Still Austin has become one of the more interesting newer distilleries to watch out of Texas. Its private single-barrel program permits retailers and distributors to select individual barrels and bottle them at cask strength under their own branding. This particular bottle, called “The Unwanted,” was dumped on January 3, 2024 and bottled at 116 proof. I could not find a review of this particular selection, which is not especially surprising given that these private picks generally yield only around 200 bottles and tend to stay within the distributor’s market. At $66, it seemed like a fair opportunity to see what one of Still Austin’s barrels could do.
Still Austin’s regular bourbon mash bill is 70 percent white corn, 25 percent rye, and 5 percent malted barley, all sourced from Texas. The bottle says it was aged at least two years, but the color suggests substantially more time in the barrel. It is a very solid, deep amber, and I would guess it spent at least five years in the Central Texas heat. On the swirl, it leaves a rich, thick film with substantial legs—always a promising sign for a flavorful, oily bourbon.
The nose is traditional bourbon in the best sense. Vanilla takes a slight lead over caramel, with some lovely floral notes and a restrained suggestion of oak lingering in the background. It is not a wildly unusual aromatic profile, but it is an inviting and balanced one.
The palate is where this bourbon really comes alive. The flavor explodes across a rich mouthfeel, with vanilla still leading caramel. Floral and stone-fruit notes come forward, followed by baking spices and black pepper that give the whiskey some welcome energy. This is a decidedly old-school bourbon profile, which is rather cool to find coming from a relatively new Texas distillery.
On the finish, the stone fruit gradually recedes while the baking spices and black pepper persist. Clove enters the picture, along with a lovely oak note that stays present without becoming drying or overdone. The finish is flavorful, well-integrated, and appropriately long for a 116-proof single barrel.
Sampling it again after a couple of days of first opening it, I am struck at how good this is. There is no yeast funk, the bourbon is really rich, the flavor profile is great, and the finish just won’t quit. I will be buying another one. Or four.
For $66, this is very well done. “The Unwanted” is an odd name for a barrel this good, but if this is what gets left behind, I will happily take the leftovers. Still Austin is clearly capable of producing a bourbon that honors the classic vanilla, caramel, fruit, spice, and oak profile while still feeling like it has its own Texas identity.