Still Austin Bottled in Bond Red Corn Bourbon Whiskey
- Oct 15, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age.
About This Spirit from the Maker
RED CORN BOURBON WHISKEY
A FRESH TAKE ON A GRAND TRADITION
Since the late nineteenth century, “Bottled in Bond” has been a shorthand way of telling whiskey aficionados that an American whiskey has been distilled, bottled and aged according to a very specific set of federal standards. In short, the Bottled in Bond label indicates that a whiskey has been created at a single distillery, aged for a minimum of four years in a federally bonded warehouse using American oak barrels, and bottled at 100 proof under the supervision of the federal government. To put it more simply, it’s a guarantee of authenticity and the highest quality. Not many American distilleries are qualified to release a Bottled in Bond spirit, and we’re proud to be one of the few in Texas.
The whiskeys in our Seasonal Bottled in Bond Series capture the ingredients, flavors and themes of the seasons from which they were inspired. For each label, internationally acclaimed artist Marc Burckhardt—the painter responsible for the labels on our flagship spirits—has used images to conjure the indescribable moods of summer, fall, winter and spring, selecting a different animal and color to highlight each season. Each of these releases will be available in limited quantities, at select retail locations, and only in the season of their release.
SUMMER 2025
RED CORN BOURBON WHISKEY
50% ABV / 100 PROOF AGED AT LEAST 6 YEARS
For this Summer 2025 release—represented by the heat-loving snake and cactus—we combined the robust nuttiness of Jimmy Red corn with the sweet spice of rye. This release was a fan favorite when it was released last year, and with an additional year of aging, it might be even better.
MASHBILL:
36% Red Corn, 34% White Corn, 25% Rye, 5% Barley
TASTING NOTES:
Nose: Roasted Hazelnuts, Cashew Butter, Strawberry Soda, Fresh Texas Fair Funnel Cake
Palate: Red Velvet Cake, Peanut Brittle, Roasted Pumpkin Seeds, Freshly Cracked Pecans, Charred Poblano Pepper, Fruit Jam
Finish: Brown Butter, Sweet Tobacco Leaf, Freshly Ground Coffee, Raspberry Compote, Crushed Flower Petals
About This Spirit from the Whisky Advocate
This rich and spiced bourbon from a Texas grain-to-glass distillery starts big with a bold nose of cracked pepper, dusty leather, and cocktail cherries. The palate is dense and rewarding with layers of chile pepper, caramel, and buttery cornbread. Each sip is electric—the pepper gives this whiskey a zing balanced by poundcake and glazed doughnuts. Charred oak fades to chocolate, coffee, and pecan pie on the finish. Distilled from a mash with both red and white corn, plus rye and a little malted barley, this relative newcomer delivers a bourbon as bold as the Texas sun without sacrificing finesse.
—Shane English
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age.
How We Feel About the Spirit
Still Austin Red Corn Bourbon Review: Texas Heat, Red Corn, and the Final Stretch of Our Top 20 Quest
Written by Nancy Fae for His, Hers & the Good Life
Introduction
By the time we reached bottle nineteen of Whisky Advocate’s Top 20 of 2024, the Sipping Room felt less like a passion project and more like an endurance sport. Our inaugural year of collecting the full lineup had taken us across states, into obscure online shops, and through more “out of stock” notifications than any sane couple should tolerate. But this bottle — Still Austin Bottled in Bond Red Corn Bourbon, #7 of 2024 — was the one that tested our resolve.
Nearly a year of searching.
Stores, online shops, forums, whispers, rumors.
Nothing.
So when a listing finally appeared on Frootbat, we didn’t hesitate. We paid an arm, a leg, and possibly a rib for the privilege of adding it to the Sipping Room. And yes — we had to accept a small twist: the bottle judged by Whisky Advocate was the 2024 release, while ours is the 2025. Same batch, just one more year in the Texas heat. Reviewers say that extra year intensifies richness, sweetness, and depth. We’re curious to see if the red corn sings louder because of it.
