December 2025: Still Austin Nancy’s Picks
December 1, 2025
As the year comes to a close, Master Blender Nancy Fraley once again returns to our oldest cask-strength barrels in search of a spirit that captures the magic of the season. Each month, Nancy selects a single barrel that stands out for its remarkable depth, balance, and character. These rare, single-barrel releases are bottled at cask strength and available exclusively at our Still Austin Distillery in Austin.
Nancy’s refined palate and unparalleled sensory intuition have shaped every beloved Still Austin whiskey since the debut of our flagship bourbon, The Musician, in 2020. She can discern not only the unique aromas and flavors in each barrel, but even where it was aged within the rickhouse. Her December selections embody the warmth and richness of the holidays— comfort in a glass, crafted with care.
December 2025 Nancy’s Pick: Straight Rye Whiskey
- Nose: Dark like the long winter days, with Earl Grey tea, candy canes, and hot chocolate fudge brownies with caramel topping.
- Palate: Maple walnut ice cream, Bourbon balls dipped in confectioner’s sugar, aromatic pipe tobacco.
- Finish: Long and dark, with lingering Darjeeling tea and chocolatey Baltic Porter notes with prunes and toasted malt.
December 2025 Nancy’s Pick: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Nose: English Christmas pudding coated with brandy butter sauce, walnut baklava, blackberry blossom honey.
- Palate: Prunes in Armagnac syrup, date cake, red currant jelly, molasses cookies, rum raisin ice cream.
- Finish: Long and rich, with Persian black tea and heavy cream.
These limited-edition releases are Nancy’s way of toasting the year’s end— complex, comforting, and undeniably special. Visit the Still Austin Distillery this month to savor December’s Nancy’s Picks before they disappear into whiskey legend.
