Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch C923

LARCENY BARREL PROOF SHOWDOWN: 2023 Larceny Barrel Proof A123 Larceny Barrel Proof B523 Larceny Barrel Proof C923 Continuing to work through whiskies in my collection that I’ve yet to review. Getting closer! Larceny Barrel Proof is a wheated bourbon distilled by Heaven Hill and was first launched in January 2020. It is the Barrel Proof version of HH’s already-extant Larceny, which was launched in 2012 and is bottled at 92 proof. LBP is released three times per year and uses the same naming convention as HH’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (i.e., A123, etc.; A, B, C for each release; 1, 5, 9 for Jan., May, Sep.; 23 for 2023). According to the company’s website, the mashbill is consistent at 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley. LBP is essentially a wheated complement to ECBP, which uses a more traditional bourbon mashbill that employs rye in place of the wheat. Larceny Barrel Proof A123 Color is a clear and dark mahogany, near to either Pantone 153 and 160 (Pantone has an odd system of increments; there are numerous far lighter shades between 153 and 160). Intense and fruity nose shows brown sugar, stewed cinnamon apples, buttered scones with raspberry jam, café Cubano, and noticeable alcohol. Very rich and sweet on the palate, with a lightly creamy viscosity that envelops your tongue with its warm brown-sugar sweetness. After tasting the C923, I get a distinct peanut brittle as well. The café Cubano reappears on the finish with a touch of its espresso bitterness, as well as some char and vanilla. There is some lingering heat, but this is barrel-proof bourbon—not a cocktail with a little pink umbrella in it. The A123 is very good; but I’m taking my foot off the pedal a bit from my review of it on 10/5/23 (comparing it to ECBP A123). Tasting it now against the LBP B523 and C923, my position is somewhat lower than it was, but still above the community’s 4.05 rating. It has a complex nose, but the heat is just a little out of balance. Still, it’s a great value: each release of Larceny Barrel Proof can typically be found for about $70. Would I buy it again? Yes. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. 125.8 proof. NAS on bottle, but 6-8 years according to the Heaven Hill website. Larceny Barrel Proof B523 Clear mahogany color is indistinguishable from the A123, aligning with 153 or 160 on the Pantone chart. The initial impression is cocoa powder, oiled leather, pancakes and maple syrup, sweet pipe tobacco, Luxardo cherries, and a sweetness that reminds me of the pudin de pan that I had recently at a Colombian restaurant, which had raisins and flan-like caramelized sugar. There’s also a little barbecue-sauce tang. Like the A123, there is a mouthcoating creaminess with corn-pudding sweetness and cinnamon, and just the right combination of woody oak and vanilla on the finish, with a little residual heat. The B523’s nose is more reticent than the January release; it’s not as flamboyant and has a sense of sophistication and smoothness that is suggestive of a little more aging. The proof is virtually identical to the A123, but the heat is better integrated. At a price of around $70, it’s a great value. Would I buy it again? Yes. 4.5 on the Distiller scale. 124.4 proof. NAS on bottle, but 6-8 years according to the Heaven Hill website. Larceny Barrel Proof C923 Same clear mahogany Pantone 153/160 color as the A123 and B523. This nose is different: there’s almost an umami richness with buttered English muffins with strawberry jam, warm banana bread, pomander, chocolate fudge, toffee, vanilla, and even a touch of saline. The same light glycerin mouthfeel as the A123 and B523 appears on the palate, with bananas flambé and its accompanying caramelized -sugar bitterness. There are some drying leathery notes on the finish, and the vanilla lingers. The C923 is exceptional. I could nose it all night. And it’s the smoothest drinking of the bunch. Strangely, the community rating of 3.88 is the lowest of the 2023 releases (yet only 6 ratings prior to this one). As with each of these LBP releases, the $70 retail price is fantastic value in today’s market. Would I buy the C923 again? Yes. I’ll be looking for more. 4.75 on the Distiller scale. 126.4 proof. NAS on bottle, but 6-8 years according to the Heaven Hill website. Full disclosure: I have a sweet tooth, and “sweet” is the word that captures the essence of these 2023 releases. They have more similarities than differences, and have a comforting blanket-like warmth along with that amazing (but not cloying) sweetness and intensity. Each is very similar in terms of proof, ranging from 124.4 to 126.4. The A123 displays youthful intensity; the B523 comes across as having more age; and the C923 combines the best of both, marrying the robust and the sophisticated, and further differentiates itself with its savory aspects. The scuttlebutt seems to be that the Larceny Barrel Proof series is getting better. I’m not nearly as familiar with them as I am with their Elijah Craig Barrel Proof siblings, but surely the “getting better” can’t keep going much longer, because each of these is already very good. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

