Wheated Whiskey Archives – Page 2 of 26

Larceny Barrel Proof C922

Posted on 24-September-202324-September-2023 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Larceny Barrel Proof C922 Review:

reviewed 19-September-2023

LARCENY BARREL PROOF C922 BOURBON REVIEW:

Larceny Barrel Proof C922 (Larceny C922) surprises with minimal alcohol presence despite its high ABV. I sense warm sherry notes in its balanced aroma and flavors of dark berries, vanilla, brown sugar, woody caramel, and Bit ‘o Honey candy. And while the spice car of cinnamon, ginger, black pepper lags behind, barrel tannins, weathered oak timbers, barrel spice, and burnt oak notes, affirm its earthy character. This interesting and broody pour would be welcome on a blustery winter’s evening, inside by a roaring fire.

LARCENY BARREL PROOF C922 VITAL STATS:

Category: Barrel Proof Wheated Bourbon
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distillery: Heaven Hill
Mashbill: 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, 12% Barley
Barrel Char: #3
Age: nas (Heaven Hill states batches contain six to eight year old bourbon)
Entry Barrel Proof: 125
ABV: 63.3% (126.6 Proof)
NABCA CSC #: 18860
Fair Price: $101.76 (BoozApp, September 2023)
Price: $64.95 USD (Idaho, 2022)
Distillery Release Date: September 2022
Availability: Limited, Tri-annual Batch Release
Batch: C922
▪”C” Third (last) release of the year
▪”9″ Released in September
▪”22″ of the year 2022

The Larceny line of Bourbon is the modern heir of our historic wheated mashbill, known behind-the-scenes at our distillery as “O.F.D.” or Old Fitzgerald Distillate.

Learn more at Heaven Hill Distillery.

ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:

On Day 19 of the 2023 30 Bourbons in 30 Days Challenge, the first one and a half ounces mixed with the bourbon in our Infinity Bottle Project. Then, by alternating the pours, four once review amounts went into a Glencairn and a Weck. After posting on social media, my daughter and I enjoyed the bourbon neat as I prepared this review. About 30 minutes had gone by before my first sip.

LARCENY BARREL PROOF C922 NOSE:

The initial sip of Larceny C922 surprises with its minimal alcohol presence, despite its 63+ ABV. Instead, it offers a gentle and warm sherry note, accompanied by an array of blossoms and herbs. With additional nosing, dark berries, caramel-dipped apple slices, pluots, and figs emerge, along with hints of allspice, nutmeg, and white pepper. As the aromas unfold, notes of crisp gingerbread, subtle vanilla, brown sugar, woody caramel, and a touch of Bit ‘o Honey candy introduce a rich sweetness. Crushed peanuts, weathered oak timbers, and burnt oak notes, coupled with a hint of freshly tooled leather, contribute to a charred and earthy complexity.

LARCENY BARREL PROOF C922 PALATE:

In the mouth, Larceny C922 reveals some similarities but introduces a new new elements as well. With the first sips, there’s a pronounced alcohol bite and a strong, hot burn. After the initial roughness subsides, I discern notes of herbal roasted corn and in the sips which follow, I taste a deep, plum and fig-like darkness. As I reflect on the flavor, it conjures a blend of red raisins, prune, cinnamon, ginger, and black pepper, accented by hints of bitter dark chocolate. Additional dark sweets, including Bit ‘o Honey candy, nearly burnt brown sugar, and chocolate-dipped bitter walnut toffee, reinforce my impressions. As I taste on, the presence of barrel tannins, weathered oak timbers, toasted wood, and char, which were detected on the nose, contribute to the C922’s overall earthy theme.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
As noted above, Larceny C922 is balanced in its dark fruit and sweet but dark sugary notes but C922 is a bit faint on the flora and heavy on woody notes. Each sip can be challenging to hold, being quite prickly on the gums and rough on the tongue, but I tend to like an aggressive bourbon. Once I become accustomed to the burn, the pour is buttery, then becomes viscous the longer it is held as saliva does its job. Between sips, a thin broken crown with a few clinging droplets forms and when tilting the glass for a drink, thin, fast falling legs drain the extra back to the mahogany colored pool.

