Hannah’s Larceny Barrel Proof A122 Review
Original review written June 29, 2022
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Maybe heavier on the earth and wood than other Larceny Barrel Proof’s, this one is still worth the buy – just treat it entirely as a new experience. 91/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Wheated Bourbon
– Age: nas (Heaven Hill states batches will contain six- to eight-year-old bourbon)
– Mash Bill: Corn=68%; Wheat=20%; Malted Barley=12%
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 62.2% (124.4 proof)
– Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho in May 2022
For more information, visit heavenhill.com
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed the spirit neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.
Check out his review for this bourbon here!
SETTING:
This bourbon screams autumn to me – with the leaves found on the nose to the simply rich and earthy darkness of the overall palate. It’s something I imagine enjoying when the weather turns, and it’s misty outside with the raked leaves soaking in the moisture. The bourbon exacerbates the clean that comes from a changing season, while digging deep into the earth to reflect the fall season. Being almost 125 proof, this keeps you warm in that crisp air all the while.
Photo by Daniel Frank on Unsplash
NOSE:
Roasted grain, caramel, and cinnamon cross the nose first, hitting all sorts of flavor profiles. There’re also sweet marshmallows just on the verge of burning to a bitterness. Strangely, there’s a musty, earthy quality here as well, like a soaked pile of leaves in the fall. It’s a bit dirty, but it’s simultaneously fresh. Oak sawdust and a warm alcohol tingle, act as a solid foundation, but otherwise, this nose isn’t particularly complex. It’s dark with sweet, earthy tones – unlike other Larceny Barrel Proof’s I’ve had, but this one is still intriguing all the same.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Viscous. There’s texture here, but it swirls around on the palate pleasantly.
– Balance: Unexpected. Not necessarily bad, but this is heavy on the earth and wood tones, with only a little fruit and sugar to brighten it. I don’t mind it, though I am used to better balances coming from Larceny BP’s.
– Visual: Terracotta pot in color, this falls from a faint crown in long, evenly spaced legs. Once gone, that faint crown lingers and lingers.
– Taste: Grain and straw offer something to chew on the first sip with soaked wood chips and apricots following behind. The apricot is pureed into almost a jam consistency with sugar included. It makes for a sweeter, yet more diluted apricot flavor overall. Mixed with the stone fruit is honey, sweetening it further while also providing a different, yet equally appropriate kind of base, to the traditional oak. Despite these sugary flavors, this bourbon is actually quite musty and earthy. It’s dark in the way that I can taste the influence of the char on not just the barrel, but also the wheat. It has age on it, which imparts a richness and dare I say – a self-awareness. This bourbon just has character.
The alcohol is present, but I don’t find it overly aggressive. The heat sits primarily at the back of the palate and doesn’t seem inclined to hug – just hang out. When I partake in a Kentucky chew, the alcohol remains mild, poking a bit more. It allows me to find some darker fruits here like cherries, but they are fleeting. Overall, the chew is a fun exercise to this bourbon.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Long. It’s been several minutes since I’ve had a sip, yet the warmth continues to sit at the back of my throat, and I do have some aftertaste lingering for a while as well.
– Between Sips: The wheat grain is the most distinguishable between sips, being musty like the rest of the palate while also acting as a grounding point overall for the bourbon.
– No More: This stays consistent throughout the glass, with the finish growing longer and longer after each sip. It’s decent, but it is unlike any of the other Larceny Barrel Proof’s we have had to date. I’m excited for the newness and simultaneously missing the characteristics I’ve come to define Larceny BP’s with.
The empty Glencairn is the warmest aspect of this nose, with the oak being fresh and punchy. And I can even find the grain here as well, proving this bourbon to be consistent all through to the end.
WORTH THE PRICE?
When it comes to anything barrel proof, I’ll always step up to buy and try. If you like the other Larceny’s and still want to hunt for this one, I think it’s worth the price of $60, but don’t expect the fruits that you may have tasted in the other offerings. A122 has its own story, and it’s best to let it stretch its legs without putting expectations on it, beyond having a richer, deeper “How-is-this-Larceny” profile. I’d buy again, but I’d sooner buy another batch of Larceny BP if available. (Remember – I like my fruits.)
LARCENY BARREL PROOF A122 REVIEW RATING: 91/100
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