15 Stars Returns with First West Explorer & Kentucke County

Some of my favorite blends from anyone releasing whiskey these days come from the folks at 15 STARS. Over the past several years, 15 STARS has consistently found its way into my Top 10 lists, from their Fine Aged Rye to their Vino de Naranja and Sherry Finished Bourbons to their First West Small Batch and Extra Aged offerings we released back in March. Today we are excited release their new First West Explorer, as well as two expressions of Kentucke County.

A landmark release in the First West Collection, 15 STARS First West Explorer is the brand's first bourbon crafted entirely from 100% in-house distilled whiskey. Showcasing 15 STARS' proprietary baby black corn mashbill, this innovative expression delivers a uniquely rich and complex character that sets it apart from traditional bourbons. We've been waiting for this black corn to come of age since we first introduced the brand back in 2023, and its exciting to finally see it in a bottle. 

This distinctive four-grain (technically five) bourbon combines baby black corn, yellow corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley to create exceptional depth and balance. A blend of Kentucky Straight Bourbons aged five and six years, it is carefully matured and refined using the brand's signature Flavor Proofed™ process, resulting in a bourbon that is remarkably smooth, balanced, and layered with complexity.

The nose is sweetly aromatic, with slightly floral cherry and raspberry fruit leather meeting homemade banana pudding topped with whipped cream and vanilla wafer cookies, before soft sweet oak rounds it out.

The palate is comfortably syrupy, giving raspberry fruit leather and dried cranberry before richer notes of cane sugar, white pepper, tobacco, and mature, slightly perfumed oak.

The finish continues with a spiced yet developed profile, adding expressed orange peel and cinnamon brioche for a sweet and spiced interplay that carries into a long, creamy finish.

Before Kentucky there was Kentucke County. Bourbon, America, and Kentucke all began together. Kentucke County was established in 1776 as a County of Virginia in the same year that the American Colonies declared their independence. In part of this area, also know as the Kentucke District, Bourbon County was created, from which Bourbon whiskey was named. It was sixteen years later before Kentucky became a state. We hope you enjoy this craft whiskey that was inspired by the original Kentucke County and the whiskey that started there. 

Created to honor America's 250th anniversary and the original frontier spelling of the region, we have both a 6-year expression that serves as the brand's most approachable release to date, as well as a 12-year straight bourbon blended with whiskey distilled as a bourbon, put in used oak for 7 years, then new charred oak for 5 years, and bottled at 90 proof. 

Kentucke County 6-year Straight Bourbon

Rich and fruity for 90 proof, this one leads with a fruit cocktail medley, gobs of caramel, and freshly lit campfire wood.

The palate is plush and continues the fruitiness from the nose, while adding layers of creamy vanilla custard and gently seasoned oak. Stone fruit and dark fruit continue to build, along with sweet oak and a touch of barrel spice.

It leans slightly toward spiced maple syrup as it moves into the finish, continuing with pecan praline notes on a long, silky trail.

Kentucke County 12-year American Whiskey

The nose is bold and complex for the proof, leading with sweet oak, dark fruits, raspberry chocolate truffle, and hot toddy.

The palate is rich and coating, giving deep, sweet oak notes combined with baked cherry cobbler and caramel. There are light spices, but the focus is on drier apple cider notes and a buttery, caramelized mid-palate.

Cooked fruit notes certainly continue into the finish, but the fragrant sweet oak and caramel notes are what last even longer. A well-composed, easy-sipping whiskey for those who like the sweeter side of easygoing, mature bourbon notes.

All three of these are great entry points to the 15 STARS brand if you haven't taken the step already. We also have restocks of the First West Toasted Bourbon, Small Batch Bourbon, Extra Aged Bourbon, First West Rye, 15 STARS Platinum, Fine Aged Bourbon, & Private Stock.