First West Bourbon
Overall Score: 7.25/10
Overall Value: 3/5
Distillery: 15 Stars and sourced
Classification: Straight Bourbon Finished in Toasted Oak
Company: 15 Stars
Release Date: July 2025
Proof: 95
Age: Blend of 5, 6, and 7 year old bourbons
Mashbill: Undisclosed
Color: Copper
MSRP: $70 (2025)
The Barrel Bros’ Review
The nose on this First West Bourbon opens with a bright mix of orange, apple, and a touch of banana, all layered over a sweet saltwater taffy note. Underneath the fruitiness sits honeycomb, hazelnut, and a bit of cedar. There’s also a peanut nuttiness with a slight sour mash funk—interesting, complex, and busy, though not every part will land for every palate.
The palate starts off nicely with a buttery, silky mouthfeel. The fruity sweetness carries over, paired with toasted oak and a pleasant char. As the sip develops, darker flavors show up—chocolate, caramel, and a hint of simple sugar with oak, almost like an unsweetened graham cracker. Raisin and light red fruit peek in, but the richer notes fade quicker than expected. There’s depth here, but it doesn’t always stick the landing.
The finish is short but mellow, keeping its sweetness without adding new layers. A touch of fruit lingers, but it’s subtle.
Overall, this bourbon offers a unique profile and more nuance than many bottles in its range. The antique-style blue decanter is a standout on any shelf, and the whiskey itself has personality—even if the flavors won’t be universally loved. It doesn’t drink like an entry-level pour, and it brings enough character to make it worth trying, especially if you find it on Sale.
For the MSRP, it’s a bottle that leans more toward curiosity and craftsmanship than crowd-pleaser, but fans of toasted oak and complex profiles may find it worth a solid 15 stars.
If you’re looking for specific notes from our Barrel Bros, read their individual reviews below!
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Individual Reviews
The Rye Guy Says
Score: 7/10
Value: 2.5/5
THE NOSE:
I get mostly a peanut nuttiness, but also a bit of a sour funk. Like what I would assume is a bit of a sour mash.
There is also a cedar woodiness and a bit of orange fruitiness.
There is a lot going on here, but I don't particularly love it.
THE TASTE:
The mouthfeel is buttery and silky, very pleasant. I get a sweetness on the palate but struggled to pull flavor notes.
The best I could get was the sweet profile of simple sugar paired with a good serving of oak. Kinda like an unsweet graham cracker.
The smallest bit of fruitiness is present like raisin.
THE FINISH:
The finish starts to mellow out the pour.
It still retains the overall sweetness, but I’m not drawing any additional flavors.
Funnily enough this is probably my favorite part of the sip. I wasn’t a huge fan of the flavors.
BUY OR PASS?
It’s definitely a fun experience and there are quite a few nuances to this bottle. It has depth, it has multiple profiles available to the drinker, and it provides something unique.
However, I didn’t love most of what it had to offer. That said, it’s still a refined whiskey and doesn’t drink entry level.
The Hunter Says
Score: 7.5/10
Value: 5/5
THE NOSE:
The nose on this one is really nice—bright and fruity right away. I get orange, apple, and even a little banana, all wrapped up in that sweet saltwater taffy vibe.
There’s also some honeycomb and hazelnut hiding underneath, which gives it a little more depth.
THE TASTE:
The palate keeps that fruity sweetness going, but adds in some toasted char in a really pleasant way.
Then, just when it’s hitting its stride, I start getting the darker notes—chocolate and caramel—but they fade way too fast.
I wish they stuck around longer.
THE FINISH:
The finish is where things fall off.
It’s pretty short, with maybe a tiny bit of red fruit, but not much else to grab onto.
BUY OR PASS?
Overall, this is a fun and interesting bottle. The antique-style blue glass decanter looks awesome on a shelf, and the pour itself is enjoyable.
It’s not a showstopper, but it’s different from your average bourbon in a good way. The toasted character adds something unique, even if it doesn’t fully come through. Definitely worth a try if you happen to spot it.
