Category: Wheated Whiskey

Larceny Barrel Proof A120 Review

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Larceny Barrel Proof A120 Review:


30-November-2020

LARCENY BARREL PROOF BATCH A120 REVIEW:

Grassy aromas, dark fruit, spice and brown sugar treat the nose. Larceny Barrel Proof A120 is creamy but gives the tongue a nice tickle when held. Its deep woodiness blends with dark fruits. There is enough sweetness to entertain the palate and each sip finishes long with lingering warmth.

Heaven Hill is upping its game by adding another barrel proof line. High proof wheated Larceny expressions will be highlighted under their own spotlight. Labeling is similar to Elijah Craig Barrel Proof expressions, with “A”, “B”, and “C” designating the order, the numbers “1”, “5”, and “9” designating the month and the last two digits, in the label indicating the release year. As such, A120 was first of 2020 and released in January.

LARCENY BARREL PROOF BATCH A120 VITAL STATS:

Category: Wheated Bourbon (tri-annual release)
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distillery: Heaven Hill
Mashbill: 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, 12% Barley
Barrel Char: #3
Age: nas (Heaven Hill has stated Larceny Barrel Proof batches will contain six to eight year old bourbon)
Barrel Proof: 125
Bottle label: Batch A120
ABV: 61.6% (123.2 Proof)
Price: $49.95 USD (in Idaho 2020)

Learn more at https://heavenhill.com/.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, I enjoyed A120 neat from Glencairns with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

NOSE:

Upon first nosing, Larceny Barrel Proof A120 offers a trace of dry warm alcohol. Second and subsequent nosings bring on grassy hay-like qualities mixed with roasted sweet corn, dusty grain and a nice wheatiness. Dark sweet cherries aromas, stone fruits, ripe plums and a hint of fresh picked green apples dance with allspice, nutmeg and white pepper. Sweets of brown sugared pastry, yellow cake, bittersweet chocolate chips, and vanilla custard mix with traditional bourbon notes of burnt brown sugar caramel and dark chocolate covered toffee. There are a few pinenuts hiding in the light oak and smoky sweet toasted wood which pair nicely with the deep and earthy old leather.

PALATE:

The first sip of Larceny Barrel Proof A120 gives the mouth a warm bite and it is quite herbal, offering both sweet corn and dense green vegetables to entertain the taste buds. More sipping brings on berry notes (nearly ripe blackberries???) which are almost masked by dark stone fruit, fresh-picked plums and other dried dark fruits. Interestingly, A120 is almost savory as spices of cinnamon, black pepper and a slight brininess mix with bittersweet chocolate chips, vanilla custard, brown sugar, burnt caramel and chocolate covered dark toffee with cashews. This is a deep, earthy bourbon with plenty of dry seasoned oak and the spicy haze of barrel char. While I don’t often pair my bourbon with food, I think this bourbon would elevate a prime rib, baked potato and steamed brussel sprout feast.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Solid and well blended A120 is creamy, yet gives the tongue a tickle when held in the mouth. In the Glencairn, long clinging legs break the liquid curtain to return the liquid into the flame colored pool, leaving many small droplets for an ill-defined crown.

FINISH:

Larceny Barrel Proof A120 finishes long, with lingering warmth. Memories of herbal wheat and plum fruit leather mix with pepper, cocoa and woody brown sugar as the oakiness and subdued spicy barrel char fade into earthy old leather. The sweet aromas sensed on the palate waft from the empty Glencairn, but the finish is far more earthy and has more charred oak.

MY RATING: 89/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
Larceny Barrel Proof releases will be limited to three offerings a year. I look forward to learning how each will compare and improve as the line matures.
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

Click 89/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Larceny.

