Larceny Barrel Proof Batch B524 Review

BOTTLE DETAILS

• DISTILLER: Heaven Hill Distillery
• MASH BILL: 68% Corn | 20% Wheat | 12% Malted Barley
• AGE: Not stated, reportedly 6-8 years old
• YEAR: 2024
• PROOF: 125.4
• MSRP: $60
• BUY ONLINE: Larceny Where to Buy

Drew’s NOTES

SHARE WITH: Anyone who enjoys a big, bold, fruity bourbon. Weller die-hards; they’ll thank you.

WORTH THE PRICE: Absolutely. Larceny Barrel-Proof releases have been punching above their weight in recent years. In a world of $1,000 Van Winkle 10 Year and William Larue Weller, these bottles represent a crazy bargain for fans of high-proof wheaters.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle all day long. I mean, doesn’t a burrito at Chipotle cost sixty bucks now?

OVERALL: If the word isn’t already on Larceny Barrel Proof, it will never be. Releases over the last few years have ranged from solid to stunning. Steve Coomes covered one of the best, A123, while also lamenting the surprising lack of love for this expression at the time. On the heels of a high-quality A release for 2024, Heaven Hill is upping its game further for this year’s B batch.

If any tells you bourbon is too one dimensional, all vanilla and butterscotch, hand them this bottle. It’s a veritable fruit salad of flavor and aroma, kicking off with a rich, buttery nose of caramel-covered red apple, soft baking spice, and cocktail cherry. A rush of brown sugar sweetness is studded on the palate with brighter citrus peel notes, ripe blackberry, and grape jam. The barrel-proof heat never warms to anything over simmering, accentuated by freshly grated cinnamon, nutmeg, and whole cloves. The finish is silky and sweet, lingering with black cherry cola and licorice notes.

The standard Larceny is a fine enough everyday sipper and mixer, which is why I’m always amazed by how much complexity comes out of these barrel-proof expressions. Steve said it before when he reviewed A123: If you can find it at retail, jump on it. If you need to spend a little over that, it’s worth it. Buy it now before the word really gets out.

BRAND NOTES

No two Bourbon barrels age exactly the same—which is why every release of Larceny Barrel Proof has its own distinct flavor & proof point.

To unlock the details of your bottle, check the batch number on the label.

FIRST LETTER:

Tells you which release it came from, starting with “A” for the first of the year, “B” for the second release, etc.

FIRST NUMBER:

Tells you what month it was released: January, May or September.

LAST TWO NUMBERS:

Tells you what year it was released.

TASTING NOTES:

• Color: Dark sepia
• Aroma: Toasted bread, with maple and cinnamon
• Taste: Rich molasses coats the tongue, with notes of fig and hazelnut
• Finish: Nuanced flavor fades into lingering warmth

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.