LouisianaLonghorn
Still Austin First Barrels Release
Bourbon — Texas, USA
Reviewed
November 16, 2019 (edited January 30, 2020)
You really roll the dice with craft distillers.
There’s a handful of craft places that have really nailed it (Balcones, Stranahans, Del Bac, Colkegan, etc.), bit for every one of those guys, there’s a startup distillery that wants to rush a product to market. That’s this pour.
We’re very fortunate to have a number of local distilleries in Central Texas. Some are remarkable, but others are still struggling to find their footing. Still Austin has been selling their new make for a while now, and recently released their first four year old bourbon. I also tried a bourbon finished in PX casks that’s a distillery exclusive. They’re going in the right direction, but this juice needs more time in the cask. In a few more years it will likely be outstanding, but right now it just tastes young, hot, and not ready, even with aging in the Texas heat. Keep your eyes open for this in a few years. I did get a souvenir Glencairn for my troubles. Cheers!
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oh boy this stuff is rough!
@WhiskeyLonghorn @PBMichiganWolverine Del Bac Dorado all day!!
@WhiskeyLonghorn There are a number of Distilleries in New England that I'd like to visit, particularly Split Rock in Maine and Litchfield in Connecticut. Both have a couple of solid offerings. I've been to Sons of Liberty in Rhode Island. Although they have yet to produce anything that blows me away, I find the Uprising single malt to be a very respectable. I also picked up a lightly peated port finished limited release that was enjoyable. Plus, it's an interesting place. Their "tasting room" is a big open area with a small bar, tables, couches, darts, ping pong tables and a large set of bookshelves. It's part tasting room, part bar, part cafe, and part rec room. I hear you on the craft scene. I went to a food and spirits expo a couple of months ago that had about a half dozen whiskey distillers. One (Split Rock) was nailing it, two others showed a lot of promise, and the remainder, despite some very interesting ideas and enthusiasm were jist not ready for prime time.
@geologyjane And you have St George single malt —those are really good (if you can find them) , around $110-120 ( at least here in NJ/NYC) .
@WhiskeyLonghorn - Charbay is probably the best known here in CA but I’m just not interested in paying ~$400 for their limited releases. Lip Service is finished here and probably the only other whiskey I’d mention. Almost everything else “local” is sourced and just a few years old so it’s not ready. I will say the craft gin business is booming here. Lots of good local options. Now that St. George gins are reaching international distribution status, I don’t know that they still qualify as “craft”, but they are a good indication of the quality of the various gins being produced here. It’s a good time to be a gin drinker!
@WhiskeyLonghorn Del Bac is my favorite...but where I am in the NYC area, there’s Brooklyn based Kings County and Stillhouse. A bit up the Hudson, there’s Coppersea.
I know y’all live in different parts of the world. Are there any craft distilleries near you worth checking out? @dubz480 I know you’re in Arizona near Del Bac, which as far as I’ve tried is one of the best craft producers in America.