Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch B521

Back in the day, social media sites had that relationship status, "It's complicated." I've been married for eleven years now and haven't used Facebook for five, but if I were to describe my relationship with this bottle of bourbon, this is what I'd use, "It's complicated." Obviously, Larceny has gained in stature for its barrel proof whisky owing to great reviews and its selection as Whisky Advocate's Whisky of the Year in...2020? And it's been one of those that's been hard to get your hands on in my area. It goes on sale online only and there are usually only 75 bottles for the whole state, so you have to monitor the site and strike while the striking is good. So, whenever I catch wind it's available, I pick it up, especially since it's $50 around here still. Thing is, over the past year, I went through a cask strength phase, and it's possible my love affair with cask strength is waning? Part of this has to do with the fact that, although cask strength whiskies are generally more flavorful, they also hit harder and quicker, so if you want to enjoy a few drinks over the course of an evening, you'll be messed up by the end, and here's an admission that shames me, but I'll cop to it anyway: I've never really mastered the art of splashing with water. Either I add too little and the cask strength stuff tastes almost identical to what was in the bottle, or I add too much and it's like I'm drinking...well, in this case, it would be like I'm drinking Larceny Small Batch. And what's the point of getting my hands on the cask strength bottling if I'm just going to dilute it down to Small Batch territory? That said, this bottle, this offering, this whisky...it needs splashing. At 122 Proof, it's got a nice nose, mingling oak, maple syrup, cinnamon, and a trace of tart apple, but you have to take that whiff sparingly as it'll take a few nose hairs with it when you do. A splash of water (and I think I actually got it right this time around) mutes the heat and allows those aromas to come forward and be...enjoyable without the risk to your nasal cavities. On the palate, if you don't water it down, it's just fire. All the flavor gets lost. Without water, it's mainly peppery spice and oak and earth. And this is what I mean by "It's complicated." The neck pour was awful. I couldn't tease out anything but alcohol. Of course, I know from my experience with Maker's CS and Rebel Distiller's Edition, that I often don't like wheated CS bourbon until it's given a little time to air. So I drank a double (I might not have enjoyed it, but I wasn't going to waste it) and let the bottle sit in my cabinet for 3 weeks, every once in a while taking a slug straight from the horse's mouth to check if it had evolved yet. Do any of you do this? Do you ever find some whiskies are just more enjoyable when you drink them straight from the bottle? In an earlier review of Evan Williams 1783, I mentioned how no one talks about best whiskies to drink from a flask. Another of those underappreciated categories might be: what are the best whiskies to drink straight from the bottle? I mean, I don't want you thinking I'm a wino down on skid row, brown-bagging it; these were tiny sips of maybe a quarter shot, like dipping a toe in the water, and every time I went back I liked it more and more (I should also note that I don't roll with a lot of friends who like bourbon, so no one's clamoring to share this with me, meaning it's safe for me to swig from my bottle). In fact, I just stood up, walked across the room, away from my computer and the Glen Cairn glass I'm using to reflect and capture my final thoughts and took a sip directly from the bottle, and for some reason, the exact same liquid tastes better to me coming from that bottle than it does in my glass. From the bottle it's got that cherry pie note that wheated CS bourbons get that for some reason disappears in the glass. Only wait for it...it reappears if I pour a shot and let an ice cube melt in it. So, it's been a long time since I've said this, but...this is one of those whiskies that I actually like better on ice. Not "the rocks." As adding several rocks would make this into Larceny Small Batch, and as I've said, there's not point there. But maybe that one rock is exactly the right amount of water. Maybe that one rock is the splash I have trouble measuring properly out of a dropper. Who'd have ever thought to say, but it's a talent, splashing whisky is. And I have to work on it. In any case, without water, the finish is essentially one long draught of cracked black pepper. With the water, the cherry tartness lingers, or maybe it's apple tart. Either way, the water lets the finish remain sweet while having a slight edge of spice, which is really what I prefer. And of course, now that it's summer, that ice cube cools it down to a temperature that's proper for drinking out on your porch or deck on an otherwise hot summer night. So, in closing, I'm going to raise my glass of Larceny with one rock in it to the rest of you and say, "Cheers!" I think I was hoping for more from this. But it's a solid $50 Wheated Cask Strength Bourbon. I'm not sure it's worth all that much more than $50 (in fact, Maker's Mark CS is pretty much just as good, if not better with some batches), but I guess as long as there's a scarcity, people will be willing to go high for something as hyped as this is. To be honest, I won't be surprised to be priced out on this in two years time when it's SRP shoots up to $75/$100. I think it's already going for more than that when people flip it. So...what are you gonna do?

