Larceny Barrel Proof B522 Review

Hannah’s Larceny Barrel Proof B522 Review

Original review written September 28, 2022

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Unfortunately, my least favorite of the Larceny Barrel Proof bunch. It’s on the simpler side with traditional bourbon warmth being the only major offering here. 75/100

VITALS:
Larceny Barrel Proof B522 Review

– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Wheated Bourbon
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Corn=68%; Wheat=20%; Barley=12%
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 61.9% (123.8 proof)
– Price: $64.95 USD in Idaho 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.” of Old Fitzgerald Distillate.” – Heaven Hill Distillery

For more information, visit heavenhill.com

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the spirit neat with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian. Sister, Elora also enjoyed this pour with us.

Check out Brian’s review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

This is bourbon to have when you’re preoccupied. I imagine sitting perhaps in a music studio, surrounded by sound and ultimate focus is being channeled. This bourbon will keep the fire alive in the gut while not distracting you from the task at hand. It’s a coal powered locomotive machine of determination.

Photo by Caught In Joy on Unsplash

NOSE:

Classic Heaven Hill pepper greets the nose first, followed by a dark molasses, chocolate, and seasoned fig. Along with them is a dark maple syrup, drizzled over the top of a sweet, fluffy waffle. They all meld together well and even though this is high proof, I can really dig into the glass with an inhale, not feeling too afraid about the burn. I can find oak as well, but I think a fresh evergreen pine really lies at the heart of the wood foundation for this bourbon. There’s a bite of freshness all while being consistently soft and unaggressive. Despite the initial inhale of Heaven Hill pepper, this nose really stands out from its distillery peers, carrying dark sweet notes with it. It’s refreshing and original, and I’m looking forward to the sip of this one.

PALATE:
Larceny Barrel Proof B522 Review

– Mouth Feel: Perhaps my favorite aspect of this bourbon, it’s raspy and settles nicely across the palate.
– Balance: Uniform in the way that there isn’t a hero here.
– Visual: Mahogany in color, this left small droplets in a haphazard crown.

– Taste: I can hold this impossibly long on the palate without feeling the burn nearly at all. And while the nose had offered many complex aromas, I’m finding initial impressions of the flavor to be a little lackluster. There’s a yeasty essence and certainly grain, but beyond this, it feels a bit plain. The alcohol grows from the chest – well beyond the ability to taste anything new, but present enough to give a hug. I keep searching and searching but all I am really met with is traditional bourbon heat. These are not flavors I am accustomed to finding in a Larceny Barrel Proof, and I find myself disappointed. If I want a deep and warm pour, I’ll reach for this, but it does not offer the complexity I have come to expect of these BP’s.

A Kentucky chew unfortunately doesn’t evoke any other flavors beyond a deeper oak. The alcohol penetrates the tongue like needles – tightly compacted to make the burn more akin to a limb falling asleep than alcohol burn.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. The warmth is there, and it grows in intensity the longer I sit with this.
– Between Sips: Empty of extra flavors. Really only left with bourbon warmth.

– No More: This, regretfully, didn’t change the further I get into the glass. I wanted to find more flavors, and I traditionally love Larceny Barrel Proof’s for their complex, fruity flavors. They just never appeared in this bourbon.

The empty Glencairn is a beautiful oak sawdust – full of warmth and the Heaven Hill stamp I’ve been hunting for in this bourbon. Why couldn’t this be here earlier?

WORTH THE PRICE?

For $65, I’ll just say it – I’d rather buy Old Forester 1920. The bourbon warmth is the highlight of this Barrel Proof, but beyond that, I’m hitting a wall of simplicity. For $65, even in a growing price market in bourbon, I need a bit more complexity in my pour. This batch isn’t quite worth it for me.

LARCENY BARREL PROOF B522 REVIEW RATING: 75/100

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Click 75/100 to access other whiskies with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Larceny.

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Horse Soldier Reserve Bourbon

Brian’s Horse Soldier Reserve Bourbon Review:

reviewed 12-September-2022

HORSE SOLDIER RESERVE BOURBON REVIEW:

Horse Soldier Bourbon Whiskey offers three varieties: Premium (high rye, matured for two years), and two wheated bourbons, Signature and Reserve. This review is for Reserve (the barrel strength offering).

