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Daviess County Straight Bourbon Review

Posted on 11-April-202228-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Daviess County Straight Bourbon Review

Original review written April 5, 2022

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Classic bourbon, classic flavors, and a schooling in how to master the basics. No, it’s nothing wild, but it’s easily “staple” quality, and I’m happy to have it on my shelf when I just want BOURBON. 87/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Bardstown, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Lux Row Distillers (specific distiller undisclosed)
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: blend of ryed and wheated mash bills (specifics undisclosed)
– Casks: undisclosed char
– Barrel Entry Proof: undisclosed
– ABV: 48% (96 proof)
– Price: $45.95 USD in Idaho 2022

Visit daviesscountybourbon.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed this 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 begs to be enjoyed outside, perhaps at the fringes of a swamp, with tall reeds and grasses surrounding you in the early morning. This is a comforting, sweet bourbon, that can give perspective and be a friend all in one. The air is brisk, and maybe there’s a cloud or two on the horizon, but the day is looking to be a good one anyways.

Photo by insung yoon on Unsplash

NOSE:

This smells heavily of grain on the first draw, predominantly wheat and grass. It’s soft and mellow and definitely doesn’t sting the nose in the slightest. Nevertheless, there still is some black pepper on deep inhales, as well as a prevalent barrel char and oak. There’s a bit of citrus zest which makes for both an acidic and bitter component that melt together well. I can also find a floral element, perhaps like roses, but these roses have certainly not matured and bloomed yet. Not much to speak of with fruit, but I could sense some dark dried ones, like raisins and currants.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: There’s a tickle and raspy-ness, but it really is quite smooth all at once.
– Balance: It’s a sweeter bourbon, but its foundation of oak wood chips makes the blend very solid overall.
– Visual: Tawny in color, this doesn’t leave too much of a defined crown, but there are a few long clinging legs nonetheless.

– Taste: It’s taken me about half a dozen sips to begin understanding this bourbon. The raspier mouth feel covers some of the flavors, but underneath that tickle are currants, white pepper, cinnamon, and the grain of the nose. There’s also this quality I can only call the “essence” of bourbon. It’s warm, it’s sweet, but not necessarily from intense fruit or sugars – just sweet. I do notice some floral element here as well, like rose, but not overpowering, just enhancing the natural bourbon sweetness and spice.

The alcohol is incredibly mild, but a Kentucky chew does wake it up a little. The grain becomes more alive, and there are now other fruits to find, like peaches and plums. It’s a worthwhile chew, to be sure.

This bourbon isn’t complex at all, with a subtle wood chip foundation; however, it still manages to shine really well with the flavors that are here and maximize quality out of them.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Short-medium. There’s minimal warmth, but there is a bit of aftertaste that lingers.
– Between Sips: Chocolate covered raisins (maybe even a white chocolate) can be found here between sips, and it’s the oddest thing I have found yet in a finish, but it’s welcome and certainly, very different.

– No More: Vanilla, caramel, marshmallows, and simple syrup emerge the longer I sip from this pour. Its sweetness continues to grow, but everything about this bourbon continues to grow on me along with it. I’m enjoying this pour more than I anticipated, but not in the way I thought I would. It’s authentic, classic bourbon, and it’s just solid all around.

The empty Glencairn is straight up oaky sawdust, and entirely delicious. Warm, deep tones, and how a classic bourbon should finish – plain and simple.

WORTH THE PRICE?

At $50, I think this is well worth the price. It’s unique with a fun finish and softer flavors, but so rustic and classic in its bourbon essence, it can fit on any shelf. If you see it, don’t be afraid to take the leap and see what it’s all about. If you like bourbon, I don’t think it’s possible to be upset with this offering, and the price matches the quality, without question.

DAVIESS COUNTY STRAIGHT BOURBON REVIEW RATING: 87/100

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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.}

Click 93/100 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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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

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 96/100 to access other whiskeys with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Larceny.

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