LARCENY BARREL PROOF C922 FINISH

Larceny Barrel Proof C922 delivers an exceptionally long and lingering finish which warms the throat and esophagus. I detect the presence of dark berries, stone fruit, and fig, as well as the spices of cinnamon, ginger, and pepper previously noted on the nose and palate. Sensations of burnt brown sugar and toffee remain prominent, along with the distinct characteristics of barrel tannins, heavily seasoned oak, barrel spice, and char. In the empty Glencairn glass, the remnants of old leather and sawdust affirm the earthy nature of this pour.

MY RATING: 89/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
^{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

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To access other reviews from this brand, click Larceny.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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Horse Soldier Signature Small Batch

Posted on 24-September-202324-September-2023 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Horse Soldier Signature Small Batch Review:

reviewed 18-September-2023

HORSE SOLDIER SIGNATURE SMALL BATCH BOURBON REVIEW:

Horse Soldier Signature Small Batch (Horse Soldier Signature) greets with an aroma of faint ethanol, herbal, roasted corn, and faint wheat. There is a dark fruit leather snack which passes through to the palate in the flavors of currants, dark stone fruit, and soft prunes sprinkled with cinnamon, powder ginger, and a couple dashes of black pepper.
Then come vanilla and dark pecan toffee. And again, like I sensed on the nose, I taste the effects of dry seasoned oak, hazy and smoky sweet char along with traces of musty leather. The balance in fruits, sweets, spice, and wood are sound and the finish is long, throat warming and reminiscent of the aromas and flavors.

HORSE SOLDIER SIGNATURE SMALL BATCH VITAL STATS:

Category: Sourced, Small Batch Wheated Bourbon
Region: St. Petersburg, FL
Distillery*: American Freedom Distillery
*Distilled by and stored in Ohio at Middle West Spirits
Mash Bill: 70% corn (yellow dent), 20% wheat (soft red winter), 10% malted barley
Barrel Char: unpublished
Barrel entry proof: unpublished
Age: nas
ABV: 47.5% (95 Proof)
NABCA CSC #: 26576
Fair Price: $88.10 (BoozApp, September 2023)
Price: $69.95 (Idaho, Summer 2023)

HORSE SOLDIER SIGNATURE BOURBON BACKSTORY

Immediately following [the 9/11] attacks on our nation, the USA responded with a daring insertion of small teams of Green Berets into northern Afghanistan. The Northern Alliance successfully overthrew Mazar-i-Sharif, a Taliban stronghold, with the support of these brave men. This region’s inhospitable, mountainous terrain made efforts and enemy engagements on wild Afghan horses a necessity for one Special Operations team (ODA595). Nicknamed the “Horse Soldiers”, all these brave men are honored today by America’s Response Monument overlooking “Ground Zero” in New York City. [In addition,] our bottles … are molded with World Trade Center steel.

— American Freedom Distillery

*Website notes include the following statement:
“Due to federal alcohol regulations we must leverage a third party partner for fulfilment.”
Partner Distillery: Middle West Spirits in Columbus, OH

ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:

By alternating the pours, I added about four ounces into a Glencairn and a Weck. My daughter and I enjoyed the bourbon neat while I prepared this review, drinking from the Glencairn.

HORSE SOLDIER SIGNATURE SMALL BATCH NOSE:

In Horse Soldier Signature’s warming aroma of faint ethanol, I sense herbal, roasted corn, and faint wheat. Deeper draws pick out dark berry nectar, a trace of cherry, currant, and prune mixed with allspice, ginger, and white pepper, pressed into a dark fruit leather snack. Delights of yeasty wheat bread, and light vanilla infused orange sponge cake are here as well. These treats and baked goods compete for attention with brown sugar, slightly burnt caramel, and nutty pecan toffee. As I continue to breath in, dry, seasoned oak and hazy char add musty and earthy depth.

