Matt and I really liked this whiskey. We did a blind tasting with a couple of other contenders and this whiskey won hands down. The 15 Stars people are bottling fine whiskey and this bottle is better than many and exceeds the Toasted Oak expression. Here are our tasting notes.
15 Stars First West Extra Aged Bourbon
Proof: 100
Age: Eight Years Old
Nose:
- Mike: Vanilla, marshmallows, peaches, baking spices and oak wood.
- Matt: Caramel, chocolate, a hint of nuts, cherries and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Vanilla, corn, marshmallows, peaches, allspice and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and ginger spice joins the party. Tasted with a pecan and orange zest and chocolate come forward.
- Matt: Caramel, cherries and oak wood. The dried cranberry added lemon zest to the taste. The pecan added chocolate and raisins to the taste.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak wood, vanilla and lingering peach. The dried cranberry added ginger spice to the finish. The pecan made the finish long with oak wood, orange zest, chocolate and allspice.
- Matt: Medium long with oak wood and cherries. The dried cranberry added lemon zest to the finish. The pecan made the finish long with oak wood, chocolate and cherries.
I would pair this fine Bourbon with a cigar that has rich vanilla, dried fruit and tobacco in the smoke. I would reach for a Don Pepin Garcia Original cigar.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller