Today we’d like to introduce you to John Schrepel.
Hi John, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m originally from Sugar Loaf, New York, which is a small town upstate. My first exposure to the world of spirits came through a local winery. That opportunity led me into the world of distilling, and by the time I was 18, I found myself running operations at Black Dirt Distillery. That was one of New York’s largest distilleries at the time, and I learned a lot there. Everything from grain selection to fermentation, distillation, and barrel aging. It was a crash course in doing things the right way, but also learning to stay flexible and experiment.
After five years in that role, I was ready for a new challenge, and that’s what brought me to Austin. I joined Still Austin Whiskey Co. as Head Distiller, and it’s been a wild and rewarding ride ever since.
Moving from New York to Texas was no small adjustment. The climate alone forced me to rethink how I approached everything, especially barrel aging. But once I understood how to work with the Texas heat and humidity, I started to see what made this region so special for whiskey. The whiskey matures faster, but it also develops rich, bold flavors you just don’t get in cooler climates.
Since joining Still Austin, we’ve created whiskeys that really reflect the spirit of Texas. Everything is made from 100% Texas-grown grains, and every step of the process happens right here. We’ve developed expressions like “The Musician,” Cask Strength Bourbon, and “The Artist” Rye Whiskey, and we’re constantly experimenting with things like barrel finishes and new mash bills.
It’s been quite a journey, but I’m proud of where we are today, and even more excited about where we’re going.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Has it been a smooth road? No, but every challenge has helped shape who I am as a distiller.
Coming from Sugar Loaf, New York, I learned to distill in a much colder environment. Moving to Texas and adjusting to the heat and humidity was no small feat. At first, the climate here was a huge hurdle. Whiskey behaves differently in this kind of environment. Barrels expand and contract faster, and the aging process accelerates. I had to completely rethink how I approached maturation. Over time, I learned to not only adapt but to take advantage of the unique effects Texas heat can have on barrel aging. It’s truly remarkable what this climate can do to enhance flavor and complexity.
Of course, there have been real setbacks. One that stands out was part of our Tejas Series, where we tried to finish rye whiskey in mezcal barrels. After almost two years of aging, the whiskey turned green, completely undrinkable. That meant losing two whole barrels and a lot of time and effort. It was frustrating, but that’s part of innovation. You just learn from it and move on.
Through it all, I’ve stayed committed to pushing boundaries. We’ve experimented with all kinds of grains, different corns, ryes, and wheats. We’re always asking ourselves: How can we make this better? How can we make it more unique?
The challenges are what keep things exciting, and they’ve helped us create something we’re truly proud of here at Still Austin.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Still Austin Whiskey Co. is an Austin, Texas-based whiskey distillery that makes 100% of its whiskey in-house, from grain to glass. Still Austin has taken Austin’s creativity and design focus, and given birth to a new type of Texas whiskey that’s smooth, approachable, and just a little different. Still Austin only uses Texas-grown grains, distilled in the heart of Austin, where the wild central-Texas weather fluctuations help age their whiskey to perfection. We are the first true grain-to-glass distillery to open in Austin, Texas, since the end of Prohibition.
Still Austin stands out from the rest thanks to our commitment to product, community and sustainability. We are one of the only distilleries in Texas to source grains from local farmers, distilled ecologically in-house, and aged right in the Texas Hill Country. Using ingredients from our homeland allows the creativity and individuality of Texas to shine through every sip.
The wild weather swings in Central Texas cause Still Austin’s whiskey barrels to expand and contract erratically, allowing our whiskey to absorb the complex flavors of an oak bourbon barrel much more than whiskeys aged in other regions in the same amount of time. We partner with local artists to design the labels of our limited ‘Distillery Reserve Series’ releases, and our live entertainment venue attracts artists, creatives, and musicians who bestow the culture of Texas on a community of whiskey lovers. Lastly, our state-of-the-art distillery was designed for energy efficiency and water conservation, while all spent grain goes back to local farmers to feed their livestock, and all of Still Austin’s energy comes from renewable resources.
– Straight Bourbon Whiskey (aka “The Musician”) – Our flagship spirit, distilled with care from Texas-grown grains and oak-aged at least two years in our Hill Country rickhouse. As subtle and complex a bourbon as you’ll find anywhere. $46.99
– Cask Strength Bourbon – A deeper, more “metal” version of our beloved Straight Bourbon, made from a select blend of choice barrels and bottled at a grow-hair-on-your-chest 118 proof. $60.00
– Straight Rye Whiskey (aka “The Artist”) – This spirit’s blushing, oaky hue foretells a complex nose with hints of honey, cherries, fig, clove, and coffee. $50.00
– Cask Strength Rye Whiskey – A more aromatically intense, technicolor version of The Artist, with rich notes of cherry cobbler with a buttery cinnamon crust, candied ginger and lemon peels, and apricot streusel coffee cake. $65.00
– American Gin (aka “The Naturalist”) – Made in small batches from unaged rye whisky and botanicals, it provides perfectly balanced hints of juniper, coriander seeds, cinnamon, citrus peels, elderflower and allspice. $34.00
– Tanager Cigar Blend – Made from a combination of red, white, and blue corn bourbon, along with rye and malted barley used as small grains. The whiskey has been aged for at least 5 years and was hand-selected for its most exceptional qualities.
– Distillery Reserve Series – A line of limited-edition whiskeys known for their unique mash bills, finishing techniques, and collaborations with local Texas artists. Each release is a first-come, first-served purchase, available exclusively online at Still Austin and for pick-up at their Austin tasting room.
– Bottled in Bond Series – Four limited release whiskeys distilled to capture the ingredients, flavors and themes of the seasons from which they were inspired. Served in Still Austin’s Tasting Room, and select items are available for purchase.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along the way is that who you surround yourself with truly makes all the difference.
At Still Austin, we’ve built an incredible team of dedicated professionals who are all committed to the same goal: staying true to the craft and producing the highest quality spirits we can. That level of trust, belief and shared purpose is what drives everything we do here. It’s not just about making great bourbon or whiskey or gin, it’s about doing it with people who care as much as you do.
When I think back on our journey, from starting from the ground up to building relationships with partners like TexMalt, Lone Star Farms, ISC and Forsyth’s, I realize how critical those connections have been. We wouldn’t be where we are without that sense of community and collaboration.
And on a personal level, having mentors like Nancy Fraley and Mike Delavante has been game-changing. Nancy’s sensory expertise and Mike’s decades of experience have pushed me to grow in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I’ve learned so much from them in a short amount of time.
If there’s one lesson that stands out above the rest, it’s this: surround yourself with good people. People who inspire you, challenge you and believe in the work, and everything else tends to fall into place.
Pricing:
- Straight Bourbon Whiskey: $46.99
- Cask Strength Bourbon: $60.00
- Straight Rye Whiskey: $50.00
- Cask Strength Rye Whiskey: $65.00
- American Gin: $34.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stillaustin.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stillatx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StillATX
- Twitter: https://x.com/StillATX
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@stillatx
Image Credits
All imagery can be credited to Still Austin Whiskey Co.
