BARDSTOWN, Ky. (July 24, 2024) – Award-winning 15 STARS announces today its newest limited release – Three Kings Fine-Aged Whiskey. This whiskey is a unique blend of premium wheat, rye, and bourbon whiskeys aged 11 and 15 years. 15 STARS is also releasing an updated version of their debut Timeless Reserve expression, now the 13 Year Old Timeless Reserve Fine-Aged Bourbon, a blend of 13 and 15-year-old bourbons. Beginning today, both releases are available for purchase in select retailers across the country as well as online via 15STARS.com.
“We believe with the release of Three Kings that this is the first time someone has ever crafted a blend like this—balancing these three whiskeys, wheat, rye, and bourbon together,” shared Ricky Johnson, co-founder of 15 STARS. “The Three Kings expression truly exemplifies what we strive to accomplish as a brand—always innovating and thinking out of the box to create the very best tasting whiskey we can for enthusiasts across the country.”
Bottled at 107 Proof, aged 11 and 15 years, Three Kings unites the three styles of whiskeys to create an expression that is beautifully balanced and brings forth the best qualities in each component. With notes of baking spice and ripe fruit from the bourbon and wheat, the rye portion is revealed with a hint of ground pepper. On the palate, the expression opens with a dessert sweetness of persimmon pudding and candied fruit, yet remains balanced with an added depth of vanilla and nutmeg gradually emerging to toasted oak, and finishing with dark fruit and honey, giving way to deeper notes of cocoa bean and seasoned oak that remain long after the sip. Winners of the John Barleycorn Awards Blender of the Year in 2023, Ricky and his father, co-founder Rick Johnson, demonstrate their expertise as master blenders with Three Kings.
Three Kings Fine-Aged Whiskey – Aged 15 and 11 Years ($179 MSRP / 107 Proof)
- Nose: An indulgent mix of baking spice and ripe fruit, including peach pie, allspice, fig, cherry, plum, and apricot. The rye whiskey portion of the blend reveals itself with a hint of ground pepper.
- Palate: The palate opens with the rich sweetness of persimmon pudding and candied fruit, balanced by the delicate essence of pear and honey. Vanilla and nutmeg add to the depth, while toasted oak emerges gradually.
- Finish: An initial surge of dark fruit and honey gives way to deeper notes of cocoa bean and seasoned oak that remain long after the sip.
In addition to the Three Kings release, the 13 Year Old Timeless Reserve Fine Aged Bourbon, bottled at 103 Proof, is also available today for purchase. Longtime fans of 15 STARS may recognize the Timeless Reserve series from when the brand first launched in 2022. Now updated with an age statement of 13 years, from the blend of 13 and 15-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys, the Timeless Reserve evokes memories of fresh dessert with a nose of caramel, vanilla bean, and cherry but with an added herbal depth of roasted peanuts, dried tobacco leaves, sassafras, and old wood. The palate is that of creamy sweetness with vanilla extra and molasses, complemented by fruity notes of orange, apple, and dried banana and held up with a strong, earthy backbone of oak and leather. The mature and sophisticated pour finishes with notes of caramel, leather, dark chocolate, and seasoned oak. The previous iteration of the Timeless Reserve was met with much acclaim as a Best in Class finalist at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2022 and featured in Fred Minnick’s Top 100 Whiskeys of 2022 list. The refreshed celebration of the inaugural debut release is sure to see similar fanfare.
“Timeless Reserve was our debut expression when 15 STARS was first available on shelves,” adds Johnson. “It has remained a favorite of ours over the last couple of years and we are so excited for this opportunity to revisit the expression with this updated age statement.”
13 Year Old Timeless Reserve Fine-Aged Bourbon – Aged 15 and 13 Years ($279 MSRP / 103 Proof)
- Nose: Caramel and vanilla bean alongside cherry and prune evoke memories of freshly made desserts. An herbal depth is revealed by the presence of roasted peanuts, dried tobacco leaves, sassafras, and old wood.
- Palate: Vanilla extract and molasses offer a creamy sweetness which is complemented by fruity notes of orange, apple, and dried banana. Strong flavors of oak and leather impart an earthy backbone.
- Finish: Notes of caramel, leather, dark chocolate, and seasoned oak form an enduring finish that completes a mature and sophisticated pour.
About 15 STARS
15 STARS Fine Aged Bourbon crafts award-winning whiskey with a singular focus on creating luxury blends from their highly aged whiskey stocks. Founded by father and son artisan blenders, Rick and Ricky Johnson, the brand has received over 100 of the world’s most coveted whiskey awards since its debut in 2022, including several “best in class” awards. 15 STARS distills over a dozen different whiskey mash bills in Bardstown, KY, some of which include unique specialty heirloom corn (black, red, white, and blue) that the family grows for its gourmet specialty popcorn business, Black Jewell Popcorn. The 15 STARS portfolio of limited-release fine-aged bourbon is available at select retail locations east of the Rocky Mountains, as well as online at 15STARS.com. The name 15 STARS pays homage to Kentucky as the 15th state with Kentucky’s recognition on the second US flag with 15 stars and 15 stripes which was authorized by President George Washington in 1795. For more information visit 15STARS.com or follow on social at @15STARSbourbon.
