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Larceny Barrel Proof C921 Bourbon

Posted on 03-April-202228-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Larceny Barrel Proof C921 Bourbon Review:

reviewed 29-March-2022

LARCENY BARREL PROOF C921 BOURBON REVIEW:

In my opinion, Larceny Barrel Proof C921 (Larceny BP C921) is the best, most balanced whiskey to come out of the Heaven Hill wheated stables since Batch B520 (and I include last autumn’s 11 Year Old Fitzgerald). It is certainly the pinnacle of their 2021 offerings. Currant and plum jam aromas pass to the palate as do allspice, cinnamon, white pepper and sweet simple syrup, sugar, caramel, and toffee. But for me, it is the finish of dry seasoned and toasted oak with smoky sweet barrel char which ties this treat together.

LARCENY BARREL PROOF C921 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 website indicates batches contain six to eight year old bourbon)
Entry Barrel Proof: 125
ABV: 61.3% (122.6 Proof)
NABCA CSC #: 18860
Availability: Tri-anual Limited Release
Batch: C921
▪”C” Third release of the year
▪”9″ Released in September
▪”21″ Released in 2021
Price: $59.95 USD (February 2022, Idaho)

_{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:

Taken from a newly opened bottle, the first one and a half ounces topped off the bourbon in our Infinity Bottle Project. Then, by alternating pours, four once review amounts went into two Glencairns. My daughter and I enjoyed the bourbon neat for this review.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

LARCENY BARREL PROOF C921 NOSE:

The first deep waft of Larceny BP C921 gives the nose an alcohol nip with a touch of heat. Once acclimated, I sense barrel tannins, fruit tree blossoms, roasted corn and dusty wheat. Then come jammy currants and plums, a hint of dried citrus zest and some dark plump raisins. As I nose, allspice, cinnamon, white pepper mix with cocoa dust, light vanilla and sweets of simple syrup, raw sugar, caramel, and rich crushed pinenut toffee. And as I close my nosing session, seasoned, dry oak, smoky sweet barrel char and some musty leather provide a firm aromatic foundation. I love the smell and this pour begs a taste.

LARCENY BARREL PROOF C921 PALATE:

Larceny BP C921 gives the mouth a nice bite. It is herbal, with notes of roasted corn and only a notion of wheat. As sensed earlier, I taste the currant and plum jam, now enhanced with dark raisins and figs dusted with cinnamon, ginger and black pepper. There is a drizzling of rich vanilla infused with simple syrup here and I get a suggestion of raw sugar, light molasses and toasted pecans in dark toffee. These flavors are in near perfect balance with a nice dose of dry seasoned oak, some toasted wood, smoky sweet barrel char and just enough earthy dried leather. This bourbon is so good, I found it easy to savor as I made my preparation notes for the review.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Larceny BP C921 is nicely blended and well balanced. The aromas pass to the palate and through to the finish. In my mouth, it is both viscous and oily even though I found it a bit challenging to hold as the liquid is aggressive and even a bit rough on my tongue. In the glass, long legs fade fast, giving way to small droplets which quickly return the dregs to the dark terracotta colored pool.

LARCENY BARREL PROOF C921 FINISH:

Larceny Barrel Proof C921 has an exceptionally long herbal finish with a surprising but welcome sensation of cooling mint and plum nectar. I feel cinnamon, ginger and pepper carry away the memory of light vanilla simple syrup, sugar, burnt caramel and dark toffee. And always the dry seasoned, toasted and heavy oak, smoky sweet barrel char and earthy leather drifts in the aftertaste. When the last drops disappear, rich musty sawdust in a splash of alcohol is easy to draw from the glass. This is a great bourbon.

