15 Stars
Fine Aged Bourbon
Private Stock
Aged 7 & 15 Years
107 Proof
MSRP: $139
Please enjoy my 15 Stars Aged 7 & 15 Years Private Stock Bourbon review! This sample was graciously provided by 15 Stars but that in no way influences my review.
Aged 7 & 15 Years Private Stock – The Second Bourbon Release From 15 Stars
Aged 7 & 15 Years Private Stock Bourbon is the second release from 15 Stars. The first release was their 14 year old Timeless Reserve, which I have reviewed previously. In fact, here is the link to my 15 Stars 14 Year Fine Aged Bourbon review. 15 Stars 7 & 15 Year Private Stock Bourbon is, as the name states, a blend of 7 & 15 year old Kentucky Straight bourbons. The bourbons are sourced from an undisclosed distiller, while 15 Stars’ own whiskeys mature.
Why “15 Stars”?
To recap from my prior review, the name 15 Stars is an homage to Kentucky becoming the 15th state added to the United States flag, which had its debut in 1795. Since Kentucky became a state in 1792, apparently 3 years went by before it had its star and stripe added to the flag. Interestingly, back in those days a stripe and a star were added for every new state. Since the number of stripes was getting a little out of hand, this was the last flag to have more than 13 stripes, and the only one to have 15 stripes. It is also the flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner. So it seems only appropriate that its memory lives on in America’s spirit – bourbon!
Tasting Notes – 15 Stars Aged 7 & 15 Years Private Stock Bourbon
Let’s taste it:
🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn
👉🏻Nose: Cherry candy, brown sugar, caramel, butterscotch, vanilla, oak, some rye spices; fairly sweet with apple, and ginger ale; subtle sweet floral notes and light leather in the back; moderate alcohol
👉🏻Taste: Sweet, brown sugar and honey sweetness, but also with oak and barrel char and light rye spices; there’s also caramel and cherry candy which continue and linger; leather is there, too
👉🏻Finish: Cherry and sweetness hang on, morphing into black cherry soda; black pepper and capsaicin spiciness become dominant into the long finish; moderate burn
Summary
I keep wanting to say that this bourbon is a nice mix of young and old bourbons. However, 7 year old bourbon is not particularly young; it is quite mature in fact, and in what some would consider the “sweet spot” of age. So really, this is a mix of mature, and very mature, bourbon. And…I must say that works! I could see the 15 year old part being a bit oaky for many on its own, but it adds the perfect character to the 7 year old to create a very enjoyable blend.
Conclusion – 15 Stars Aged 7 & 15 Years Private Stock Bourbon
This is another excellent bourbon from the folks at 15 Stars. In fact, it has already racked up quite a few awards, including Double Platinum from Fred Minnick’s ASCOT awards. Have you tried any of 15 Stars’ Bourbons? What did you think? Cheers!
I hope you have enjoyed my 15 Stars Aged 7 & 15 Years Private Stock Bourbon review! If so, and you would like to learn about 15 Stars’ other bourbon, check out our 15 Stars 14 Year Fine Aged Bourbon review.
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!