15 Stars Fine Aged Bourbon First West is a limited-release, 106 proof bourbon whiskey that combines straight bourbon whiskeys aged 7, 9, and 15 years. It has notes of vanilla cream, toasted pecan, rich maple, and aged oak. The First West Series of whiskeys from 15 Stars celebrates distilling in America's "First West" by blending whiskeys from Kentucky with those from the old NW and SW. In 1795, Kentucky was considered America's "First West" because it was the 15th state.