I admit it, I am a bit of a push-over when it comes to bourbon with a good back story. Many times the story is a more of a marketing ploy than anything else. But not so for Horse Soldier Reserve Bourbon (Horse Soldier Reserve). This is a fine wheated bourbon and one I am happy to have on my shelf. Its nose full of dried fruit tree blossoms and dark stone fruits which blend nicely with baking spices, a dark sweetness and seasoned oak. These dark notes pass to the palate and on to the finish. This bourbon is dark and soft. Bring on the next pour!

HORSE SOLDIER RESERVE BOURBON VITAL STATS
Horse Soldier Reserve Bourbon

Category: 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: 61% (122 Proof)
Price: $65.85 (Montana, Summer 2022)

HORSE SOLDIER RESERVE 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:

Taken out of the newly opened bottle, 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 three Glencairns. My daughters and I enjoyed the bourbon neat as we prepared this review.

Click Hannah’s review and Elora’s review to check out their thoughts for this bourbon!

HORSE SOLDIER RESERVE BOURBON NOSE:

Horse Soldier Reserve has a pleasant bourbony aroma. I get a potpourri of dried fruit tree blossoms and stone fruits of dark cherries, currants, plum, and soft dried prunes. As I continue to nose, I smell allspice, ginger, and white pepper along with brown sugar dusted pastry. Additional sweets come in as caramel corn, dark brown sugar, and dark molasses while the woody elements present as walnuts, sweet, fresh cut and toasted oak, with some BBQ smokey sweetness. I also sense an additional darkness in the form of musty, old leather. This bourbon is soft and dark.

HORSE SOLDIER RESERVE BOURBON PALATE:

My first sip of Horse Soldier Reserve has a bit of heat, and a fairly warm bite. I taste the potpourri floral notes sensed on the nose as well as the stone fruits of currants and dark plums. As I sip, baking spices of cinnamon, ginger, and black pepper mix with vanilla and sweets of dark brown sugar, and dark molasses. This bourbon tastes rich and it’s chopped and crushed walnuts blend into dry seasoned oak, toasted wood and smoky sweet barrel char. These flavors are well anchored in musty damp leather.

Horse Soldier Reserve Bourbon

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Horse Soldier Reserve is simple and gentle with good balance from nose to finish. It is viscous and oily yet can prickle the tongue. In the Glencairn, thick, evenly spaced, long-lasting clinging legs transport the liquid back to the auburn pool. Left behind is a thin ring broken by a few small droplets.

HORSE SOLDIER RESERVE BOURBON FINISH:

Horse Soldier Reserve Bourbon offers a medium long soft and warm finish. As with other bourbons, I can sense roasted corn as well as the sensations of blueberry nectar and plum. Ginger and pepper warm the throat and light vanilla mix with dark brown sugar and subtle molasses flavors. As each sip is downed, seasoned oak, toasted wood and leather fade away. The empty Glencairn smells dark but fresh and is both caramelly and oaky at the same time. I look forward to the next pour.

MY RATING: 91/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
This bourbon makes me want to seek and try the other Horse Soldier offerings.
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

Click 91/100 to access Brian’s other whiskies with this score.
To access other reviews from this brand, click American Freedom Distillery.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
Horse Soldier Reserve Bourbon
Horse Soldier Reserve Bourbon

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Horse Soldier Reserve Review

Hannah’s Horse Soldier Reserve Review

Original review written September 12, 2022

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

An emotional story for bourbon, I don’t think Horse Soldier forfeited the craft and quality a drink of this stature demanded. This exceeded my personal expectations without a doubt. 93/100

VITALS:
Horse Soldier Reserve Review

– Made In: St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
– Distiller: American Freedom Distillery
Distilled by and stored in Ohio at Middle West Spirits
– Classification: Wheated Bourbon
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Corn=70%; Soft red winter wheat=20%; Malted barley=10%
– Casks: unpublished char
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 61% (122 proof)
– Price: $65.85 USD in Montana 2022

“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 Masar-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 the Special Operations team (ODA595). Nicknamed the “Horse Soldiers”, all these brave men are honored today by American’s Response Monument overlooking ‘Ground Zero’ in New York City. [In addition], our bottles … are molded with World Trade Center steel.” – American Freedom Distillery

Visit horsesoldierbourbon.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

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

Check out Elora’s thoughts here and Brian’s here!

