Still Austin Debuts Its Most ‘Prestigious’ Whiskey to Date: Tanager Cigar Blend Bourbon

(Photos: Still Austin

On Friday, Still Austin unveiled a new whiskey that it’s touting as its most “prestigious” to date: Tanager Cigar Blend Bourbon Whiskey.

With a suggested retail price of $149, Tanager Cigar Blend is available in Still Austin’s tasting room starting Friday and will release to select nationwide markets soon after.

Tanager is a blend of bourbons made from red, white and blue corn, plus rye and barley. According to Still Austin, to make this whiskey, which is aged a minimum of five years, it employed the French Petites Eaux (“Small Waters”) blending method, which is often used for cognac and armagnac.

Petites Eaux is a blending technique in which a mix of whiskey and water is aged to 25% ABV for one year and then blended into the base whiskey.

Still Austin claims this technique added more caramelized wood sugars and length to the palate of the whiskey, which is bottled at 53% ABV.

This whiskey’s creation was spearheaded by Master Blender Nancy “The Nose” Fraley, who is famous for her contributions to many whiskey brands, but most notably in this instance, Joseph A. Magnus, whose cigar blend whiskey is very popular and has been favorably reviewed by critics.

“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,” Fraley said in a news release. “Getting to leverage Texas’ unique weather to produce such a smooth sipper in just five years is a career highlight.”

Still Austin says that while the Petites Eaux technique originated in France, it believes it’s enhanced by the Texan climate, thanks to the state’s hot summers and dramatic temperature shifts.

“Unlike traditional cigar blends, which often rely on finishing barrels sourced globally from sherry, rum, or cognac, Still Austin’s Tanager stands apart,” Still Austin Head Distiller John Screpel said. “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.”

The packaging of Still Austin Tanager Bourbon is pictured.

The whiskey’s name is an ode to the Summer Tanager bird — Still Austin’s logo. The whiskey’s packaging features a piece of art painted by Texan Marc Burkhardt, which depicts the Summer Tanager basking in the sun.

“Tanager is the epitome of our dedication to Texas, our heritage, and our commitment to creating excellent Texas whiskeys,” Still Austin co-founder and CEO Chris Seals said in a news release. “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.”

Still Austin hosted a launch party for Tanager on Friday afternoon with a modern-day string quarter, custom cigar roller and exclusive merch. Burckhardt and Schrepel were there signing bottles.