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VinePair named Still Austin Whiskey Co. its 2026 Next Wave Rising Drinks Brand of the Year. The Austin distillery, founded by Cleveland and Chris Seals, makes whiskey from Texas-grown grains and has built its identity around local artists and community. The award citation and its selection criteria are not detailed in the supplied report.
VinePair named Still Austin Whiskey Co. its 2026 Next Wave Rising Drinks Brand of the Year, recognizing an Austin distillery whose identity combines Texas-made whiskey with a focus on people and local creative culture. The award comes about 15 years after CEO Chris Seals joined his father, Cleveland, to start the business.
The company’s beginnings date to 2012, when Cleveland Seals began looking for a retirement project and invited his son to join him. Chris Seals was then working as an economist and risk manager. The pair researched whiskey and the requirements for opening a distillery before Texas changed state law in 2013 to allow in-state distillers to sell directly to consumers and offer tastings on site.
The Sealses and their partners broke ground in Austin’s St. Elmo neighborhood in 2014. Head distiller John Schrepel made the distillery’s first whiskey in 2017, using his own mashbills. The report says maturation and blending were guided by industry consultant Nancy Fraley. Still Austin describes its production as grain-to-glass, using grains grown by Texas farmers and aging whiskey in the state’s climate.
The report highlights two core expressions: The Musician, a straight bourbon made with white corn, and The Artist, a straight rye made entirely with Brasetto rye. It also describes the brand’s labels, painted by Texas artist Marc Burckhardt, as portraits of people and creative life in the region. Still Austin said its distillery drew about 100,000 visitors last year; the report does not specify the calendar year or the method used to count visitors.
A Local Identity Beyond the Bottle
The award recognizes a company whose pitch reaches beyond whiskey style and production. Still Austin has tied its products to Texas agriculture, local artists and visitor experiences, including live music at the distillery. That approach gives the brand several points of connection with customers, from the liquid itself to the artwork and the place where it is made.
For readers, the recognition also reflects a longer timeline than the word “rising” might suggest. The distillery began in 2012 and first distilled in 2017; its current profile follows years of building production, a visitor destination and a distinct brand. VinePair’s report connects the award to that development, though it does not publish a scoring framework or explain how Still Austin compared with other candidates.
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From 2012 Plans to Austin Distilling
When Cleveland Seals began exploring a distillery in 2012, American whiskey production was expanding. The source cites federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau figures showing 190 proof gallons produced in 2012 and more than 350 million in 2024. These are national production figures, not Still Austin sales, and the report does not provide additional details about the measurement or series.
Starting a distillery in Texas also depended on changes to state law. The 2013 change described by VinePair allowed in-state distillers to sell directly to consumers and serve tastings, giving the planned operation a route to connect its production site with visitors. Still Austin broke ground the following year and produced its first whiskey in 2017.
Chris Seals has said the business was also shaped by his desire to build a brand around being open about who he is. He described reconnecting with his father through the project and said the company aims to help people feel seen and free to express themselves. Those are Seals’s stated goals; the report does not measure how customers experience them.
““It takes time. It does take time,””
— Chris Seals, Still Austin CEO
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Award Criteria and Growth Remain Unspecified
The supplied report identifies Still Austin as the award recipient but does not explain how VinePair selected the winner, name other finalists or provide judging criteria. It also does not state when the award was announced beyond placing it in the 2026 Next Wave Awards.
The report offers a visitor count of about 100,000 for “last year” without specifying which calendar year that refers to. It gives no sales figures, production volumes for Still Austin, distribution data or financial results, so the award alone cannot establish the company’s commercial scale or growth rate.
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The Distillery’s Next Public Measures
The report does not announce a new product, expansion or other upcoming milestone tied to the award. It describes ongoing activity at the distillery, including visits, live music and limited releases such as its Blue and Red Corn Bourbons and special single barrels. Still Austin’s next measurable developments could include updated visitor figures, distribution or production information, but no dates or targets are provided.
For now, the award marks a recognition point in the company’s development. Whether it leads to changes in the distillery’s operations or wider reach remains unknown from the available source material.
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Key Questions
What award did Still Austin Whiskey Co. receive?
VinePair named Still Austin its 2026 Next Wave Rising Drinks Brand of the Year.
Where is Still Austin Whiskey Co. based?
The distillery is in Austin, Texas, in the city’s St. Elmo neighborhood.
When did Still Austin begin making whiskey?
The Seals family and their partners broke ground in 2014, and head distiller John Schrepel made the first whiskey in 2017.
What are The Musician and The Artist?
The Musician is Still Austin’s straight bourbon, made with white corn. The Artist is its straight rye, made with Brasetto rye.
Why did VinePair select Still Austin?
The report points to the distillery’s Texas-grown grains, whiskey, local artist labels and people-centered brand identity. It does not publish formal award criteria or a detailed account of the selection process.
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