Larceny Barrel Proof Batch C924 Review: A 125.1 Proof Wheated Bourbon Gem

BOTTLE DETAILS

• DISTILLER: Heaven Hill Distillery
• MASH BILL: 68% Corn | 20% Wheat | 12% Malted Barley
• AGE: Not stated, reportedly 6-8 years old
• YEAR: 2024
• PROOF: 125.1
• MSRP: $60
• BUY ONLINE: Larceny Barrel Proof Where to Buy

DREW'S NOTES

SHARE WITH: I've said it before, and it remains true for this latest release. This one should be shared with Weller obsessives who think that brand is the pinnacle for wheated bourbon. And I'll throw in Four Roses devotees, too, because this thing is just as fruit-forward and complex as some of the cask strength picks out there and at half the price.

WORTH THE PRICE: Without a doubt. Pound for pound, there's no better value in barrel-proof wheated bourbon right now. I'm not sure why the price hasn't increased along with Heaven Hill's other annual barrel-proof trio, Elijah Craig, but I'm not complaining.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle. All. Day. Long. There is typically some variation across these releases with some being a little better than others. But Heaven Hill delivered a trio of consistently impressive Larceny barrel proofs for 2024, all worthy of the home bar.

OVERALL: This latest Larceny Barrel Proof release may get a little more attention than its predecessors because it sports sleek new packaging (the standard offering got new duds earlier this year). Did it need it? I always recognized Larceny more for the sleek, keyhole-shaped bottle, which hasn't changed, but the new copper foil accents on the Barrel Proof are admittedly pretty sexy.

It's what's inside this bottle that really matters, however, and Larceny Barrel Proof fans will find lots of familiar highlights in this latest release. Top notes of soft baking spice, prominent in the B524 release also, stand out initially with cinnamon stick, clove, and ginger. Undertones of damp tobacco bloom with time in the glass, eventually adding familiar fruit notes of candy apple and dried cherries. It's all maybe a little restrained compared to the aroma on B524, but the palate is just as hefty and well-built, delivering a smack of brown sugar sweetness and energetic notes of allspice, barbecue sauce, and blackberry jam. It's peppery and warm but still impressively approachable with a long finish of barrel char, maple, and cola. Back-to-back-to-back winners for Larceny Barrel Proof in 2024.

BRAND NOTES

No two Bourbon barrels age exactly the same—which is why every release of Larceny Barrel Proof has its own distinct flavor & proof point.

To unlock the details of your bottle, check the batch number on the label.

FIRST LETTER:

Tells you which release it came from, starting with "A" for the first of the year, "B" for the second release, etc.

FIRST NUMBER:

Tells you what month it was released: January, May or September.

LAST TWO NUMBERS:

Tells you what year it was released.

TASTING NOTES:

• Color: Dark sepia
• Aroma: Toasted bread, with maple and cinnamon
• Taste: Rich molasses coats the tongue, with notes of fig and hazelnut
• Finish: Nuanced flavor fades into lingering warmth

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.