Probably Pass

Austin 111 Cask Strength Light Whiskey

55.5% ABV
$63
Website

We would like to thank Austin Craft Spirits Company and The Whiskey Bard for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

AUSTIN 111 CASK STRENGTH LIGHT WHISKEY MADE WITH RYE
Bold, award-winning, and crafted for the true Texas spirit.
Austin 111 is the latest expression from Austin Craft Spirits Company—crafted from a unique mashbill of 70% Texas rye and 30% non-GMO Texas white corn. Steam distilled to over 160 proof and aged for at least one year in recycled, award-winning Texas bourbon barrels, this whiskey undergoes a slow proof reduction with pure Hill Country water to achieve its signature 111 proof (55.5% ABV).

The result is a whiskey that’s darker and spicier than its predecessor, Austin 101, yet shockingly smooth. It delivers a perfect harmony of bold rye spice balanced with a subtle, brown-sugar sweetness from the barrels and a light, mellow oak finish.

Award-Winning Distinction

Recognized with a Gold Medal at the 2025 Denver International Spirits Competition, Austin 111 is the rye whiskey enthusiasts have been waiting for.

“Austin 111 is the rye whiskey our fans have been craving since we started this journey with Austin 101. We’ve spent years perfecting this—listening to the buzz at whiskey clubs and festivals—and the result is a cask-strength stunner that’s bold yet silky.”
– Tom Buchsbaum, Co-Founder

Austin 111 joins a family of renowned spirits—including Austin 101, the Double Platinum Best in Class winner; Austin 121, a cask-strength favorite; and Austin 85, our cocktail-ready light whiskey—each reflecting our commitment to 100% Texas grains, sustainable barrel practices, and precision distillation.

What Gary Says

Nose: Toasted oak, rye toast with grilled corn and a hint of caramel.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and pepper spice.
Finish: Short in length with a hint of caramel and pepper spice.
Comments: As we don’t see a lot of ‘light whiskey’, added a short excerpt below*. Unlike Austin 101 Light Whiskey, this doesn’t remind me much of corn whiskey, and does have an entirely different mashbill. This is also an older product, with the bottle noting it is aged “at least 1 year”. Noticeably darker in the glass, and I get a note of rye on the nose. I think there’s potential in light whiskey (as noted before, I’ve had some I really liked), but this was similar to the Austin 101 Light Whiskey in terms of not being in my wheelhouse.

Rating: Probably Pass

*Light whiskey is an entirely different category, so important that when approaching it you’re not expecting it to be ‘bourbon’ or ‘rye’ or ‘corn’, because if you do – you’re likely to be disappointed. Where bourbon can’t come off the still any higher than 160 proof (80% ABV), light whiskey has to be higher than that (but less than 190 proof or 95% ABV, since then you’re classified as a grain neutral spirits). There are other legal requirements, but most light whiskey is used for blending into flavored products.

Austin 101 Light Whiskey

50.5% ABV
$49
Website

We would like to thank Austin Craft Spirits Company and The Whiskey Bard for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Austin 101 Light Whiskey was bron from our passion to craft amazing spirits. Drawing inspiration from the classic French Eau-de-Vie techniques, we’ve captured the quintessential flavors of local Texas grains, emphasizing subtle oak notes rather than letting them dominate. As you sip Austin 101 you will taste notes of caramel, butterscotch, and vanilla, deriving its sweetness, gentle texture, and nutty undertones from these grains. Our whiskey strikes a distinctive balance between smoothness and punch, culminating in mellow finish. With its delicate taste and mild oakiness, it stands out as both inviting and effortlessly enjoyable.

Local and Authentic

The sole ingredients, apart from the pristine local water, are grains cultivated in Texas: non-GMO white corn from Texas, red winter wheat sourced from the Texas panhandle, and barley from Texas that’s malted in Fort Worth. Terroir and origin are important. Austin 101 celebrates these local grains, consisting only of our top-tier distillate, matured in the finest American white oak barrels.

Precision Crafting

Beyond the local grains, our steam distillation process and the quality of the distillate that comes straight off the still result in the unique taste and smooth finish that sets Austin 101 apart from traditional bourbons and other whiskeys. We steam distill Austin 101 in a 3-story high custom-made column still. The steam distillation allows the mash to be lifted by steam, with temperatures kept below 210°F to preserve delicate aromas. We also pull the distillate from the still at a higher proof than most whiskeys and bourbons. This precise distillation method is equivalent to performing over 10 distillations in one run, creating a distillate with fewer byproducts and congeners while preserving the sweetness and natural taste of the original grains.

Sustainability

Because we aim to celebrate and preserve the essence of local Texas grains, we finish Austin 101 in a completely different way than bourbon. Through years of trial and error, we have designed a unique method which requires the distillate to be finished in high quality, recycled oak whiskey barrels, largely from local craft bourbon makers. Our approach focuses on precisely extracting light yet complex oak aromas while preserving trees and improving sustainability.

What Gary Says

Nose: Vanilla, honey, buttered pastry, hay with a hint of oak.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel with cornbread, honey, butterscotch that quickly gives way to pepper spice.
Finish: Short in length with corn and pepper spice.
Comments: As we don’t see a lot of ‘light whiskey’, added a short excerpt below*. This most closely resembles corn whiskey, but less sweet with more of a peppery bite. Used casks means you’re getting less flavor from the cask, and the higher that you distill the spirit – there’s less character left there too. I’ve had some light whiskey that I thought was really good, but this was pretty disappointing. In terms of flavor, you’ve got to work to coax much out of the glass. It would likely take on more character with more time in the barrel (the bottle notes it is aged “at least 101 days”). But had I paid nearly $50 retail, I would be pretty disappointed.

Rating: Probably Pass

*Light whiskey is an entirely different category, so important that when approaching it you’re not expecting it to be ‘bourbon’ or ‘rye’ or ‘corn’, because if you do – you’re likely to be disappointed. Where bourbon can’t come off the still any higher than 160 proof (80% ABV), light whiskey has to be higher than that (but less than 190 proof or 95% ABV, since then you’re classified as a grain neutral spirits). There are other legal requirements, but most light whiskey is used for blending into flavored products.