SETTING:

This bourbon calls for rusticity; there’s a desire to walk onto a patch of farmed earth and break off a stalk of wheat – the bloom of America’s dinner table. Pair it with a homemade apple pie with chunky, ungraceful pie crust designs (it’s made with love and butter), and the Horse’s Soldier is finally able to dismount. Time to come home.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

NOSE:

Burnt wheat, dark caramel and candied apples all but attack the nose even on the first inhale, remaining surprisingly distinct from one another despite these flavors being quite bold, even on their own. Regardless of the bold, subtle notes can be found underneath with only a little coaxing, such as a faint vanilla, mixed together with a fresh herb rosemary as well as light vanilla and yeast.

There is a dark fruit here as well, like plum, but it comes in such a heavily reduced form, it’s almost become a syrup. It’s hard to tell if this plum is burnt, and if it’s not, then it is certainly close to that point. It’s as though it’s meant to be painted within the confines of pastry, but bitterness of the near-burnt quality prevents it from seeming too indulgent.

I can’t find too much oak on the nose, but with the assortment of the other aromas, I’m not too bothered. A surprising gentle alcohol burn makes these flavors both approachable and discoverable.

PALATE:
Horse Soldier Reserve Review

– Mouth Feel: Heavy and oily. It sinks into the palate in a way that both grips the taste buds while simultaneously feeling slippery.
– Balance: Excellent. I can detect grain, sugars, fruits and alcohol heat in each sip in equal proportion.
– Visual: Flame in color, this leaves behind a thick ring with droplets clinging just under the rim.

– Taste: For being 122 proof, it’s a bourbon that I can hold in my mouth for a significantly long time before I feel pressured to move it around. When I do, caramel-esque candies – from the hard butterscotch to the chewy cubes of caramel themselves – are all presented. There’s a bitter wheat element that comes with this sweetness, but it grounds the flavors from becoming overbearing. It sits heavy on the palate as well, much like the aforementioned plummy gooeyness on the nose. The heat of the alcohol finally kicks in at the back of the palate in a single rush, but it doesn’t burn – just wants to be acknowledged.

In the midst of the caramel and warmth, are poached figs and pears, doused in another light caramel. Again, there’s some bitterness, but the accompanying warmth makes it all seem purposeful. There are even cherries to chase back the fig and pear. A Kentucky chew absolutely burns the palate, awakening cinnamon and black pepper, with the cherry as well as an alligator-charred oak. Exquisite.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Exceptionally long. I can feel the heat at the back of my palate linger long after the sip is gone. It’s certainly another enjoyable aspect of this bourbon.
– Between Sips: I can find a hint of cherries between sips; however, the predominant flavor comes from wood chips, soaked in water and incredibly chewy.

– No More: This grows in depth and complexity the further into the glass I get. Each sip brings out more darkness in flavors, especially the sugars. It’s truly a treat to the palate that is looking for a rich texture of sweetness.

The empty Glencairn is a spicy oak with more of that black pepper and cinnamon from the palate. A great finish to a pretty great bourbon.

WORTH THE PRICE?

I like to think I remained objective in my review and kept the story to the back of my mind, as it is an emotionally driven bourbon with its marketing. Nevertheless, I find that Horse Soldier offers a wide variety of flavors. At least one is sure to impress any preferred flavor profile. It’s a wheater that stands apart from the crowd, whether you’re talking about proof or distillery (Heaven Hill’s Larceny Barrel Proof’s are perhaps the most analogous at this time). Do I think it’s worth $65? All day. If I lived in Montana, this would be a bottle I’d endeavor to keep in the bunker at all times.

HORSE SOLDIER RESERVE REVIEW RATING: 93/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 93/100 to access other whiskies with this rating.

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