Brian’s Larceny Barrel Proof B521 Bourbon Review:
reviewed 17-August-2021
LARCENY BARREL PROOF B521 BOURBON REVIEW:
I first enjoyed Larceny Barrel Proof B521 (Larceny BP B521) while on vacation a month ago, without any intent of review. I had brought a bottle along to share with family and friends and it was a hit.
Larceny Barrel Proof offerings have become favorites at our house and this one satisfies as well. Of the three previous batches I’ve had (A120, B520, and A121), Larceny BP B521 is the most “wheat-like” of the bunch. The others are far more spicy, almost as if rye were in the mash bill. This is a fine bourbon and one I’m happy to have another bottle of in my bunker.
LARCENY BARREL PROOF B521 BOURBON 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 will contain six to eight year old bourbon)
Entry Barrel Proof: 125
ABV: 60.5% (121 Proof)
Availability: Tri-anual Limited Release
Batch: B521
▪”B” First release of the year
▪”5″ Released in May
▪”21″ Released in 2021
Price: $49.95 USD (in Idaho, 2021)
“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.”
– Heaven Hill
Learn more at Heaven Hill Distillery.
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
1.4 ounces were removed from a newly opened bottle and added to our Infinity Project. Alternate pours into Glencairns then provided review portions. My daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah enjoyed the bourbon neat.
Check out her review for this bourbon here!
LARCENY BARREL PROOF B521 NOSE:
Larceny BP B521 smells dusty and wheaty when first brought to the nose. Continued nosing brings out currents and red raisins along with soft and mellow citrus and a little ginger and green pepper. There is sweetness in the aroma as well, which to me comes across as light vanilla and creamy Werther’s Original Caramel Hard Candies. I also was able to detect the sweet nuttiness of macadamia and toasted almonds and the soft aroma of toasted barrels.
LARCENY BARREL PROOF B521 PALATE:
Larceny BP B521 tastes much like it smells but with a few additions. I get dry Wheaties cereal topped with cinnamon, a sprinkling of crushed clove, nutmeg and a light dusting of pepper. As on the nose the sweetness is subtle, coming through like light vanilla infused coconut cookies. Still there is dry heavy oak and toasted wood in every sip.
Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
At first, Larceny BP B521 prickles the tongue. As I became accustomed to the sensation, the bourbon becomes rich and creamy, almost oily in my mouth. All the flavors and aromas are well blended making B521 a nice pour. As each sip is taken, long clinging legs return the remaining liquid to the auburn colored pool leaving behind many large drops to form a well defined crown. This is a simple and gentle bourbon.
LARCENY BARREL PROOF B521 FINISH:
Larceny Barrel Proof B521 Bourbon finishes warm and lingers in the mouth and throat. I get an essence of some kind of stone fruit … maybe ripe apricots and a faint hint of grilled lemon wedge sprinkled with pepper and a bit of light brown sugar. The woodiness continues with toasted almonds, dry oak, and hazy barrel char. And after the final drops are downed, the aroma of freshly cut oak wafts from the empty Glencairn.
MY LARCENY BARREL PROOF B521 RATING: 89/100
Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
Heaven Hill has a winner in its Larceny Barrel Proof releases. I will seek and buy Larceny Barrel Proof bottles whenever I find them on store shelves.
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, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
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