Chris Seals has lived all across Texas – everywhere from Houston to Amarillo – and he moved to Austin in 1993 to attend the University of Texas at Austin and fell in love with the beauty, creativity, and inclusiveness of the city.
For most of his career Chris worked as an economist, until his father approached him in 2013 with the idea of opening a whiskey distillery together. While he liked the idea of opening a whiskey distillery, he loved the idea of building a closer relationship with his dad. Together with his father and other co-founders, Seals co-founded Still Austin Whiskey Company with a vision to make a bourbon whiskey that is a genuine expression of the spirit of Austin, Texas.
Some of the experiences that have influenced Chris include growing up on his grandparents’ farm. Chris’ experience of farm life is simple, yet rich in connections to the land, family and community. The appreciation for farm life has contributed to Still Austin’s firm commitment to supporting local farmers by purchasing 100% of grains from Texas farmers.
Seals grew up in a family that valued creative expression, excellence, and individuality. Creating a bourbon that is excellent and independent -- as well as true to its place -- is something that matters deeply to Seals. That commitment to excellence and individuality can be seen in Still Austin’s one-of-a-kind 42-ft tall Scottish-made still, which is the only of its kind in North America. Still Austin also uses a rare and labor-intensive process of slow water reduction while the barrels of bourbon mature. The process is a labor of love that few distilleries choose to undertake - but results in the highest quality of spirit.
In his work as an economist, Seals worked in sustainable development and he makes it a priority to protect the environment. This dedication started with the build out of the distillery, which was engineered to reuse water and maximize energy efficiency. Today, the distillery is a zero-waste facility that donates the spent grains back to farmers to feed their cattle.
Seals is continuously inspired by the people of Austin and Still Austin has sought to embody a “New Mythology” of the people of our city. Austin is a very special place. It’s urban, vibrant, independent and fearless. Still Austin is surrounded by a vibrant commonwealth of whiskey lovers who are always open to new ideas, and we use each bottle to tell a story of our friends, our community, and our city. You can find representatives of this “New Austin Mythology” on each of our bottles. These are the people who surround us, the archetypes of our world. They give a glimpse of Austinites, of locals who inspires us—and those we aspire to be.
Giving back is also in Seals’ and Still Austin’s DNA. Chris is active in the company’s support of the community with everything from emergency assistance (hand sanitizer, supplying water during the big freeze, etc.), to charitable giving of several local organizations like the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM). Additionally, he’s always willing to assist other Founders and CEOs gain access to capital.
When Seals isn’t running a whiskey distillery, he is busy raising his three teenagers. As an openly gay man, he’s an active member of the LGBTQ+ community through membership in the Austin LGBT Chamber, volunteer involvement with Equality Texas, Hill Country Ride for AIDS, and support for other related organizations. He also loves beekeeping and listening to the best live music in the world.