There’s something frontier-like about the way 15 STARS approaches bourbon—like they’ve studied the past not just to re-create it, but to remix it with the confidence of a new generation who knows the value of both age and imagination. Their latest release, First West, is a three-part exploration of bourbon as both heritage and horizon: Small Batch, Toasted Oak, and Extra Aged 8-Year-Old Bourbon Whiskey.
The First West collection takes its name and inspiration from Kentucky—the so-called “First West” of American expansion—and its role as bourbon’s beating heart. This is no nostalgic exercise, though. These new expressions push the brand into fresh territory, including 15 STARS’ first use of their own proprietary distillate, as well as the introduction of heirloom red, white, and blue heritage corn. Yes, it’s patriotic. But it’s also delicious.
At the core of the line is the Small Batch ($59.99, 102 proof), a blend of 5-, 6-, and 7-year-old Kentucky bourbons. The nose carries sweet echoes of banana bread and honey, chased by cigar box and seasoned oak. The palate? Think fruit salad soaked in vanilla, with an earthy undercurrent of damp forest and tobacco. The finish lingers with oak, wrapped in a memory of honey.
Next comes the Toasted Oak expression ($69.99, 98 proof), aged similarly but amplified through toasting. The nose is a carnival of seasoned oak, caramel, and stone fruit. The palate leans dessert-like—cherry, banana, orange—cushioned in warm oak. The finish? Apricot, caramel, and a smoke-wisp of tobacco.
Rounding out the trio is Extra Aged ($79.99, 100 proof), a blend of 8- and 9-year-old bourbons. Here the maturity shows. The nose opens with orange peel and cherry before giving way to oak and leather. The palate is syrupy with marmalade and fruit juice, while the finish delivers plum, citrus, and a final act of caramelized sugar and seasoned wood.
“Our goal was to offer award-winning quality at an approachable price,” says co-founder Ricky Johnson. “Flavor Proofing™ lets us build complexity, and these heritage grains bring something truly unique.”
Available now via select retailers and online via the brand’s official website, 15 Stars First West line invites bourbon lovers to sip their way through Kentucky’s past—and maybe glimpse its future.
