American
blenders are non-distilling producers (NDPs) who select whiskeys based
on their potential to become something completely different than what the
distillers thought up. Some folks suggest that blended whiskey is made from
lesser-quality barrels in hopes of saving it. They’ll say the same of barrel finishing,
which is the art of taking a barrel of matured whiskey and then allowing it to
rest in a secondary barrel that may have held something prior. While this can
be true, more often than not, it isn’t.
I
state that with authority because legacy distillers blend barrels all the time.
Some will call it a small batch. Some won’t. In reality, any whiskey not
derived from a single cask is a blend.
Today,
I will explore 15 STARS Triple
Cask Bourbon. 15 STARS was pioneered by the
father-and-son entrepreneurial team of Rick and Ricky Johnson in 2022. Its name is
derived from Kentucky being the 15th state on the newly adopted official United States flag, which bore 15 stars and 15 stripes.
Rick
has a long resume working across various fields of industry, and Ricky is a
recent college graduate learning from his father. Its operations, including
distillation and bottling, are located at Bardstown Bourbon Company.
“At 15 STARS, we take pride in producing outstanding aged whiskey. We meticulously craft all our products using only the finest quality materials. This includes selectively sourcing fine aged whiskeys, marrying different mash bills and aged stocks to add complexity, distilling rare and unique proprietary grains, barrel entry proofs as low as 103, and “flavor proofing” at bottling for a superior neat drinking experience. Sparing no expense or effort in our pursuit for great whiskey, we only bottle whiskeys that meet our highest standards.” – 15 STARS
15
STARS Triple Cask is made from two Kentucky Straight Bourbons aged 8 and 16
years, respectively, and finished in former Cognac, Port, and Rum casks before
blending. The mashbills are undisclosed, as is the actual distiller – Bardstown
Bourbon was founded in 2014, so while it may be responsible for the 8-year
portion, it can’t possibly be for the 16-year.
Triple
Cask is non-chill filtered. It is a limited-release packaged at 52.5% ABV
(105°) and has a suggested price of $179.00 for a 750ml bottle. Speaking of
packaging (which I rarely talk about), the cork 15 STARS used weighs a ton and looks
like an old coin. It is stamped “1795,” representing the year Kentucky was
admitted to the Union.
Before
I go further, I must thank 15 STARS for providing me with a sample in exchange
for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s #DrinkCurious and taste if the
excitement is justified.
Appearance: I
sipped this Bourbon neat from my Glencairn glass. The color was a deep, dark
brown. The liquid formed a thin-to-medium rim and released thick, wavy tears.
Nose: The
smells of brown sugar, plums, and cherries exploded from the glass. As I delved
deeper, the aroma included roasted almonds, nutmeg, and fresh leather. I drew
the air into my mouth and found tobacco and old leather.
Palate: Triple Cask’s
mouthfeel offered a thick, creamy texture. It was so weighty it became distracting
– in a good way. I tasted dark chocolate-covered cherries and ripe plums on the
front. The middle exposed nutmeg, rich caramel, and dry leather. On the back,
flavors of French oak, tobacco leaf, and white grapes.
Finish: This
Bourbon had a finish that wouldn’t quit. Even several minutes after swallowing,
it glued itself to my tongue and throat. The caramel, plums, dry leather,
French oak, and chocolate refused to give up the ghost.
Bottle, Bar, or Bust: The Rum
cask was evident on the nose but lost on the palate. It returned on the finish.
The Port and Cognac influences were easily identified throughout the sipping
experience. While some warmth was on the palate and finish, this Bourbon went
down almost too easily. The flavors were bold and, overall, well-balanced.
If we pretend that lesser-quality
whiskeys were used in the blending and finishing processes, let’s just say that
I don’t care. I am not suggesting that’s the case. And I mean, “I don’t care”
because what I smelled and tasted was absolutely enchanting. Is 15 STARS Triple
Cask expensive? Yes. But it also tastes like it. It earns every bit of
my Bottle rating. Grab this one if you see it. Cheers!
My Simple, Easy-to-Understand
Rating System
- Bottle = Buy It
- Bar = Try It
- Bust = Leave It
Whiskeyfellow encourages
you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.
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