MY RATING: 93/100

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

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WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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Larceny Barrel Proof Batch C921 Review

Posted on 03-April-202228-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Larceny Barrel Proof Batch C921 Review

Original review written March 29, 2022

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Possibly the best of the best when it comes to Larceny Barrel Proofs, Batch C921 has the balance other bourbons can only dream of, with every flavor profile represented well. I’m already looking to secure myself another bottle… somehow. 96/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Wheated Bourbon
– Age: nas (Heaven Hill website indicates batches contain six- to eight-year-old bourbon
– Mash Bill: Corn=68%; Wheat=20%; Malted Barley=12%
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 61.3% (122.6 proof)
– Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho 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 is rich with dark fruit, and really well balanced, and I still manage to find myself craving a salty snack. I’d love to turn to an artisan pretzel, sprinkled with sea salt and let all of the flavors of this bourbon sink into the breadiness of the pretzel. I can imagine them going together and enhancing each other’s qualities to make for a delicious after-dinner treat.

Photo by Mark Zanzig on Unsplash

NOSE:

Dark fruit, vanilla, and barrel char are immediately prevalent, along with a bread component. It’s almost like a boiled bread, like an artisan pretzel. Combined with the initial dark fruit (currants, dates, cherries, prunes, berry jam) and vanilla, it makes for an overall sweet bread. There’s even a confectioner’s sugar essence that makes the salivary glands go into hyperdrive, along with ginger to amp them up even more. It’s the kind of nose that tricks the brain into thinking this bourbon really is a baked good, and you are absolutely ready for that first bite.

The wheat of the mash still makes the nose exceedingly gentle and soft, taking away any aggressive alcohol burn that could be here. Nevertheless, deep inhales do coax out some heat and evoke more of the barrel char into the mix. It’s a great nose with a lot of balance – managing not to be overwhelmingly sweet – and it definitely has me ready to take a sip.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Syrupy. It’s glossy, rich, and oily. It matches the simple syrup flavor I detect below and makes the pour that much more uniform.
– Balance: Extremely well-balanced. Nothing sticks out awkwardly, and everything seems to be rooted together in the space of darker flavors.
– Visual: Terracotta in color, this falls in sheets down the glass. It drops heavy and in thick legs, leaving a clear, almost perfectly circular ring behind, in the glass.

– Taste: I can hold it on my palate for much longer than I would have anticipated, given the proof. Despite the lack of intense alcohol burn, fruits abound with more of all the same dark ones that I detected in the nose. Next to them all now, are an increase in spices, from allspice, to cinnamon, to nutmeg. There’s also more earthy richness found on the palate as well, with the oak being more prominent and a hint of leather.

The confectioner’s sugar is still present as well, melted down to make a rich syrup that hasn’t quite turned golden – but still so sweet. Somehow, it manages to not overtake the other flavors either, standing on its own while letting the other flavors shine. The bourbon is sweet enough that I want a salty snack to go with it. However, I think that could be because I’m simply shocked with the goodness of this, and I don’t know what to do with myself. The vanilla is richer too, adding to this baked element concoction I’m developing in my head.

Alcohol still isn’t too aggressive on this sip, surprisingly. It’s warming, but it’s not painful. A Kentucky chew does heighten the burn, but it also brings out a savory, perhaps briny component. It tastes fine, but I wouldn’t say it’s necessary to chew this bourbon, no matter how much the flavors tempt you.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Long. The warmth certainly lingers, and there are even flavors that stick around as well after the sip is gone.
– Between Sips: Cinnamon, simple syrup, figs, other assorted dark fruit… the flavors of the palate simply do not leave! It’s not often you find such complexity in the pauses between sips, and I’m very pleased.

– No More: The warmth continues to grow the longer I sit with this bourbon. I’m just impressed with it. The flavors remain consistent, no matter what aspect of the bourbon I’m enjoying, and I don’t think I’ve gotten to say that about a pour before. Great offering and only climbs higher and higher in my respect as I near the bottom of the glass.

The empty Glencairn is a spicy sawdust, like a white pepper spice. It’s warm all the same, and a fine way to finish off this solid pour.

WORTH THE PRICE?

