Light vanilla | Caramel | Brown sugar | Faint dried apple | Oak | Classic bourbon scent

Light vanilla | Cinnamon stick | Rye spice | Oak | Thin mouthfeel

Rye spice | Vanilla | White peppercorn | Cinnamon powder | Light oak | Faint peach

15 Stars was started by father-and-son team Rick and Ricky Johnson, who bottle their whiskeys at Bardstown Bourbon Co. in Bardstown, Kentucky. The name “15 Stars'' refers to Kentucky as the 15th state on the second United States flag, which included 15 stars and 15 stripes. Up until this point, the brand has released all of their whiskeys under their 15 Star brand name, and this now includes their First West batches. This new line of First West bottles is the company’s first time creating a new brand line. While the new Small Batch and Toasted Oak releases use 15 Stars own distillate in a blend for the first time, extra aged focuses on the company’s standard method of using sourced bourbon.

For the first three First West releases, the company focused solely on bourbons. The company stepped away from their traditional bottle design, instead bottling the whiskey in a unique, old-timey-looking glass bottle that has “designs inspired by the first bottles crafted in Kentucky and used for whiskey.” While 15 Stars batches usually carry double-digit age statements, the company’s new First West line will focus on flavor versus age. "In place of double-digit age statements seen with 15 Stars, we are able to bring extra flavors into the First West lineup with our heritage grains and continue to use our process of Flavor Proofing to create never-before-crafted blends.”

First West Extra Aged Bourbon gives the impression that the bourbon will lean into its time aging in oak barrels; however, it comes across as less oak-influenced than one might assume from its name. The nose offers a classic bourbon aroma, followed by a straightforward, thin mouthfeel. The whiskey’s finish offers more of the same classic notes, along with a faint pop of peach that adds slight intrigue. Sporting a 100 proof, the bourbon drinks much softer than expected, and for the higher price, First West Extra Aged Bourbon is a hard sell to consumers.