Still Austin Straight Bourbon The Musician 750ML

Still Austin Straight Bourbon The Musician 750ML is a grain-to-glass Texas straight bourbon bottled at 49.2% ABV (98.4 proof) in a 750ml format. This expression earned a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and it stands apart in the craft bourbon landscape thanks to a Cognac-inspired production technique rarely seen in American whiskey.

Quick Facts: ABV: 49.2% (98.4 Proof)  |  Origin: Austin, Texas  |  Minimum 2 Years  |  Distillery: Still Austin Whiskey Co.

Production & Heritage

Still Austin Whiskey Co. was founded in 2015 in Austin, Texas, operating as a true grain-to-glass distillery with 100% of its grains sourced from Texas farmers. The Musician's mashbill — 70% non-GMO white corn, 25% Elbon rye, and 5% Wildfire malted barley — is aged for a minimum of two years in new, charred American oak barrels. What truly distinguishes this bourbon is the "slow water reduction" or élevage process, an ancient technique borrowed from the brandy-making traditions of Cognac and Armagnac. Master Blender Nancy Fraley, who studied under master spirits blenders in those French regions, oversees this painstaking step: over several months, minute quantities of water are added to the aging barrels, reducing harsh phenolic compounds and coaxing more soluble sugars from the oak.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich caramel leads the way, followed by vanilla settling quietly in the background. Brown sugar emerges as the glass opens, rounding out a warm, inviting nose.

Taste: The entry is distinctly sweet, with chocolate-covered cherries arriving first on the palate. A burst of black pepper and mesquite spice from the Elbon rye takes hold at mid-palate, while layers of honey, caramel, toffee, and vanilla build complexity through the peak. Wine Enthusiast's Kara Newman described the palate as "velvety," noting the interplay of brown sugar and black pepper tingle.

Finish: Remarkably long and persistent, with soft spices trailing into a lingering touch of those same chocolate-covered cherries. The finish is smooth and unhurried — one that keeps revealing itself well after the last sip.

How to Drink The Musician

At 98.4 proof, The Musician has enough backbone to drink neat while still remaining approachable. A few drops of water open up the sweeter caramel and vanilla elements without muting the rye spice. Its flavor profile also makes it a versatile cocktail base: try it in an Old Fashioned, where the brown sugar and vanilla amplify the cocktail's core sweetness; a Boulevardier, where the mesquite spice and chocolate notes stand up beautifully against Campari's bitterness; or a Whiskey Sour, where the honey and caramel tones create a richer, more layered drink than a standard bourbon would deliver.

Best For

• Bourbon drinkers exploring the Texas craft whiskey scene for the first time
• Gifting someone who appreciates grain-to-glass production and unique distilling techniques
• Building a home bar cocktail anchor with enough proof and complexity for stirred drinks
• Side-by-side tastings comparing regional bourbon styles — Kentucky vs. Texas terroir

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Musician taste like? The Musician leads with sweet caramel, chocolate-covered cherries, and brown sugar before transitioning into black pepper and mesquite spice from the rye grain. It finishes long and smooth with lingering soft spices and honey.

How does The Musician compare to Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon? Both are Texas-made craft bourbons, but they take different approaches: The Musician uses a traditional column-style grain-to-glass process with a Cognac-inspired élevage technique, while Balcones is known for its copper pot still distillation and use of roasted blue corn in certain expressions. The Musician tends to land on the sweeter, more approachable side of the spectrum at 98.4 proof.

Is The Musician good for sipping neat? Yes — at 49.2% ABV it carries enough intensity to reward neat sipping, while the élevage process smooths out harsh edges that many younger bourbons exhibit. A splash of water further unlocks the sweeter caramel and vanilla layers.

Where is The Musician made? The Musician is produced entirely at the Still Austin Whiskey Co. distillery in Austin, Texas. All grains in the mashbill — white corn, Elbon rye, and Wildfire malted barley — are sourced from Texas farms, making it a fully Texas-origin product.

What foods pair well with The Musician? Texas-style smoked brisket complements the mesquite spice notes naturally. Dark chocolate or chocolate truffles echo the chocolate-covered cherry character on the palate. Pecan pie amplifies the caramel and brown sugar sweetness. Sharp aged cheddar provides a savory counterpoint to the bourbon's sweetness. Grilled stone fruit with honey mirrors the honey and vanilla finish.

What sizes does The Musician come in? The Musician is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is The Musician worth the price? The Musician positions as a mid-premium craft bourbon, and its grain-to-glass provenance, unique élevage production step, and Double Gold medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition place it firmly in competitive territory for the price tier. For drinkers seeking something distinct from the Kentucky bourbon mainstream, it represents genuine differentiation rather than marketing novelty.

Why The Musician?

The defining edge here is Nancy Fraley's élevage technique — a slow water reduction process borrowed from French brandy traditions and applied to bourbon, a step virtually no other American whiskey producer employs at this scale. That process yields a texture and sweetness integration that belies the bourbon's relatively young minimum age of two years. The Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition validates the approach against a broad competitive field. For anyone seeking a bourbon with genuine provenance — Texas-grown grains, a named master blender with documented Old World training, and a production method that demands patience — The Musician delivers substance behind the story.