Hannah’s Larceny Barrel Proof Batch B520 Review
Original review written March 30, 2021
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Larceny Barrel Proof Batch B520 Review: This bourbon definitely lives up to the hype and provides everything you could want from smoothness, to blend, to sweet, to spice. Definitely buy if you can. 94/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Wheated Bourbon; Small Batch
– Age: nas (Heaven Hill states batches will contain 6-8 year old bourbon)
– Mash Bill: Corn=68%; Wheat=20%; Malted Barley=12%
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 61.1% (122.2 proof)
– Price: $49.95 USD in Idaho
For more information, visit heavenhill.com
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.
Check out his review for this bourbon here!
SETTING:
Larceny Barrel Proof B520 just oozes class and sophistication, but still a sense of down-to-earth honesty. I imagine this bourbon could be easily enjoyed in a stable, with horses peeking their heads over railing and staring out with healthy shines in their eyes. Lean against a stable yourself with a glass of this in hand and feel warm and rich in your own universe.
Photo by Jez Timms on Unsplash
NOSE:
While my first impressions aren’t necessarily that there is an intense alcohol presence, there is certainly more heat and spice on the first inhales than I would have originally suspected. I get white pepper, ginger, cinnamon, and even the tiniest pinch of black pepper too. Deep inhales, however, actually do have the power to bite at the nose with some burn, so exercise caution.
I can also find a fruit leather that seems fairly similar to apricot fruit leather, where the leather gives more a texture element to each draw. Other sweetness includes a simple syrup, a touch of pear, candied orange zest, and maybe even maple candy. There could even be a little nutty toffee, but it’s not incredibly rich, and the nut isn’t particularly intense in flavor.
Underneath it all is a sweet, new oak that sits comfortably as though it is just happy to be included.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Very definitely smooth and silky. It was the first thing I noticed about this bourbon.
– Balance: Solid. While I can pick out individual flavors, they all blend together incredibly well. Nothing sticks out of place or is awkward.
– Visual: Auburn in color, this has a thick crown and many, slow-dropping legs.
– Taste: The first impression of first sips are rarely so hands-down impressive, but Larceny B520 definitely fits that bill. There is a softness throughout the entirety of the sip, with the slightest lift of heat. And the solidity of the blend is so immediately apparent. I recognize that this bourbon has achieved considerable acclaim for the year of 2020, and you may think I’m just agreeing with the masses, but believe me, I am not.
I’d say the overall flavor profile is sweet – both sugary sweetness, as well as fruit sweetness. I get baked cinnamon granny smith apples, as there is a brightness here that you wouldn’t encounter with a red apple. The simple syrup from the nose remains and really is a plain, but sweet sugary element that makes the mouth water on every sip. I get a yellow cake moisture and richness, along with a bit of light vanilla too.
The spices have backed off from the nose considerably, though white pepper can still give a pleasant tingle every now and then. The wood here also seems slightly more aged, as it’s gained a more mature quality and contributes greatly (I think) to the smoothness of this bourbon.
A Kentucky chew awakens a burst of pepper while somehow highlighting the aforementioned yellow cake. While it provides for a fun texture and experiment, I truly think just idly sipping this one is the way to go. It really does not need any additional frills.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Medium. The softness of the bourbon, I believe, leads to the bourbon fading away easily with only a small sense of warmth remaining.
– Between Sips: White pepper and a touch of smoke and cinnamon sit with the yellow cake between sips. The yellow cake eventually leads as the longest lasting sensation after the sip is gone.
– No More: I’d say the yellow cake flavor dissipates the further I get into the glass, but the level of spice, warmth and smoothness certainly remains the same.
The empty Glencairn is a nutty, sweet cake sponge with soft (and I mean soft) oak that is quite simply warm and comforting.
THE ADDITION OF WATER
– This section written on April 3, 2021 –
Larceny Barrel Proof Batch B520 Review: Water can often tame bold whiskeys and the addition of 2-4 drops will not radically change the proof of the pour. Rather water may help open the spirit allowing the aromas and flavors to bloom. As such, 2 and 4 drops of distilled water were added to their own respective 1.5 oz. pours of Larceny Barrel Proof Batch B520 to detect any potential differences:
I was skeptical adding any water to this whatsoever, but I find on even the first sip with two drops that the water hasn’t knocked the heat back very far at all. I daresay that the spice really is about the same. There is a bit more of a woody caramel here now, but it is very smooth. I can also detect some brown sugar, cinnamon, and the granny smith apples that I found on the sip without the water. Definitely still a great pour, so if you feel the need to add a little water, I don’t think you’ll lose much beyond a few subtleties. (RATING: 92/100)
This certainly smells a great deal more caramelly than the neat and two-drop offerings did. Still, I wouldn’t say that it is sickeningly sweet. On the sip, I can sense the water’s presence a bit more strongly, however, as the spice seems to have to fight a bit harder to be recognized, but the heat strangely remains. The sugary notes also seem to be the more pronounced than ever before. This is still quite decent, but it lacks a bit of the body and complexity that were readily apparent neat and with two drops. Definitely stick with two drops if you are someone who needs water, but otherwise, keep it neat. (RATING: 87/100)
WORTH THE PRICE?
Simply put, at $50, it’s a no-brainer. Get. It.
RATING: 94/100
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