Nose is perkier and fruitier than most expressions from this series while still retaining core elements; Macintosh apples, caramel, spun sugar, stewed pear, vanilla, barrel char, and sweet, mature oak. Ethanol here is real, but other than that it’s a great nose. Palate brings zero fruit from those nose and throws us deep into toffee, caramel, praline, peanut brittle, burnt ends, and iced cinnamon roll. While there is nothing wrong with this palate, it was a bit of bummer since the aroma promised a truly unique experience that never came. Lacks some richness and depth. Finish brings a quick hint of apple but then it immediately sandblasted away by a blast of baking spices in the form of cinnamon, allspice, clove, and ginger along with tons of chili pepper, oak, and leather. Man this sucker finishes hot; I think my tongue is melting. There’s a hint of honey as the spicier notes fade which I found enjoyable. Mouthfeel is full and chewy, but slightly grainy with the spiciness here making things seem harsher than they should and it’s nowhere near creamy enough to balance. I do enjoy this series, but this one might be a little sub par in my opinion as I found the flavor profile to be a little too simplistic and the finish way too hot to be considered top tier. At 99.99, the combination of slight overpay coupled with a disappointing overall experience makes this probably the first Larceny BP to fall short of rebuy status.

You know, I've never actually tried a Larceny Barrel Proof release before and have always heard good things. I had the chance to snag up a bottle at MSRP while I was buying a bottle of Stagg 23b and decided to jump on it. Wow... it this stuff really 126 proof? The nose certainly doesn't smell like it. Throughout the nose is a underlying spicy hit of cinnamon. Tickles the nose ever so slightly. But on top of that cinnamon is brown sugar, lemon peels some leather and slightly charred, damp wood ( think: campfire the morning after ). The taste opens with salted caramel. There's a really interesting thick mouthfeel with some saltiness mixed in with the sweet. The spicy cinnamon carries a theme throughout but there's definitely some yummy honey roasted nuts and brown sugar in there too. The more you drink, the more that spice opens up and devours your palate so enjoy that first sip ever so carefully. At the start of the finish an odd fruity tartness lies in waiting. Tastes like under ripened cherries, but its hardly noticeable past the spicy cinnamon, dry leather and oak tannins. The proof makes itself known on the finish, as the tummy warming drink fills you with fiery proof heat. Yeah this one is a solid sipper full stop, not just for its proof. If you can find a bottle at MSRP, I'd swoop it up because it is quite the bargain.

Neck pour - 1.5oz Setting- Rested 10 minutes in my glen. Drank - Neat Nose - almost burnt brown sugar, soft serve vanilla ice cream, cinnamon sugar, baking spice, light oak, and a drizzle of caramel. Palate - very sweet up front with heavy vanilla, caramel/honey sweetness, toasted peanuts, a hint of cherry/red fruit, light oak, barrel char, baking and pepper spices. Finish -long finish with a nice warming kentucky hug. Finish is dominated by spices, followed with oak, barrel char, and more of the vanilla oce cream Mouthfeel - high viscosity, coating, slight effervescence after the sip. Lovely. Summary: first sip impressions - as it was my first and only pour today - it was very very sweet up front followed by tons of spice! In a good way! After acclimating to the proof it was much more tame. To me after acclimating, it did not drink its proof, drank alot more like 115 to me (comparing to my OF 1920). Cery good enjoyable end of day pour to close out a work day! Comparison to my A123 batch - MUCH BETTER - clear winner between these two. Much more balanced, sweet, and oily - overall just better.

First thought on the nose - "Lively". At the core is sweet, caramel-y bourbon, replete with brown sugar, a splash of vanilla, and some dark fruits. However, there are also some tropical fruit notes on the edges, along with some spice that is more than a subtle afterthought. I really dig this nose, which evolves little with water, and I could easily argue it is better without. Flavor is quite delicious with some nutty flavors emerging early before the fruit notes take over late...but again, this is just good, quintessential bourbon at the core, with the sweet caramel beating out the spice at the finish line. Moderate to long finish. Excellent bourbon, and remains a top value in today's whiskey world...if you come across it (even though I did pay $70)

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Medium-dark amber. Nose: Caramel and toffee with some raisins and cherries. Palate: Cinnamon red hots with a dry oak back end. Finish: Long but not as hot as expected. Splash: Sweet clove and baking spice notes appear. Overall: 8.5/10 - This would stand up to ice or mixer, but is delicious neat. I'm not sure what MSRP is but I was able to find it for a good price and would definitely buy again for >$50.