Still Austin Cask Strength: Best Bourbon out of Texas?
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- Опубликовано: 27 июл 2024
- Episode 547. I love Still Austin. Just a great Bourbon, but how does it stack up against the "Best Bourbon in the World" winner of 2020: Ironroot Harbinger? Let's dive in! #stillaustin #texas #whiskyneighbour
00:00 Introduction
01:30 Still Austin
05:51 Ironroot Harbinger
08:17 Comparison Thoughts 
Развлечения
@whiskeyneighbor, Master Blender Nancy Fraley here. Wow, I really loved this episode! So, I worked with Iron Root Republic from 2014 to 2019 and I helped develop Harbinger and also worked on the "Best Bourbon in the World" Harbinger blend. I started working with Still Austin in 2014 as well, and I still work as their Master Blender, as I blended that bottle of the Musician Cask Strength that you reviewed. I'm absolutely thrilled to see two of my Bourbons come head to head!
I think a lot of the difference between the two come down to type of distillation (i.e., column still vs. pot still), choice of grains, and yeast strains. However, since I was trained by a 10th generation Cognac maker who came to California in the early 1980's to make high end Cognac style brandy, I had both Iron Root Republic and Still Austin distillery employ a lot of artisanal and ancient maturation and blending techniques from the French brandy world. That's the common thread between these two distilleries, and IMHO, that's also why they stand out among Texas whiskeys.
I am so honored that you took the the time to drop in and help me better understand your approach and these two releases. They are both excellent, and I have no doubt that the artisanal approach and dedication to quality elevates each. I tend to enjoy Pot Still over Column, but that did not play out here this evening. Still Austin seems to keep my attention! Thank you for joining me for a virtual dram and sharing a bit of your story. Cheers!
Good gawd ... Still Austin CS vs. IronRoot Harbinger? I live in Texas and can't play that game. So glad you got to enjoy those drams and thanks for bringing them to the channel. 👏👏👏
They are hard to get there? I would have thought you could have them any night! Thanks for dropping in, these are solid pours for me!
I love that Still Austin cask strength. Craft Cellars has a single barrel version that's pretty darn good too.
I did have a pour at the bar. Really good. However, with the sale, I decided to bring this home. Glad you enjoy it too!
Jon & you are simply more Whisky friends that are recommending Still Austin CS... but one said to skip the Distillery release & just go with store picks- 🤷♂️ 🤔
Jon's note of Maple sugar on the palate is very appealing to me! Cheers gentlemen & have a Happy New Year 🥃 🙏 🥃
@@Ben_Demon_Hunter I could clarify my bit. I preferred the store pick, but with the sale on this, it was $45 cheaper. I still love it, so I decided to save the coin and bring this one home! There is sweetness here, but also spice, a high rye bourbon for sure! Happy New Year to you too!
I don't have access to a lot of Texas bourbons here in the UK but one of my favourites is Balcones which I find has a really nice leather note to it and the Balcones rye is one of my current favourite whiskies and I would recommend if you like chocolate notes. Thanks Jon as always I really enjoy and appreciate your reviews. 👍 🙂
Balcones makes excellent whiskey. I do like chocolate notes in Rye, so I should hunt down a bottle! Thanks for the kind words, and for sharing your thoughts on Balcones. Cheers!
Good morning. In Europe, we don't have as many choices as you do. I tasted Balcones Pot Still and Baby Blue which I liked. TX rye, a little less so. Next up will be Templeton rye and Yellow Rose. If you have an opinion, I'm interested👍. 🍸
I enjoy Templeton, but if you are looking for bigger TX whiskey, I would say try Yellow Rose!
Thank you for your reply. Yes, I will choose these 2 products which seem interesting to me, especially Templeton cask strength👍
Whoa! A Texas shootout on a Tuesday! I'm surprised you still have thar Ironroot Harbinger sample, Jon. I just finished that bottle last month and it was a Total Wine store pick at a bit over 115 proof. Interestingly, I got a regular 115-proof bottle recently and did a comparison. The old bottle seemed quite muted - perhaps from having too much air in the bottle for too long. The new bottle was bolder but you could tell they had the same DNA.
As far as Texas bourbons go, i think these are the 2 top Texas distilleries for me. If I want something closer to a heritage distillery, then I'll pour Still Austin. If I want to have something different with that Texas funk, then I'll pour Ironroot.
BTW, Still Austin makes ryes too. I need to get that and some other samples to you as I've stumbled across some interesting stuff. Cheers!
I have almost half a sample of every release you sent me. Just for times like this when I need a comparison! You have been so generous with sharing over the years. Thank you for allowing me to taste what I can't find up here and to expand the journey. Glad you enjoy Still Austin as well. Great classic, Texas Bourbon! Cheers!
Great video. There two Texas whiskeys that I really like. Milam & Greene Port Finished Rye (94 proof) and Saints Alley Bourbon Port and Cognac Cask (100 proof), which is from Ironroot Republic Distillery. While not as proofy as the Still Austin and Ironroot you reviewed, these are very, very tasty.
I have not had the Saints Alley Bourbon, but I love that Milam & Greene. Might be my favourite Rye of the year this year. Thanks for sharing!
Don't know if you heard, but the Milam & Greene did get a vote in ASCOT awards this year. Quite a feat.
@jimreichel1466 I had not, that is awesome!
I love your videos, very informative and helpful. I am new to whiskey and I was wondering if you know any place in Edmonton where I could buy samples instead of buying a bottle?
That is tough. Most stores carry a few 50 ml bottles near the counter that you can purchase. I find the selections not as great as I would like. My favourite stores though are Whisky Drop, Keg & Cork, Chateau Louis, and Malts & Grains. Thanks for dropping in!
@@WhiskyNeighbour Thank you. I will check those stores