HORSE SOLDIER SIGNATURE SMALL BATCH PALATE:

The first sip of Horse Soldier Signature offeres a warm mild bite. Like on the nose I taste roasted corn and with careful consideration, wheat. In the next sips I find currants, dark stone fruit, and soft prunes sprinkled with cinnamon, powder ginger, and a couple dashes of black pepper. Then come light vanilla and sweet brown sugar, dark caramel, dark pecan toffee. And again, like I sensed on the nose, I taste the effects of dry seasoned oak, hazy and smoky sweet char along with traces of musty leather.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Horse Soldier Signature is a well blended and balanced bourbon in its fruits, sweets, spice, and wood. In my mouth I get a mild tongue tickle and each sip becomes quite oily the longer it is held. In the glass, a thin inverted crown with small clinging droplets hangs above the tawny-colored pool while thin, fast draining legs transport the liquid left after a sip, back to the bowl.

HORSE SOLDIER SIGNATURE SMALL BATCH FINISH

Horse Soldier Small Batch gives a long throat warming, wheaty, soft and mellow finish. As I swallow, I sense barrel tannins, the sweetness of corn and the memory of dark prunes. On the back of the palate and in my throat, I feel cinnamon, ginger, and pepper along with dark vanilla, deep brown sugar caramel and dark toffee dipped in milk chocolate. As the sweets fade, dry seasoned oak, and hazy, smoky sweet char drift in. And when the last sip is taken, the empty Glencairn smells of fresh cut oak planks and the inside of an empty Whoppers box.

MY RATING: 90/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
^{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 90/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other reviews from this brand, click American Freedom Distillery.

REVIEW BACKSTORY:

During the summer of 2023, our local whiskey club held a two month long blind taste-off where 24 of us each donated a bottle by pouring samples into 1 oz Boston Rounds. The prepared samples were dispersed and over 24 days we attempted to identify what we were drinking.

On Day 7 of the competition, Horse Soldier Signature Small Batch came up. Until then, I had not had it before and as I sipped, I got close on the proof but couldn’t tell it was a wheater. I didn’t care for the sample. The group’s concensus was similar. Of course none of us knew what it was until after the big reveal.

My opinion changed while preparing this review and I don’t know what altered my opinion … Maybe it was because I knew what it was, maybe the bigger review portion in the glass made the difference, or maybe it was because I just came off a week of Elijah Craig Barrel Proofs and other offerings from Heaven Hill as I participated in the 30 Bourbons in 30 Days Challenge.

Whatever the cause … like it and I think our readers might too. Go get a bottle and see for yourself (and maybe another for the bunker).

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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Maker’s Mark BRT-02 Bourbon Review

Posted on 05-May-202305-May-2023 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Maker’s Mark BRT-02 Bourbon Review

Original review written November 28, 2022

GENERAL DESCIPTION:

First dive into BRT-02, and I can’t say that this impressed me as much as it’s older sister, BRT-01. Nevertheless, no regrets buying – just as I am with any Wood Finishing Series Maker’s. 83/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Loretto, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Maker’s Mark Distillery
– Classification: Wheated Bourbon
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Corn=70%; Wheat=16%; Malted Barley=14%
– Casks: unpublished char
– Finishing Staves: 10 virgin toasted oak staves added to the barrel which is then given an extra eight weeks of maturation.
– Barrel Entry Proof: 110
– ABV: 54.7% (109.4 proof)
– Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho 2022

“2022 marks the fourth year Maker’s has produced the Wood Finishing Series. Each year has had a unique taste vision. This year the two releases focus on barrel rotation (cycling rackhouse location). The goal is to distinguish and enjoy the unique flavors found on the top floors while comparing them to barrels stored lower in the warehouse.

Since 1953, Maker’s consistent flavors have been credited to the hand-Barrel RoTation process. Top barrels in the rickhouse are brought to the bottom, and each level is then raised to ensure equal exposure to varying temperatures over time. The designation “BRT” for this year’s releases comes from this practice.

