Kentucky has been known as the first American West for years. It is the 15th state in the United States and that is where 15 Stars gets its name, from the American flag with 15 stars. The company was founded by a father and son, Rick and Ricky Johnson. They bottle source whiskey and have excellent palettes. The First West is their latest series of Bourbons and the toasted oak is a very good Bourbon. I picked up a bottle the other day and Matt and I sat down to taste it. Here are our tasting notes.
15 Stars First West Toasted Oak Bourbon
Proof: 98
Age: Five Years Old (A blend of five, six and seven year old Bourbon)
Nose:
- Mike: Caramel, pears, baking spices and oak wood.
- Matt: Vanilla, wild berries, rose water and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Caramel, apples, pears, allspice, cardamom and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and lemon zest and cinnamon come out in the taste. Tasted with a pecan and the caramel becomes a rich butter caramel with a hint of milk chocolate.
- Matt: Vanilla, crème brûlée, marshmallows, wild berries, cardamom and oak wood. The dried cranberry enhanced the vanilla and cardamom. The pecan brought out caramel and brown sugar.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak wood, apples and cardamom. The dried cranberry added lemon zest to the finish. The pecan made the finish long with oak wood and caramel.
- Matt: Medium long with oak wood and cardamom. The dried cranberry added lingering vanilla. The pecan made the finish long with oak wood, brown sugar and cardamom.
I would pair this Bourbon with a cigar rich in vanilla and cedar spice. I would reach for a NUB Maduro cigar.
Photos Courtesy of Maggie Kimberl and Rosemary Miller