Austin, TX
Still Austin Tanager Cigar Blend Is One Of The Best Whiskeys Of 2024
Still Austin’s new Tanager Cigar Blend is one of the year’s most interesting whiskeys. |
Still Austin Whiskey Co.
I drank a lot of whiskey this year, from American single malts and bourbons to Scotch, Irish, Japanese and others. With so many bottles currently on shelves and more being released each week, it’s become increasingly difficult to put out products that are genuinely new and innovative. Unique barrel finishes can get the job done, but the practice is so commonplace these days that it takes something truly special to move the needle. But making whiskey using an old technique traditionally enlisted for cognac? Now we’re talking.
Still Austin Whiskey Co., a grain-to-glass distillery in Austin, Texas, makes a solid lineup of bourbons and ryes. Led by Master Blender Nancy Fraley and Head Distiller John Screpel, the distillery released Tanager Cigar Blend Whiskey on December 6. It’s available onsite at the Austin distillery and in select markets across the country.
Tanager Cigar Blend Whiskey begins with bourbons made from red, white and blue corn, plus a selection of rye and malted barley, which were all blended together and aged for about five years. That’s step one.
The second step called for a six-year-old high-rye bourbon that was blended with Texas water, cut down to a very low 25% ABV (50 proof), and aged in barrels for a minimum of one year. This method is known as petites eaux (“small waters” in French) and has been used in cognac and Armagnac production for centuries. According to the company, this process creates a rich and complex flavor profile, with more caramelized wood sugars and overall depth. To complete the whiskey, a portion of the petites eaux was incorporated into the base whiskey, and the final product was bottled at 53% ABV, or 106 proof.
The petites eaux method is a unique choice for whiskey, considering that whiskey is typically aged at full strength and then either bottled at full strength or cut with water right before bottling to reduce the proof and achieve the desired alcohol level.
Tanager Cigar Blend’s box depicts a painting by Texas artist Marc Burckhardt. |
Still Austin Whiskey Co.
Tanager Cigar Blend Whiskey is also just unique for its name. Most cigar blends are characterized by deep barrel finishes, often via a fortified wine like sherry or port, or a spirit like rum or cognac. But Still Austin achieved this deep, complex flavor profile from its Texas-grown ingredients and petites eaux aging method.
Diving in, the whiskey is deep and dark on the nose, and I got lots of dried red and black fruits, berries, sweet tobacco, vanilla, cloves and ginger. The palate is intense, in a good way. I found more dark fruits and tobacco, plus a pleasant note of candied or honey-drizzled oranges, caramelized sugar and baking spices. You don’t have to drink this alongside a cigar, but it will certainly stand up to a stogie if you enjoy one.
Tanager Cigar Blend is Still Austin’s most luxurious and expensive whiskey to date, clocking in at $150. But the combination of unique production method, solid results and good-looking packaging makes it worth the splurge if you’re into American whiskeys or want to try a good example of Texas whiskey. It’s also here if you just need to buy someone a belated holiday gift.
MORE FROM FORBES
Austin, TX
More dangerous Texas floods expected after at least 2 killed and hundreds of people rescued in high water, governor says – WTOP News
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — More dangerous Texas floods expected after at least 2 killed and hundreds of people rescued in…
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — More dangerous Texas floods expected after at least 2 killed and hundreds of people rescued in high water, governor says.
Copyright
© 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
KERRVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — The City of Kerrville issued a shelter-in-place Thursday morning, with heavy rain causing reported evacuations early Thursday morning. A Flash Flood Warning is currently in place for Kerr County as the Guadalupe River continues to rise.
Around 5:30 a.m., the National Weather Service said a “large and deadly flood wave is moving down” the Guadalupe River.
KXAN First Warning Weather Meteorologist Kristen Currie said approximately 11 inches of rain have fallen northwest of Kerr County since 10 p.m. on Wednesday. The Guadalupe River is expected to reach major flood stage in multiple areas.
Kerr County PIO Lisa Walter said “there have been multiple swift water rescues and evacuations.” Officials emphasized not to drive through flooded streets and to turn around if water covers the roadway.
Evacuations were underway in multiple areas, according to the county, including:
- Goat Creek
- Arcadia Loop
- Lowery/Guadalupe area
- Junction Highway low-water crossings
- Other low-lying neighborhoods
Emergency shelters are open at Impact Church (Goat Creek evacuation point), Calvary Temple Church and City West Church for people in West Kerr County, the county said.
Here are the latest headlines:
Live updates
7:03 a.m.: KXAN’s Kevin Baskar is in Gillespie County providing updates on the latest flood conditions in the area. Watch his update below.
6:37 a.m.: Kerr County officials emphasized not to drive through flooded streets and to turn around if water covers the roadway.
Evacuations were underway in multiple areas, according to the county, including:
- Goat Creek
- Arcadia Loop
- Lowery/Guadalupe area
- Junction Highway low-water crossings
- Other low-lying neighborhoods
Emergency shelters are open at Impact Church (Goat Creek evacuation point), Calvary Temple Church and City West Church for people in West Kerr County, the county said.
6:27 a.m.: Video shows emergency crews hauling boats and rescue equipment through Kerrville.
6:15 a.m. NewsNation correspondent Xavier Walton and his photographer captured a structure being swept up in river water and crashing into a Kerrville bridge. The structure appears to be some sort of shipping container, pushing against the bridge.
Watch the video below:
6:08 a.m.: Kerr County PIO Lisa Walter confirms “there have been multiple swift water rescues and evacuations.”
6:02 a.m.: The Guadalupe River at Center Point is expected to crest at 35 feet, which is the same crest as July 4, 2025.
5:57 a.m.: The National Weather Service said “a large deadly flood wave” is moving down the Guadalupe River.
5:49 a.m.: The Comfort Volunteer Fire Department said it has units in Kerrville and Centerpoint alerting people along the Guadalupe River. They’re helping Kerr County with evacuations along Highway 27 between Comfort and Centerpoint. They said all VFD personnel are OK.
5:30 a.m.: The Kerr County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that it’s received reports of “street flooding in Ingram, and it’s likely many roads and city streets are flooded as well.”
AUSTIN (KXAN) — As flood threats continue across parts of South Central Texas, Austin Pets Alive! has activated emergency response efforts to support animal shelters affected by the inclement weather.
In a social media post, APA! wrote, “We began offering aid last night, working to secure fosters for 10 dogs in the Castroville shelter, an open-air shelter that sits at the bottom of a valley.”
APA! said the situation escalated overnight with additional shelters reporting flooding. One shelter confirmed that floodwaters reached its facility, APA! added.
Communities overwhelmed due to weather include Uvalde, Castroville and Sabinal.
The nonprofit is asking the Austin community to foster, adopt or donate to free up capacity for animals displaced by the disaster. APA! needs to clear out its facilities to assist the animals in need of shelter.
Here are ways you can help:
- Adopt: APA! is offering a “Name Your Own Adoption Fee” on all animals.
- Foster: The shelter is seeking foster homes for a minimum of three weeks.
- Donate: Proceeds will fund vans and response teams setting up a staging and triage center at the heart of the disaster zone, along with an expanded stockpile of preventatives, PPE and additional supplies.
If you would like to donate, click here.
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