Score 94.
ABV 50%.
Texas bourbon with a rebellious streak.
We haven’t opened it yet, but the anticipation is half the fun. And when we do, it will be blind — just to see if we can taste what made it #7 of 2024.
His Take (Jeff)
I’ll be honest: by the time we found this bottle, I was tired. Bottle nineteen feels different from bottle five or bottle ten. You’re not chasing excitement anymore. You’re chasing completion. And this one felt like the final boss.
When the Frootbat box arrived, I held it like a trophy. The label, the Bottled-in-Bond promise, the red corn story. It all felt like Texas swagger in a glass. I’m intrigued by that extra year. Texas heat isn’t subtle. It pushes, pulls, concentrates. I’m expecting a bourbon that leans into its identity instead of smoothing it out.
I’m also curious whether the red corn brings something unexpected. Maybe a deeper sweetness? Maybe a rustic edge? Whatever it is, I’m ready for it. Blind tasting will be the real test. If it earns its #7 spot, I’ll know it immediately.
Her Take (Nancy Fae)
This bottle feels like a chapter in our Sipping Room story — one of those chapters where you’re exhausted but determined, laughing at the absurdity of your own commitment. I remember refreshing pages, checking inventory, and muttering to myself that if Texas didn’t give up this bottle soon, I’d drive there myself.
When it finally arrived, I felt relief more than excitement. But once I held it, the excitement returned. There’s something poetic about red corn — earthy, warm, a little rebellious. And the idea that the 2025 release is the same batch, just aged one more year, makes me even more curious. Texas heat is no joke. It changes whiskey. It speeds up time.
I’m expecting richness. I’m expecting sweetness. I’m expecting depth. But mostly, I’m expecting a story in the glass.
Blind tasting will tell us if this bottle carries the magic that earned its 94 score. I hope it does. I want this one to surprise me.
Closing in the His, Hers & the Good Life Style
His (Jeff)
This bottle represents persistence. It’s the kind of bourbon you earn, not stumble upon. I’m ready to see if the red corn and Texas heat deliver something bold enough to justify the chase.
Her (Nancy Fae)
For me, this bottle is a reminder of why we started the Sipping Room — to chase experiences, not just bottles. I’m excited to taste the difference that one extra year makes. And I’m ready for whatever story it tells.
The Good Life
The Good Life is built on moments of pursuit, discovery, and shared anticipation. This bottle — hard-won, long-awaited, and full of promise — fits perfectly into that philosophy. It’s not just bourbon. It’s part of our journey.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age.
How to Enjoy
We’ve talked about this bottle so much that we already know exactly how we’ll approach it when the moment finally feels right.
First, we’ll pour it neat — small pours, side by side, in identical glasses. No ice, no water, no distractions. Just us, the bottle, and the quiet hum of the Sipping Room. We’ll sit across from each other, pretending we don’t know which glass is which, letting the red corn speak for itself.
We’ll nose it slowly, looking for that Texas heat influence — maybe a deeper sweetness, maybe a richer corn warmth. Then we’ll taste, letting the bourbon settle in, waiting for the moment when one of us raises an eyebrow or smiles because something unexpected showed up.
After that, we’ll talk. We always do.
What did the extra year add?
Did the red corn show up boldly or subtly?
Does it feel like a #7 bourbon?
If the bottle invites it, we might add a drop of water to see how the sweetness shifts. And if the evening feels indulgent, we’ll pair it with a square of dark chocolate or a pecan — simple things that let the bourbon stay the star.
Mostly, though, we’ll enjoy it the way we enjoy all our Sipping Room bottles: together, curious, and grateful for the journey that brought it to our shelf.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age.
Disclaimer: Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age. Life’s Rants promotes the responsible and legal enjoyment of premium cigars and alcohol by individuals of legal age. We do not endorse or encourage smoking or drinking among minors.
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