Taste the Austin Mystique with These Local Whiskeys
Sampling the tasty products of Still Austin Whiskey Co. is like visiting the famed Texas city, and just as unique!
Austin, Texas, is a popular travel destination due to its vibrant music scene, diverse culinary landscape, and outdoor activities. It’s also known for its unique blend of small-town charm and big-city amenities, attracting a diverse range of visitors.
Austin is a popular destination for the LGBTQ+ community due to its welcoming atmosphere, vibrant culture, and strong community support systems. The city has a long history of LGBTQ+ activism and a thriving arts scene that contributes to its inclusive environment. Furthermore, Austin boasts numerous LGBTQ+-friendly neighborhoods, businesses, and events. But it also has that thing that we love so much: creative enterprise.
Austin has a distinct cultural identity with a mix of artistic expression, quirky shops, and a laid-back, friendly vibe. Plus, the city embraces a “Keep Austin Weird” slogan, encouraging individuality and a sense of community. It’s a politically progressive city and it’s Pride is coming up: This year, Austin’s main Pride celebration, including the parade and festival, is on Saturday, August 23rd, 2025. The parade is a nighttime event, starting at 8 pm, and the festival takes place during the day at Fiesta Gardens.
But all year round, Austin is widely known as the “Live Music Capital of the World” with a plethora of venues offering various live musical genres. Naturally, it has a vibrant bar scene and folks here know their booze—and how to pair it with food, from world-class barbecue and food truck Tex-Mex to innovative farm-to-table dining.
Still Austin Whiskey Co. has captured the spirit of the city in a bottle—with a few poetically-named distillations. Founded in 2015 in the spirit of inclusivity, and supporting the local creative and arts communities, Still Austin’s collection of spirits pays tributes to all those qualities mentioned about.
The flagship Straight Bourbon Whiskey (aka “The Musician”), is a mellow and spicy delight, perfect for sipping neat while you’re strumming that guitar and thinking about the next elusive lyric. We enjoyed this with ginger beer and some barbecue pork sliders with pickles. The Straight Rye Whiskey (aka “The Artist”), has become our go-to for a Cuba Libre rather than rum. We slosh some into a highball with crushed ice at the end of a long hot day, top it up with Coke and a good squeeze of lime. It’d be a great combo with a plate from a Cuban sandwich truck. The American Gin (aka “The Naturalist”) pays tribute to Austin’s wide open spaces with perfectly-balanced botanicals of juniper, citrus peel, elderflower and cooking spice. Pair it with Fevertree tonic or even a grapefruit soda and it’s a knockout with a chicken tinga taco or some briny-sweet Gulf coast oysters.
All spirits are hand-crafted using 100 percent grains grown by Texas farmers with a commitment to sustainability through cutting carbon emissions. Plus, Still Austin returns spent grains to local ranchers to feed their animals, while the distillery itself is designed for energy efficiency and water conservation.
These whiskeys are smooth, complex, and won’t knock you around like some commercial brands. The specific provenance and careful production is evident in every sip. It’s no surprise to us that Still Austin has won multiple Double Gold Medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
To get the best out of your Still Austin Whiskey Co. trio, try these classic drinks with an Austin twist at home:
Austin-Made Mule
2oz Still Austin Straight Rye Whiskey (The Artist)
.5oz Fresh Lemon Juice
4oz Owen’s Ginger Beer
Rio Grande Boulevardier
1.5oz Still Austin Straight Bourbon (The Musician)
1oz Campari
.75oz Carpano Antica Vermouth
.75oz Liber & Co. Red Grapefruit Cordial
Lonestar Mary
2oz Still Austin American Gin (The Naturalist)
4oz Bloody Mary Mix
2 Shakes Hot Sauce
Still Austin Whiskey Co. is the first true grain-to-glass distillery to open in Austin, Texas since the end of Prohibition. Purchase in more than 30 states or drop by for a tasting next time you are in Austin—and while you’re there, grab some live entertainment and rub shoulders with whiskey lovers, artists, creatives, and musicians.
The Still Austin Whiskey Co. tasting room and venue is located at 440 East St. Elmo Road in the heart of Austin, Texas.
For more information, and to savor and shop the full range, go to stillaustin.com and follow Still Austin on Facebook at Facebook.com/StillATX, Twitter @StillATX and Instagram @StillATX.
To browse the best hotels in Austin go here.
