Kentucke County Bourbon Aged 6 Years Review | 15 STARS

Kentucke County
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Aged 6 Years
90 Proof
By 15 STARS
SRP: $37.99
Review by Craig and Cynthia

Please enjoy our Kentucke County Bourbon Aged 6 Years Review by Craig and Cynthia!

15 STARS, originally a gourmet heirloom popcorn company, began their bourbon brand as a blender of higher aged whiskeys and bourbons at a high price point. This bottle, priced at $37.99, is their most affordable release yet. How does it stack up against its big brothers?

Background

The release celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States by using the original spelling of Kentucke County, which was once part of the Commonwealth of Virginia before Kentucky became a state. According to 15 STARS, the Kentucke County line honors the birthplace of bourbon while paying tribute to early American whiskey history.

When 15 STARS Bourbon began releasing sourced aged whiskeys, they also began producing their own distillate from their proprietary heirloom corn at Bardstown Bourbon Company to lay down for future releases. This particular expression is a blend of two Kentucky straight bourbons, each aged for at least 6 years, but not distilled from those heirloom corns.

Details – Kentucke County Bourbon Aged 6 Years Review

• Distillery/Brand: 15 STARS
• Whiskey: Kentucke County Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 6 Years
• Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Age: 6 Years
• Proof: 90 Proof
• MSRP: $37.99
• Mashbill: Undisclosed
• Blend: A blend of two Kentucky straight bourbon whiskeys, each with a minimum age of 6 years
• Release Purpose: Created to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary and the birthplace of bourbon

Tasting Notes – Kentucke County Bourbon Aged 6 Years Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested: 15 minutes in a Glencairn glass

Color: Pure golden honey

Craig:

👉🏻 Nose: Fresh oak & cedar, corn syrup, sweet coffee, baking spices, baked prunes, vanilla cream
👉🏻 Taste: Rye spice, floral, rich tea, apricot jam, caramel, richness
👉🏻 Finish: Medium long

Cynthia:

👉🏻 Nose: Belgian dark chocolate, baking spice, fig, vanilla pudding
👉🏻 Taste: Caramel, floral, rooibos tea, cinnamon, malt
👉🏻 Finish: Medium long

Detailed Tasting Notes – Kentucke County Bourbon Aged 6 Years Review

Craig: Fresh Wood, Deep Fruit & Rich Texture

Nose: Right out of the gate, there’s a big hit of fresh wood, like freshly cut oak and cedar. There’s a heavy, rich sweetness right behind it that smells like a cup of coffee with a generous spoonful of sweetened condensed milk, along with a bit of corn syrup. As it sits in the glass, the baking spices and vanilla cream start to pop. I tried to nail down the specific baking spice(s) I was getting with no luck. The deep fruit note is really interesting. This may sound strange and unappealing to some, but it reminds me of the stewed, baked prunes my parents used to eat. The notes from that are molasses, with a lot of dark fruit and sweet sugar, plus just a tiny hint of earthiness at the very end to keep it grounded.

Taste: Hits with a good punch of rye spice right away, but it’s balanced out nicely by some lighter floral notes. There’s a cool, slightly herbal vibe to it—almost like a strong robusta tea—mixed with a rich, sweet apricot jam and caramel. The best part might be the texture, though. It’s got a great richness to it and feels nice and viscous in the mouth. It really coats the tongue and has a great overall mouthfeel.

Finish: The finish is fairly long and lingers on all parts of my mouth as it settles into my chest. It’s honestly a very surprising finish for a 90 proof bourbon.

Cynthia: Belgian Chocolate, Portuguese Tea & Creamy Sweetness

Nose: Bringing the glass to my nose, the first thing that hit me was a deep wave of dark Belgian chocolate. It is a really beautiful way to start things off. As I sat with it for a moment, the rest of the profile began to show itself. You get these lovely notes of warm baking spice mixed with the sweetness of vanilla pudding, almost like a homemade dessert. There is also a subtle fruitiness that keeps the whole experience bright and hints of wood to keep it interesting. The nose makes you look forward to the first sip.

Taste: That first sip of Kentucke County Bourbon Aged 6 Years is all about the caramel and cinnamon, and it lands with a nice, medium creamy texture that coats the palate. It feels substantial without being too heavy. Once you get into the follow-up sips, the flavor profile really starts to open up and get interesting. It honestly took me right back to this Portuguese Delight tea I bought on a trip to Portugal. When I looked at the ingredients, it was like the mystery was solved because the tea had the same notes I was finding in the glass. It is a cool mix of fig and carob sweetness balanced by barley malt, a bit of cinnamon warmth, and a hint of rosehip. These flavors seem to take turns showing up as you drink, which keeps things fun.

Finish: The finish is long and satisfying, leaving you with a subtle touch of black pepper that ties everything together perfectly.

Affordable Depth & Surprising Complexity – Kentucke County Bourbon Aged 6 Years Review

Craig

I’ve liked everything I’ve tried from 15 STARS, so this bottle should not have been a surprise to me, but I must admit it was. The nose kept me engaged for much longer than I anticipated. I had to remind myself to get on with the tasting! I’ve never pulled stewed or baked prunes from a bourbon before, and I know that may turn off some people, but the individual notes I mentioned from that one profile add exceptional depth to this pour. Like I mentioned before, it’s amazing to me that I pulled so much from the nose and palate given the low 90 proof. After I finished my second pass, as I had a small amount left in my glass, I compared it to the Kentucke County 12-Year American Whiskey that we have on the shelf. This was the other bottle in the Kentucke County release. For context, it’s whiskey from a bourbon mashbill, finished for 7 years in a used barrel, then for an additional 5 years in a new charred oak barrel. I felt that the Kentucke County Bourbon Aged 6 Years had a much more interesting nose and a better palate than the 12-year. That was probably the biggest surprise. The 12-year just fell flat against its younger brother. Now, I need to go out and get this bottle for myself!

Cynthia

Overall, this was a really fun bottle to explore. It hits that sweet spot of being elegant enough to keep you guessing but easy enough to just enjoy without overthinking it. I love it when a bourbon has a distinct personality, and those tea-inspired notes really give it a character all its own. It is so good that I actually found myself doing a little happy dance while tasting it. The best part is that you do not have to break the bank to add this one to your collection. It is a solid, well-balanced pour at a very affordable price point, which makes it an easy recommendation. If you see it on the shelf, it is definitely worth picking up. This bourbon is a total keeper for my collection, and I can definitely see Kentucke County Bourbon Aged 6 Years becoming my go-to when I want something with a little extra sassy personality.

Have you tried the Kentucke County Bourbon Aged 6 Years from 15 STARS? What did you think? Cheers!🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our Kentucke County Bourbon Aged 6 Years Review by Craig and Cynthia! Next, read these related reviews: Kentucke County 12 Year Old American Whiskey Review, 15 STARS Artisan Collection 12 Year Bourbon Review, 15 STARS First West Toasted Oak Finish Bourbon Review and 15 STARS Three Kings Review.

Note: This sample was graciously provided by the Brand for my review. I appreciate it!

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