Review #579 - Still Austin Straight Rye
Made with 100% Texas-grown grains - that's the mantra at Still Austin, a relatively young distillery in Texas. This straight rye whisky follows that rule, and in fact is made up entirely of rye grain - no other types of grain are used in the mashbill.
This rye carries a two year age statement, but we know that a number of Still Austin whiskies actually contain spirit that has been aged longer than the statement on the bottle; it's bottled at a strength of 49.8% ABV, or 99.6 US proof.
Still Austin Straight Rye
USA - Rye
Price: USD 43 (2025)
Age Statement: 2 Years
Strength: 49.8% ABV
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 2 months; bottles at 100%, 60%, and 30% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Lots of classic rye character - mint, dill, eucalyptus, but also some sweeter notes like mint candy and orange. It's grain-forward, as the oak is very mellow in the background; nice spice, and with time, a bit of sugar glaze appears.
Palate: Relatively mellow and rounded, though there is some spice: white pepper, a bit of wood smoke, then lots of spearmint and menthol notes. It's still relatively sweet and candied, and we get a bit of buttercream icing; hints of anise linger at the end. It has a medium-thin mouthfeel.
Finish: Mint candies or breath mints, vanilla, and menthol - sweet and still full of that rye character. The oak influence is very mild, and we get a mixture of linen, fennel, and orange pith in the aftertaste; it's a medium length finish.
Final Note: This is a solid entry-level rye with a heavy focus on the herbal and spicy side of the grain - there isn't a lot of oak influence or extra maturity to cover the rye up. This is well balanced in terms of spicy vs. sweet notes, though, as those vanilla and mint candy notes add a nice dimension. A good rye, but to take the next step in terms of score, this needs a bit more maturity.
Value is good here - this is available for just over $40 in our area, and we think it's well worth that, especially if you like rye whiskies that emphasize the grain aspect of the spirit.
Our Average Rating: 6.2 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 7.04
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
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