This may be the best Larceny Barrel Proof I have had to date, and I have thoroughly enjoyed all of their offerings immensely. This one has a balance found only in dreams. Warmth and proof that don’t burn intensely, and every flavor profile you’re looking for. This one is most certainly worth the price, and I hope you all get to try it. It’s truly delicious.

LARCENY BARREL PROOF BATCH C921 REVIEW RATING: 96/100

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Larceny Barrel Proof Batch B521 Review

Posted on 23-August-202128-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Larceny Barrel Proof Batch B521 Review

Original review written August 17, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

I had this on a trip during the summer of 2021, and I am happy to report that the love I developed for Larceny B521 has definitely extended beyond the trip. This glass is warm, rich, and all things comforting. Another very good offering from Larceny Barrel Proof Batches. 92/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Wheated Bourbon; Small Batch
– 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: 60.5% (121 proof)
– Price: $49.95 USD in Idaho, 2021

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:

I imagine sitting in a old train station, with echoing chatter and yellow glowing light illuminating a marble floor beneath the feet. Whether you’re waiting for someone to arrive, or waiting for your own train to depart, Larceny Barrel Proof Batch B521 is the company you are looking for.

Photo by Ugur Akdemir on Unsplash

NOSE:

Sweet barrel char blooms out of the glass first, with hints of chocolate-coated almonds, vanilla, and gingerbread. There is also a maple quality to this that mingles with floral notes that are almost reminiscent of rose petals. A deep berry jam is present, but it isn’t quite identifiable as to what berry it is. I find old leather and the main grain, corn on large inhales along with a little bit of white pepper. The aforementioned char definitely carries all of these complex flavors very well without being overwhelmingly woody. It is noticeable, but it doesn’t steal the show, rather enhances all of the aromas. Overall, this smells rich, deep and sweet in a more sugary way rather than fruity.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: This has a very velvety mouth feel, with just the right amount of texture and the slightest hint of a tickle at the back of the palate.
– Balance: Well-balanced. The oak is there, along with sugary sweetness and fruit sweetness. I might enjoy a bit more spice, but this is still a really well-blended bourbon.
– Visual: Auburn in color, this has many thick legs that drop fairly quickly, but a crown does remain.

– Taste: As perhaps as cliché as it sounds, this just tastes warm. This is sweet, with a plum syrup richness and allspice sprinkling to make it interesting. There is a touch of bitterness at the back of the palate that reminds me of walnuts; despite however bitter any particular sip is, it remains very buttery. The alcohol is mild and really only felt on the swallow, and even then remains as a pleasant tickle rather than burning. Letting it just sit on the tongue however, lets the syrup qualities continue to emerge and grow in complexity. There is maple here and maybe a little bit of caramel. And all of these flavors are given the smallest dusting of citrus zest, likely orange.

A Kentucky chew wakes up a new leather, a bit of pear juice and maybe even some white peaches (I’m thinking around the flesh just under the peach fuzz). The alcohol flames up for just a moment before mellowing quickly to give way to these flavors. The oak emerges a bit more here also, coming across as wood chips soaked in water for a while before becoming almost chewable.

I find this bourbon very rich and flavorful, and I am happy for the fruit presence on the palate when it was slightly hidden on the nose.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. Some heat lingers on the occasional sip, and a mild flavor sticks around the longest.
– Between Sips: A mild oak remains between sips, again- very much in a wood chip capacity.

– No More: A sweet and warm sawdust oak can be found in the empty glass after finishing a very consistent pour. There is a touch of nuttiness, but the oak certainly dominates.

WORTH THE PRICE?

The Larceny Barrel Proof line continues to impress, and at $50 USD, I consider Batch B521 an absolute steal. When I think of pours that are quintessentially bourbon, this one certainly fits the bill. If you find the opportunity to purchase, I definitely recommend.

LARCENY BARREL PROOF BATCH B521 REVIEW RATING: 92/100

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