WHISKEY TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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Maker’s Mark Private Select ID Director’s Cut Batch #6 Review

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Maker’s Mark Private Select ID Director’s Cut Batch #6 Review

Original review written October 17, 2020

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Maker’s Mark Private Select ID Director’s Cut Batch #6 Review: If you are looking for the fruit and spice face-off of bourbon, any Maker’s with stave selections like Batch #6 will deliver. Each sip is full of fun and entertainment. 95/100

VITALS:
Maker's Mark Private Select ID Director's Cut Batch 6 Review

– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Maker’s Mark Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Private Select
– Age: nas (other Director’s Cuts have been approximately 8 yrs in age)
– Mash Bill: Corn=70%; Soft red winter wheat=16%; Malted barley=14%
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: 110
– ABV: 53.5% (107 proof)
– MMPS ID-DCB6 finishing staves:
4 Baked American Pure (P2) – adds sweet brown vanilla, caramel and brown spice
3 Maker’s Mark 46 (46) – adds dried fruit, vanilla and spice
2 Roasted French Mocha (Mo) – adds char, maple and cacao
1 Toasted French Spice (Sp) – adds smoke, coumarin and spice
– Stave Selectors: Idaho State Liquor Division
– Price: $69.95 USD in Idaho

Visit makersmark.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

This one is so complex and warm, I really don’t think it needs anything extravagant. Have Batch #6 alone at a picnic table surrounded by quiet and a warm-enough sun. Let your thoughts and feelings wash over you in your solitude. #6 will keep you company and give you a bit of warmth to smile about.

Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash

NOSE:

Initial inhales bring out seasoned dark fruit and a marshmallow sweetness. The seasoning includes cinnamon and black pepper (albeit subtle). It’s sprinkled on the fruit in such a way that the fruit may be dried, though that was not immediately apparent to me. The seasoning also contributes to a wheaty/grassy element that likely derives from the mash bill.

Deep draws coax out a dark caramel/brown sugar as well as hard oak that blend together well. Not a lot of heavy alcohol on the nose, reminding me of some of its other Maker’s siblings. However, I can easily tell that there is a greater sense of darkness in the #6 as opposed to others, and maybe more richness and complexity also.

PALATE:
Maker's Mark Private Select ID Director's Cut Batch 6 Review

– Mouth Feel: A distinct tickle that is unaggressive, yet very fun.
– Balance: For as much fruit as there is here, spice meets it sip for sip. Excellent blend.
– Visual: Tawny in color, there is a lingering crown, with fast-dropping legs of varying sizes.

– Taste: Juicy dark fruits burst forth, but they have the mouth feel of something akin to peach fuzz. Cinnamon and nutmeg add to the fruit, creating this dark, syrupy treat.

A hint of black pepper kicks in just at the back of the palate. Other fruit begin to come in with this black pepper kick – among them figs and yellow-fleshed peach. Light vanilla and caramel tickle the tip of the tongue, helping to make every aspect of the palate light up.

Somehow, floating in and around these flavors is a cherry blossom perfume, mixed with a sturdy oak barrel char that adds smoke and depth to every solid flavor.

The alcohol, as a whole, is still mild, but with the various spice and char in every second of the sip, I know that this little 107 proof has big dreams to burn. A Kentucky chew brings out a fun tingle that doesn’t quite sting. I taste cherry and apple blossoms here strongly, backed by cinnamon, char and light brown sugar. Very delicious!

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Very long. The warmth clings and clings, even to the teeth. And the aftertaste here with the warmth is great.
– Between Sips: Cherries, vanilla and barrel char. Could I ask for anything more in this category?

– No More: Stronger fruit leather and an unexpected, but tasty, apple tart come into play the further I get into the glass. The spice and original fruit are still here too; they just have extra companions.

The empty Glencairn has a spicy barrel char, with black pepper leading the way. All in all, a great pout that I look forward to having again.

WORTH THE PRICE?

Out of all of the Director’s Cuts I’ve had, Batch #6 is undoubtedly my favorite, and I do think it is worth the price at $70. Director’s Cuts as a whole from Maker’s I think are usually worth trying at least once, with only a couple batches unlikely to be worth the asking price. Luckily for us, this one definitely was worth it!

RATING: 95/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 95/100 to access other whiskeys with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this distillery, click Maker’s Mark.

