Brian’s Larceny Barrel Proof B520 Review
30-March-2021
LARCENY BARREL PROOF BATCH B520 BOURBON REVIEW:
Awarded Whiskey of the Year by Whisky Advocate magazine, Larceny Barrel Proof B520 (Larceny BP B520) lives up to all the praise and awards it has received. Could this really be a wheater? While B520’s 122 Proof asserts itself as if it had rye in the mash bill, it doesn’t overwhelm. And aromas of sweet flora hint at what is to come and in the mouth it is both silky and gritty as spices and sweets play with a nice freshness I did not expect. More please.
LARCENY BARREL PROOF B520 BOURBON VITAL STATS:
Category: Wheated Bourbon (tri-annual release)
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)
Barrel Proof: 125
Bottle label: Batch No. B520
ABV: 61.1% (122.2 Proof)
Price: $49.95 USD (in Idaho 2020)
Click to learn more about Larceny Barrel Proof bourbon.
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
For the evaluation, alternate amounts, equaling about four ounces, were poured into two Glencairns after one and a half ounces were removed from a newly opened bottle and added to our Infinity Bottle. Thus prepared, bourbon was then assessed with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.
Check out her review for this bourbon here!
LARCENY BARREL PROOF B520 NOSE:
At first nosing, Larceny BP B520 gives a dry quick burn, but nothing to cause alarm. I sense light fruit blossoms, fresh shucked sweet corn and dusty wheat. And hidden in the flora are ripe red berries, and an aroma of fresh apples in caramel sauce. To my nose, spices of cinnamon and nutmeg are faint, but the spices mix nicely with yeasty brown sugared and crushed graham crackers. Then come the sweets: vanilla custard, maple sugar candy, buttery caramel, maple syrup and nutty toffee treat the nose while pecans and light toasted oak work together with a wonderful petricor freshness.
LARCENY BARREL PROOF B520 PALATE:
Larceny BP B520 tastes amazing. Each element patiently waits its turn ready to be detected. Again with the fruit tree blossoms, then sweet corn and dusty wheat sensed on the nose but now a single maraschino cherry and a little bitter citrus zest and spices of cinnamon, ginger and black pepper. Rich vanilla enhances the maple syrup and pecan chips in buttery caramel. While not wood forward by any means, fresh cut oak balances a sweet smokiness.
Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Larceny BP B520 is solid and well balanced. When first held, it is silken and then rough and gritty, giving the mouth a tickling bite. In the Glencairn, medium thick legs cling then fall quickly to the welcoming auburn colored pool leaving behind many small spires on the inverted crown.
LARCENY BARREL PROOF B520 FINISH:
The aromas, flavors and sensations linger on Larceny Barrel Proof B520 sweet finish. My throat is almost hot after each swallow but the feeling is fitting as blossoms fade into wheaty berry nectar infused with cinnamon and black pepper. And then, sensations of crushed pecans in a maple syrup glaze blend with fresh cut then toasted wood. What a wonderful way to end each sip. When the last dram has been sipped away, sweet toasted wood and a hint of pecan-graham crust wafts from the empty Glencairn.
THE ADDITION OF WATER
Water can often tame big, bold whiskeys and the addition of 2-4 drops will not radically drop the proof of the pour. Rather, water may help open the spirit allowing the aromas and flavors to bloom. Three evenings later, controlled amounts of water were added to Larceny BP B520.
Two drops of distilled water were added to 1.5 ounces, dropping the pour to about 121.84 Proof. With two drops, B520 loses alcohol on the nose but fruit blossoms, fresh sweet corn and dusty wheat remain. Faint apples, cinnamon and nutmeg mix with brown sugar, crushed graham crackers, vanilla, maple syrup, and light toasted oak. Like the neat pour, B520 treats the mouth with fruit blossoms, sweet corn, dusty wheat and that same bitter citrus zest, cinnamon, ginger and black pepper. The vanilla, maple syrup and buttery caramel also come through as does the fresh cut oak.
Four drops of distilled water were added to another 1.5 ounces of Larceny B520, dropping pour proof to 121.49. Woody caramel dominants the aroma. Gone are the blossoms, sweet corn and dusty wheat and the apple aroma has nearly faded as have the spices of cinnamon and nutmeg. There is a bit of vanilla and maple as well light toasted oak but they are subtle. In the mouth, these flavors are apparent but are also muted. The only trait which remains is the long hot finish, but without much aroma or flavor.
Two drops of water have little effect on an ounce and a half pour of Larceny B520 and four drops of water is way too many. In my opinion, this bourbon is best without the addition of water. But, to each his own.
Download and use the free Watered Whiskey Calculator for your own whiskey evaluations.
MY LARCENY BARREL PROOF B520 RATING: 93/100 (neat)
Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
Absolutely and without hesitation I would grab ANY of the Larceny Barrel Proof releases.
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.
LARCENY BARREL PROOF B520 TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
Back to …