A Family Legacy

Stillman’s Sonder is three generations in the making.

Duane Maas, the foundational stillman of this story, shaped the whiskey industry in more ways than one could imagine. Beginning in the 1950s, his work behind the scenes modernized production and quality control for spirits ranging from Seagram’s to Chartreuse.  He left a permanent but mostly invisible mark on spirits around the world. Much of what we see on shelves today can be traced back to Duane’s innovations and dedication to quality.

Tom Maas, Duane's son, became a brand builder, anchoring his efforts in the life and legacy of his father and other Stillmen like him. He formed growth and innovation strategy for heritage brands such as Jack Daniels, Canadian Club and the Jim Beam portfolio.  His vision helped usher in the era of small-batch bourbon, which brought the craft of whiskey-making to life for drinkers everywhere.  Tom became a bridge between the maker’s discipline and the marketer’s imagination, ensuring that every story told was rooted in authenticity and respect for the stillman’s art.

Today, Tom’s son Nick Maas runs Dancing Goat Distillery. At the blending table and the still, he carries forward the family tradition.  Stillman’s Sonder reflects his reverence for his father and grandfather, and every bottle contains their shared ideals: the precision, curiosity, and dedication of the stillman.

Where Nature Meets Engineering

The Dancing Goat Team embarked on an eighteen-month journey—analysis, blending, reentry testing, gauging, finishing, re-blending, and regauging—to take the most choice barrels from their elusive aged stocks. Stillman’s Sonder is a whiskey that is polished and reimagined. It is made by committee and by generational knowledge and responsibility.

In early 2010, single-malt distillation at MGP in Indiana was a series of exploratory test runs, and ultimately orphaned barrels. The Maas Family carefully collected these barrels in secret until their stocks grew and aged to a point where a 10+ year aged whiskey could be blended and produced with consistency and growth.

Stillman’s Sonder American Single Malt, Aged 10 Years involves three rounds of selection, blending, re-barreling, and finishing. It is blended for consistency, utilizing:

  • Virgin oak casks, at several toast and char points

  • Ex-Bourbon casks

  • Wisconsin brandy casks

  • Cognac casks

  • Calvados casks