Nose: caramel and chocolate covered cherry cordial. That’s a good start. Clove, peppermint, butterscotch & toffee. A peppermint candy cane dipped in chocolate and butterscotch. Really a delicious nose. A little rye spice after the first sip.as it opens over minutes more of the traditional caramel and vanilla smells wafting out. Body: whoa, full and meaty. Holy shit, that’s the real deal. I’ll have to sip this slowly it’s brining the heater right down Main Street and the smoke trail is still hanging out in its wake. Palate: Clove, peppermint, chocolate, rye spice, more clove then under tones of toffee very unified without a strong caramel or vanilla presence. Some honey. Finish: forever long, like wisps of smoke wafting up from my throat for minutes afterwards. Lots of clove, so different and enjoyable. The lasting flavor is like a swisher sweet maybe it would pair well with one 😂. Note: well. I got a bottle. Paid twice msrp 🤦🏽‍♂️. This better be outstanding. It smelled pretty good on first sniff. This is after a big steak and potato dinner half a bottle of brut cuvée with the wife and a few ounces of EC toasted barrel and small batch 1010 store pick, which I think is better than the toasted barrel. Huh? Anyway let’s see what this son of a B is packing. It’s got a lot of accolades being in the 2020 whiskey of the year award family. I’m going to sip this on 7/3/21 while watching the movie neat. This is a really unique dram for me. I really like it for its blend of new and traditional bourbon flavors plus the super long finish. This is a damn good bourbon. I’m going to enjoy this bottle. I’ll pair it up against ECBP A121 which I have open and see what heaven hill is doing here, what are they up too? Putting swisher sweets in the larceny barrels I suspect. Anyway this is great. Top of the top shelf or bottom of the love it category. I’m not sure yet I’ll have to see how grows on me.

Nose is pungent with plenty of fusel alcohol but also cereal grain (oats?), golden delicious apple, milk chocolate, cashew, musty barn, wintergreen, sweet corn, and nutmeg. There’s some nice complexity here, but there’s so much ethanol that it’s hard to fathom. (After 20 min in the glass the ethanol did subside, allowing the more pleasant notes to shine) Palate opens spicy and nutty with walnut, vanilla, oak, and the slightest hint of stone fruit. Less peanut flavor than other releases. There’s a defined mid-palate with some nice chocolate/caramel notes; I am reminded of a Choco Taco, and that definitely doesn’t suck. Finish is a huge spice bloom of cinnamon, allspice, clove, ginger, pink peppercorn, and oak chips, Mouthfeel is medium bodied and prickly on the tongue that stops just shy being being too harsh. Drying effect after the flavors fade. There are some flaws here, but overall a pretty solid offering with a flavor profile that is on point for the brand. As these releases tend to be quite consistent to this reviewer, I’d say either you like Larceny Barrel Proof or you don’t and I do. Believe I paid around $79.99, and have no regrets.

Nose is stellar. Chocolate covered honey grahams, fresh cinnamon rolls, vanilla bean ice cream, pipe tobacco, sweet oak. I just want to keep bringing the glass to my nose and inhaling these potent vapors. I can't pick up any ethanol either, and at 60.5%, well done. Very warming but the burn isn't too bad. Viscosity is great. Lots of sweet oak, cinnamon, vanilla bean, and an additional layer of pineapple and some tropical fruit is detectable for me too, which is a nice surprise that I didn't pick up on the nose. Finish is surprisingly dry and a bit tannic. Sweet oak, pipe tobacco, and caramel stay on the palate for a bit but aren't as potent as some other barrel proofs and doesn't linger as long either. A bit of a let down All in all, very good whiskey but the palate and finish don't hold up to the high expectations the nose led me to hope for. This won't be whiskey of the year for me, but I will enjoy it thoroughly.

Dark straw/copper color. Very sticky with sparse, slow forming legs. Nose has a good bit of heat, with plenty of baking spices and cereal grain. Lots of dry oak and barn must. Super soft and warm mouthfeel, characteristic of wheaters... Good deal of heat upfront, and an interesting mint or rosemary herbal tone emerges mid palate, with some bitter citrus notes as well. Sweet all the way through, especially for such a high proof bourbon aged 6+ years. Long finish brings some milk chocolate, coconut and vanilla along early, but yields to the dry oak/cereal grain and baking spices that come through on the nose. Salted caramel comes to mind, too. Interestingly, the heat on the palate remains even after dilution. I like this so much better than the larceny small batch, it's actually hard to believe. Love the constant back and forth between the mash bill and barrel from first sniff to last finish note

Pours a deep gold into a rocks glass (sans rocks). Nose has some ethanol and is quite spicy...but also brown sugar and vanilla to keep it from being too 'rye like'. But seriously, this is spicier than I remember it being in the past (bottle is about 1/3 empty, so I've done some damage in the past couple years). Flavor is bold, and outstanding, and fairly long...and I don't get nearly the spice on the palate...but more fruit, brown sugar, vanilla, and maybe a note of cinnamon. A splash of water softens the nose a bit and admittedly opens up the flavors a bit, but doesn't seem to introduce anything new or rewarding. Don't find this particularly wheat-forward, but it is more evident on the palate. Decent legs...this is a nice sipper. Got this bottle nice and cheap back in the day...and for $55, this is an absolute steal