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Whiskey Reviews

Maker’s Mark Private Select ID Director’s Cut Batch #4 Review

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Maker’s Mark Private Select ID Director’s Cut Batch #4 Review

Original review written on October 15, 2020

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Maker’s Mark Private Select ID Director’s Cut Batch #4 Review: Sweet and mellow, as is standard with Maker’s, this is enjoyable to those who like floral notes. This is a good offering, but I wish there was a bit more complexity to be found. 84/100

VITALS:
Maker's Mark Private Select ID Director's Cut Batch #4 Review

– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Maker’s Mark Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Private Select
– Age: nas (other Director’s Cuts have been approximately 8 yrs in age)
– Mash Bill: Corn=70%; Soft red winter wheat=16%; Malted barley=14%
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: 110
– ABV: 53.5% (107 proof)
– MMPS ID-DCB4 finishing staves:
3 Seared French Cuvée (Cu) – adds roasted/toasted oak and caramel
3 Maker’s Mark 46 (46) – adds dried fruit, vanilla, and spice
2 Roasted French Mocha (Mo) – adds char, maple, and cacao
1 Baked American Pure (P2) – adds sweet brown vanilla, caramel, and brown spice
1 Toasted French Spice (Sp) – adds smoke, coumarin and spice
– Stave Selectors: Idaho State Liquor Division
– Price: $69.95 USD in Idaho

Visit makersmark.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

Batch #4, while good, has an aura of affluence – so much so, that I could easily see sipping some of this in an upper class restaurant, where the seats are leather and sophisticated. The seating and atmosphere may be dark in nature, but the sweetness and lightness of #4 make everything meld together nicely.

Photo by Souranshi Magazine on Unsplash

NOSE:

Mild, with dried fruit, particularly raisins, come forth the strongest for me on the initial inhale. Behind that, I find brown sugar, soft vanilla, and a small hint of cinnamon and maple. While these seem dark, this is still a mild pour, tempered likely by the wheat and barley of the mash bill. I can also find a soft oak that keeps things mellow, yet warm. There is a toasted nut element, but I can’t quite make out what it is specifically, but it pairs well with a toffee.

Somewhere in here is a sweet bread bun with a simple syrup/honey glaze brushed over the top. I really like this gentle, yeasty component; it adds a layer of complexity to the nose, for sure.

PALATE:
Maker's Mark Private Select ID Director's Cut Batch #4 Review

– Mouth Feel: Oily, with little grip… maybe even creamy.
– Balance: Decent. Flower sticks out, but doesn’t overpower the other flavors.
– Visual: Honey in color, there is a lingering crown with slow-dropping, fat legs.

– Taste: On the first sip, I get a mix of maraschino cherry, while also a cool freshness of an herbal note. It’s certainly floral, with a rose-like blossom and light fruit too. It’s sweet, but not approaching sickly sweet, which is nice.

Not much in the way of spice, except maybe a dash of cinnamon. I get a sense of pear, mixing with light vanilla and a little brown sugar/caramel.

The yeasty bread is gone, along with the nuts. The oak, however, remains, but it tastes and feels like it’s been soaked in water, and I could chew the wood chips contentedly.

I pushed this one around HARD with a Kentucky chew, only feeling the burn after about 10 seconds. What comes of it is a very floral apple blossom, with a hint of cherry. Otherwise, the alcohol on this is VERY mild and unlikely to burn an experienced whiskey drinker.

I realize I noted that the nose was mellow, but this palate is INCREDIBLY mellow, with little for me to grip onto and not a lot of richness or complexity. It’s good, but not great. (Remember, I like bold and dark profiles – this could very easily be phenomenal to those who lean to floral notes.)

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Long. While the warmth stays only in the mouth and throat, the flavor lingers.
– Between Sips: I feel like I’m chewing on a rose petal, or maybe a flower of slightly less intensity. Hint of vanilla and not-quite-ripe pear accompany the flower petals.

– No More: It feels sweet the further I get into the glass – note that I said FEELS. Everything about this screams floral – ALMOST too floral. I feel as though if the palate/taste could be turned into a perfume, I’d very likely get a headache.

The empty Glencairn is an oak that WANTS to be spicy, but doesn’t quite make it all the way there. I wish I could say the floral heaviness dissipated, but it just didn’t.

WORTH THE PRICE?

At $70 USD, this seems like a big ask for those who like the bolder flavors. Out of the Director’s Cuts that I’ve enjoyed (Batches 3, 5, 6, and 7), Batch #4 is definitely my least favorite, and I recommend spending the $70 on a different batch.

RATING: 84/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 84/100 to access other whiskeys with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this distillery, click Maker’s Mark.

Back to…

Hannah’s Whiskey Reviews
Whiskey Reviews