BRT-02 comes from the cooler bottom ricks. French oak staves help the liquid to reach and impart dark depth.” – Maker’s Mark

Visit makersmark.com for more information.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the spirit neat from a Glencairn glass with sister, Elora, and father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out Elora’s and Brian’s reviews as well!

SETTING:

This bourbon has sweet and it has a healthy dose of bitter as well, coming through pastries and dark bakes. I imagine having this pour in a bakeshop, perched right next to the window shielding rows of warm pies. Everything is inviting, and you know each bite would be rich. Maker’s BRT-02 would settle between each crack of pastry and in the syrupy filling between solid pieces of pecan or fruit.

Photo by Kelcie Herald on Unsplash

NOSE:

Salted caramel syrup, maple candies, and toffee greet the nose first, biting down on their sweetness. It’s not a burnt sugar, but it’s as though I can already feel the granules of sugar on my tongue. The cloud of confectionary does break a bit as I swirl the glass around and disturb that caramel turtle shell. Underneath are not-quite-ripe granny smith apples, offering a hint of tartness that frankly does not balance out the sweet too much. Deep inhales coax out a scorched earth quality – the smoke is just as buried in the ground as it is in the bourbon. Dark fruits and white pepper but a subtle, but necessary role in this nose, rounding out the complexity. As a fruit lover, it, and the intriguing peppery bite have my salivary glands most excited.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Buttery. It feels thick on the palate and certainly heavy, but I don’t know if I could commit to it going anywhere or sinking deeper.
– Balance: Heavy on the burnt sweets – I do wish I had a bit of fruit to balance it out, but that’s my fruit-lover self, talking loudly, I suspect.
– Visual: Flame in color, this leaves tiny drops with many, many, many long legs behind – all thin.

– Taste: I can hold this in my mouth without feeling prompted at all to aggravate it. Once I do though, the maple and caramel from the nose, along with a dark – almost bitter – dark brown sugar dominate. There’s also pastry, like a caramelized pie crust that had the filling bleed into it. I’m not the biggest fan of pecan pie, but the rich, sweetness with the dark, flavorful chewiness… that’s this bourbon. (The pie may even be a little overbaked, I must add.)

Beyond this and the traditional warmth, I can’t say that this offers the greatest amount of complexity. It IS rich and it IS buttery, but I’d love for the spice to be more aggressive, or a burst of fruit juice to zing at the back of my palate. Nevertheless, this is a quite enjoyable pour – facilitates an easy flow of conversation without being oppressive on the moment. A Kentucky chew bites at the tongue more harshly than I anticipated, and I don’t think it contributes very positively to the flavor. Instead, it brings out a bitterness that sits at the start of the throat, and I feel inclined to take another sip to chase it away. Unfortunately, I’m not sure it worked either.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: I can’t feel a sharp result of finish on this bourbon, but the warmth as a whole is definitely present. And it does linger for some time, which is always a good bonus.
– Between Sips: Nothing but bourbon warmth lingers between sips. A faint hint of pecan can be found wisping in and out, but it is so faint, it’s barely noticeable.

– No More: I don’t know if I can say that the flavor develops, but the warmth does deepen, which I greatly appreciate. The conversation flows even more now, and I find myself sinking into the happy warmth a solid bourbon can provide.

The empty glass is dark oak with a hint of spice. I wish the spice had been present in the rest of the glass, but the richness here certainly matches the pour.

WORTH THE PRICE?

$60 is the going price for many bourbons these days – even entry level bourbons. But buying a special finish Maker’s is always worth the price – it’s just one of those bottles I’ll grab to try for the sake of trying. There are few bad, special-finish Maker’s, and this one is certainly not among them, even with some of its pitfalls. It’s a warm, solid pour, and I’m happy to have it. I’ll lament it when it’s gone… but I don’t know if I’ll buy again. It’s worth this initial bottle in gold, but a 2nd bottle… I’m not so sure.

MAKER’S MARK BRT-02 BOURBON REVIEW RATING: 83/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 83/100 to access other whiskeys with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this distillery, click Maker’s Mark.

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