Hannah’s Larceny Straight Bourbon Review
Original review written February 4, 2020
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Under $25, this is a solid Heaven Hill Distillery offering. If you like tasting grains, grass and a bit of barrel, give this inexpensive bottle a try. Read my Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review here! 88/100
VITALS:
– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Age: nas (believed to be 4-5 yrs)*
– Mash Bill: Corn=68%; Wheat=20%; Malted Barley=12%
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 46% (92 proof)
– Price: $23.95 USD in Idaho
*Visit heavenhill.com for more information
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
I had 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:
With such deep and earthy tones, this dram could be brought out to sea, perched amongst strong and determined admirals and sailors on a warship. Larceny is the cozy piece of land to bring along to plant your feet on whenever you’re missing your home soil.
Photo by Thomas Park on Unsplash
NOSE:
I find a sweet, but woody caramel on the first inhales along with candied orange peels. Normally, I don’t care for sugary sweet scents, but this has enough ginger, leather, roasted corn and old oak to keep it from being too much for me. Deep inhales bring out some barrel char and a quick burn of alcohol. There’s a little bit of dark fruit, maybe some fig mixed with a pinch of allspice, the cinnamon component being the most dominant.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Fresh, but textured with raw, fibrous grain coating the palate.
– Balance: Fairly simple. It’s a one-trick-pony, but it’s a nice trick all the same.
– Visual: Auburn in color, there are clinging fat legs that fall from an uneven crown.
– Taste: A caramelly barrel char is very evident on the first sip, but the alcohol is still unaggressive. The wheat from the mash bill is raw and almost bitter as opposed to the traditional, sweet softness I’ve come to expect from wheated bourbons.
The corn is again, roasted, contributing to the smokiness of the char and bitterness simultaneously.
There is a sweetness here, but it is very subtle, perhaps a wedge of granny smith apple with some cinnamon. I can pull a little bit of cherry, but it is possible that I’m forcing myself to taste my favorite fruit, it’s so subdued.
I also find a couple of peanuts, but like the other flavors here, it isn’t immediately obvious. It’s more of an essence that a fully developed flavor.
A Kentucky chew makes the grain big, staying bitter enough to force my salivary glands into action to lift the pleasant denseness, and to combat a little tickle of alcohol and newfound black pepper.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Long. The bourbon warmth may not move far into the throat, but it stubbornly clings to the palate, which I don’t mind.
– Between Sips: The raw, grassy and slight bitterness of the grains is all of the company I need between the sips. Quite a lovely aftertaste, I must admit.
– No More: Fresh, woodsy warmth continues to permeate on the palate along with a bite of citrus as I near the end of the glass. I love it.
The empty Glencairn is a spicy and seasoned oak – perfectly, warm and inviting. Absolutely love it.
WORTH THE PRICE?
Definitely. This is really just a good value bourbon. I’m planning on keeping in the rotation right next to my Eagle Rare.
RATING: 88/100
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