15 Stars First West Toasted Oak Bourbon

15 Stars First West Toasted Oak Bourbon

A little background

Founded by father son duo Rick and Ricky Johnson, 15 STARS is committed to crafting the very finest aged whiskey to help consumers celebrate special moments. According to 15 Stars, they spare no expense or effort in their pursuit for great whiskey and only bottle products that meet their highest standards. 15 Stars is a toast to Kentucky as the 15th State and a pledge to honor the craftsmen of early Kentucky into the creation of their fine-aged whiskey.

First West is a new line extensions for 15 Stars, featuring three distinctive bourbon expressions. Small Batch, Toasted Oak, and Extra Aged 8-Year-Old Bourbon Whiskey. Toasted Oak is a select blend of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in toasted barrels with a blend of two different toast profiles. Coming from bourbon aged 5, 6, and 7 years old, First West Toasted is bottled at 98 proof and has a MSRP of just around $70 USD.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Dark Gold

Nose

Baking spice, licorice, stone fruit (peach), brown sugar, caramel, grape taffy, and sweet toasted oak.

Palate

Cherry, orange citrus, vanilla pudding, rye spice, and toasted oak.

Finish

Stone fruit (apricot), cherry, dark caramel, tobacco, rye spice, and oak.

In closing

15 Stars First West Toasted Oak Bourbon delivers an impressive balance of fruit-forward sweetness, warm baking spice, and well-integrated oak. From the inviting nose of stone fruit, caramel, and toasted oak to the flavorful palate of cherry, citrus, and vanilla, it maintains both depth and approachability. The finish lingers with apricot, dark caramel, tobacco, and spice, leaving a satisfying impression that overdelivers for its price. As part of the 15 Stars lineup, this release stands out as a thoughtful and rewarding pour that showcases both craftsmanship and value.
 

NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of 15 STARS. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.

15 Stars First West Toasted Oak Bourbon

98 Proof
15 Stars First West Toasted Oak Bourbon
8.7

Nose

 8.7/10

Palate

 8.7/10

Finish

 8.8/10

Complexity

 8.6/10

Value

 8.8/10

The Good

  • Value
  • Super approachable

The Bad

  • Lower Proof
Official Site

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Matthew Evans

Matthew is the founder and visionary behind Whiskey Consensus. What began as a project to explore the Instagram platform and share a love for whiskey has evolved into so much more. Professionally, Matthew works in digital marketing as a solutions engineer and sales leader, bringing innovative strategies to the table. Outside of work, Matthew is an avid runner, as well as a car and watch enthusiast. He is also deeply committed to giving back to the community through various volunteer responsibilities.

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