Stillman’s Sonder 10 Year Bourbon Review

Stillman’s Sonder
10 Year Bourbon
Straight Bourbon Whiskey
94 Proof
SRP: $70 / 700 mL
Review

Please enjoy my Stillman’s Sonder 10 Year Bourbon Review!

Three Generations Behind Stillman’s Sonder

Stillman’s Sonder is a pair of new 10 year whiskeys from Dancing Goat Distillery in Cambridge, Wisconsin: a bourbon and American single malt. The brand’s story begins with Duane Maas, a stillman whose work in the spirits industry began in the 1950s. Duane contributed to production methods and quality standards across spirits including Seagram’s and Chartreuse. He also consulted on the early development of Dancing Goat Distillery before his passing in 2016.

Duane’s son, Tom Maas, carried that legacy forward through his work with heritage whiskey brands and small-batch bourbon. Today, Tom’s son, Nick Maas, continues the family’s work at the still and blending table. According to the brand, “the name Stillman’s Sonder reflects both craftsmanship and perspective. “Stillman” speaks to patience, process, and precision, while “Sonder” captures the awareness that every individual carries a life as vivid and complex as your own. Together, the name reflects a whiskey rooted in intention and connection.”

The whiskey that became Stillman’s Sonder began with barrels from exploratory distillation runs conducted at MGP in Indiana between 2010 and 2016. The Maas family acquired and curated barrels from those stocks over time and used them to create these expressions.

Stillman’s Sonder 10 Year Bourbon Details and Review

• Whiskey: Stillman’s Sonder 10 Year Bourbon
• Type: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Distillery: Dancing Goat Distillery
• Distilled By: MGP in Indiana
• Age: 10 years
• Barrel Types: Aged in Andean and American oak barrels, with several double-oaked components
• Production: During the six months before bottling, the whiskey underwent what the brand calls “spoon-fed dilution” or “spoon-proofing,” a gradual reduction in proof. The brand also says oxidation was encouraged at times through short fills and vatting.
• Proof: 94
• ABV: 47%
• SRP: $70 / 700 mL
• Availability: Available through the Stillman’s Sonder website and at select U.S. retailers
• Single Barrels: Limited single-barrel selections are also available

Tasting Notes — Stillman’s Sonder 10 Year Bourbon Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested: 15 minutes in a Glencairn glass

👉🏻 Nose: Mildly sweet; cloves, light brown sugar; butterscotch later on; cherries, hint of black licorice and tart orange citrus; light oak.
👉🏻 Taste: Light to medium-bodied, mildly sweet; light caramel and butterscotch; mild orange peels; mild tannins and cherries later on.
👉🏻 Finish: Fairly dry; hints of lingering butterscotch; mild floral notes; concentrated dark cherry syrup with a subtle herbal note; white pepper spice, tart orange and tannins; moderately long; spice and cherry syrup linger.

More Complexity Than Its Proof Suggests

Stillman’s Sonder 10 Year Bourbon has more layers and complexity than I expected from the proof and my first sip. It begins with fairly characteristic bourbon notes, but as time goes on, quite a few additional flavors develop. Its body is light to medium, which is expected for this bourbon’s 94 proof. The finish becomes a bit drier and spicier than I would have anticipated. However, some of the sweeter flavors and fruits linger as well. To me, the cherry notes of the nose and palate evolved into concentrated dark cherry syrup with a subtle herbal note in the finish. It’s definitely a unique flavor progression.

Who Will Enjoy It?

Overall, Stillman’s Sonder 10 Year Bourbon is quite an enjoyable sub-100-proof pour, with layered flavors that vary over the course of the pour and from sip to sip. If you are looking for a relatively lower-proof pour with some interesting complexity, then this is one you’ll want to try. Have you tried Stillman’s Sonder 10 Year Bourbon? What did you think? Cheers!🥃

I hope you have enjoyed my Stillman’s Sonder 10 Year Bourbon Review! Next, read these related reviews: Copper & Cask Double Oak Bourbon Review, Copper and Cask Small Batch Series Batch 16 11-Year Bourbon Review and Remus Repeal Reserve IX Review.

Note: This sample was graciously provided by the Brand for my review. I appreciate it!

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