed with ears of corn representing the three corn varieties, and a custom metal stopper features the bird’s nest with three eggs, one cracked to signify this second release.

Final thoughts

Tanager is Still Austin’s most ambitious whiskey to date and one of the strongest American releases of 2025.

The price reflects its intent, but so does the execution. This is a whiskey built on age, technique and restraint, with a flavor profile that continues to unfold the longer you spend with it. For those fortunate enough to find a bottle, it offers a clear snapshot of where Texas whiskey is headed and why Still Austin remains at the center of that conversation.