15 STARS First West Toasted Oak Finish Bourbon Review

15 STARS – First West Series
Toasted Oak Finish
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Aged: 5, 6 & 7 Years
Proof: 98 (Flavor Proofed)
SRP: $69.99 / 750ml
Review

Please enjoy our 15 STARS First West Toasted Oak Finish Bourbon Review!

The 15 STARS First West Series

First West is a new line from 15 STARS. It’s everything that has made 15 STARS bourbons great, but at a more approachable price point. The lineup launches with three expressions—Small Batch, Toasted Oak, and Extra Aged 8-Year-Old Bourbon—and marks the first time the brand has included its own distillate made from proprietary red, white, and blue heritage corn in a blend.

The Details – First West Toasted Oak Finish Bourbon

• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in toasted oak barrels
• Toasting: Blend of two different toasted oak profiles
• Age Components: Bourbons aged 5, 6, and 7 years
• Mash Bill: Includes bourbon distilled by 15 STARS (at Bardstown Bourbon Company) from proprietary red, white, and blue heritage corns (first use in a 15 STARS blend!); the other component bourbon(s) are not disclosed
• Proof: 98 (described by the brand as “flavor proofed”)
• SRP: $69.99 / 750ml
• Bottle: Historic blue glass inspired by early Kentucky whiskey bottles; recycled glass with natural bubble inclusions
• Series: First West line includes Small Batch, Toasted Oak, and Extra Aged 8-Year-Old Bourbon (so far)

Tasting Notes – 15 STARS First West Toasted Oak Finish Bourbon Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻 Nose: Moderately sweet; brown sugar, grape candy as well as dark red wine, medium dark slightly burnt caramel, mild rye spices; mild dry oak; mild graininess; alcohol vapor appropriate for the proof; milk chocolate notes after a few sips

👉🏻 Taste: Moderately sweet from simple syrup & light caramel; mild dry and spicy oak; raspberry jam; grape candy; darker cherries; light grains later on; toasted oak

👉🏻 Finish: Moderate white pepper spice, dark cherries, increasingly dry; dry wood; lingering tangy dark berries; deep warmth

The nose of First West Toasted Oak is full and rich—moderately sweet with grape candy and dark red wine alternating with medium-dark, slightly burnt caramel and subtle rye spices with mild dry oak. There’s a mild graininess in the background that becomes more evident with time, with at least some of those grains being corn. Subtle milk chocolate notes appear after a few sips. The alcohol vapor is appropriate for the proof.

The taste is moderately sweet from simple syrup, light caramel, raspberry jam, and grape candy; darker cherries appear later on. There are also mild dry and spicy oak notes, with toasted oak appearing later on. A light graininess continues, as well.

The finish brings moderate white pepper spice, lingering dark cherries, and increasing dryness, with mild dry wood. There’s also a persistent tangy dark-berry character and a long-lasting, deep warmth.

That’s Quite A Bourbon!

Holy cannoli! 15 STARS First West Toasted Oak is one complex bourbon! I have listed quite a few flavors, but when you give it a try, you’ll understand. Between the heirloom corns and the toasted barrel finish, it isn’t surprising there’s so much going on here. I’m assuming it is the corn, but if I didn’t know better, I would have sworn that at least some of the bourbon in this blend came from a pot still. Perhaps it did?

Conclusion – 15 STARS First West Toasted Oak Finish Bourbon Review

First West Toasted Oak shows a lot of what 15 STARS does well: layered complexity with sweetness, fruit, and spice, tied together by a thoughtful toasted-oak finish. The inclusion of their own heritage-corn distillate adds an intriguing grain character, and the 98-proof “flavor proofing” keeps the complexity intact while remaining approachable. If you enjoy a complex bourbon that evolves in the glass, this bourbon is absolutely worth a look—especially at the $69.99 price point. Have you tried 15 STARS First West Toasted Oak Finish? What did you think? Cheers! 🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our 15 STARS First West Toasted Oak Finish Bourbon Review! If you would like to learn about some other whiskeys from this brand, check out our 15 STARS Founder’s Reserve Rye Review, our 15 STARS Three Ports Bourbon Review, our 15 STARS Three Kings Review, our 15 STARS Artisan Collection 12 Year Bourbon Review and our Kentucke County Bourbon Aged 6 Years Review.

This bottle was graciously provided by the brand for our review. We appreciate it!

Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!