Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch A123

A123 has a deep mahogany hue and a potent aroma of brown sugar, baked cinnamon apples, buttered scones with raspberry jam, and strong coffee, with a noticeable alcohol presence. The taste is intensely sweet and rich, with a smooth, creamy texture coating the palate with warm brown sugar notes. Tasting it after C923 reveals a distinct peanut brittle flavor. The coffee notes return on the finish, bringing a touch of espresso bitterness, along with char and vanilla. There's lingering warmth, as expected from barrel-proof bourbon. The A123 is very enjoyable, though perhaps not quite as highly rated as before when compared against the B523 and C923. The aroma is complex, but the heat is slightly unbalanced. It offers excellent value at around $70. I would purchase it again. Score: 4.25. Larceny Barrel Proof B523 Its clear mahogany color is similar to A123. The initial aroma is of cocoa powder, worn leather, pancakes with maple syrup, sweet pipe tobacco, and Luxardo cherries. It's reminiscent of a sweet bread pudding with raisins and caramel, and a hint of barbecue sauce tang. It has a palate-coating creaminess with corn pudding sweetness and cinnamon, complemented by the right amount of oak and vanilla on the finish, with a bit of residual heat. The nose on B523 is less bold than the January release, possessing a refined smoothness that suggests more maturity. Despite a similar proof to A123, the heat is better managed. It's a great value at about $70. I would buy it again. Score: 4.5. Larceny Barrel Proof C923 This release shares the same clear mahogany color as the others. The nose is distinct, offering an umami richness with buttered English muffins and strawberry jam, warm banana bread, pomander, chocolate fudge, toffee, vanilla, and a faint saline note. A light, glycerin-like texture is present on the palate, featuring bananas flambé with its characteristic caramelized sugar bitterness. The finish includes some drying leather notes and lingering vanilla. The C923 is exceptional, with an aroma that could be savored indefinitely. It's also the smoothest to drink of the three. Despite a lower community rating, its retail price of $70 is fantastic value. I would definitely buy the C923 again and seek out more. Score: 4.75. Overall, these 2023 Larceny Barrel Proof releases are defined by their sweetness, offering a comforting warmth without being overwhelming. They are all similar in proof, ranging from 124.4 to 126.4. The A123 shows youthful vigor, the B523 seems more aged, and the C923 masterfully blends robustness with sophistication, adding savory dimensions. There's a perception that the Larceny Barrel Proof line is improving. While not as familiar with it as Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, these releases are already very good, making further improvement a challenge.

A123 BARREL PROOF SHOWDOWN Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A123 Larceny Barrel Proof A123 Still working through bottles from my collection that I haven't reviewed. I'm a big supporter of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (ECBP), and I have most of their triannual releases from the past few years. The brand has existed for a little over a decade. Larceny Barrel Proof (LBP) is also released three times a year, but it's only been available for about three years. The "A123" code indicates which of the three yearly releases (January, May, September) the bottle is. The "A" represents the first release of the year; the "1" signifies January. The "23" denotes the 2023 offering. This system applies to any release, so "B523" would be the second 2023 release: "B" for second, "5" for May, and "23" for 2023. Both ECBP and LBP are made at the Heaven Hill distillery, hence the identical release designation. Both are bourbon, but ECBP uses rye in its mashbill, while LBP uses wheat instead of rye. Since both barrel proofs come from the same distiller and release periods—and differ in proof by only 0.2—I thought a direct comparison would be insightful. That said, a 125-proof bourbon requires a proper introduction, so I had a generous pour of Henry McKenna, another Heaven Hill product, as a 100-proof primer. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A123 Very dark color; Pantone 160. The complex aroma brings to mind dark chocolate-covered cherries, both candy and caramel apples, root beer, pomander, Golden Grahams cereal, vanilla, and a hint of dust. The alcohol is more prominent than in the LBP, even though the proofs are nearly the same. The palate has some body, along with more dark chocolate cherries and a hint of espresso bitterness. The alcohol is noticeable, leading to a spicy cinnamon burn with succulent apples and a touch of oak tannins; a long vanilla finish. I've always enjoyed every ECBP I've tried. This one is quite good, though not my absolute favorite release. That's not a criticism; it just highlights the high standard this brand has established. I aim to acquire every ECBP release, but sometimes they're hard to find where I live. When available, they usually cost around $80. Would I purchase this again? Absolutely, every release if possible. 4.25 stars. 125.6 proof. Non-chill filtered. 12-year age statement. Mashbill: 78% corn, 12% malted barley, 10% rye. Larceny Barrel Proof A123 Dark, but slightly lighter than the ECBP; Pantone 159. Cracker Jack, warm apple pie with butter, Chinese five-spice, warm cola concentrate, and some caramel. The pervasive mouthfeel is similarly viscous to the ECBP; alcohol on both the nose and palate is less apparent, though definitely there. A long finish with a smooth cappuccino note, plus some vanilla. As a sports announcer once exclaimed: “Whoaaaaaah, Nellie!” This LBP A123 is incredible, like a comforting homemade meal enjoyed by a cozy fire. I found this at a shop I don't usually visit, but I'm planning a return trip soon! I don't recall the exact price, but LBP typically sells for $60-70. I want more! Would I buy it again? I'm reaching for my wallet right now. Definitely don't miss this one. 4.5 stars. 125.8 proof. Non-chill filtered. 6- to 8-year age statement. Mashbill: 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley. Barrel-proof bourbons are my preferred choice: no dilution whatsoever. Both of these are non-chill filtered, preserving the esters and fatty acids that are typically removed during standard filtration. It's a more natural process. It's pure—straight from the barrel. Both of these A123 releases demand your attention, as a barrel-proof bourbon ought to. They are beautiful, sensual, and rich, and they could easily spoil you if you're not careful—and they know it. But you can't help but return for more. The LBP A123 is truly exceptional. It's abundant in the nose, coats the palate, and wraps around the tongue like a warm, comforting blanket. It's smoother than the ECBP (though the ECBP is certainly not rough; this might be due to ECBP's rye versus wheat component). The LBP's finish lasts and lasts. Same distiller, nearly identical barrel proof, different ages, different mashbill: despite my strong preference for ECBP, I favor the LBP in this comparison. Note: All spirits were tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

The color is a deep bronze/amber. The nose is strong and familiar to other high-proof spirits, with notes of molasses and sweet burnt oak. While drinking it with a large ice ball, it comes across as quite potent. Initial notes of sweet crisp apples are followed by a significant warmth and tingling sensation. It tastes like apples soaked in alcohol! The ice gradually softens it, but this spirit will certainly warm you on a cold night. I'm enjoying this first experience. An expert review mentioned 'maple' as a primary flavor, which I'm not detecting yet, perhaps on future tastings. The finish is long, characterized by oak and char. I found this bottle at my local grocery store, the last one, which they had to locate for me. I would purchase it again if I could find it. Update: Having it again tonight, I detected strong notes of vanilla and caramel. Consequently, I'm increasing my original rating from 3.75 to 4.

The nose is fruitier than many in this series, with notes of caramel-dipped green apple, berry compote, vanilla, cashew, milk chocolate, and cinnamon sugar. The ethanol is well-controlled. The palate mirrors the nose closely, featuring all the aforementioned notes along with soft oak, cola, and toffee. The flavors are rich and bold, but there's a certain sharpness present. The exceptionally long finish offers a pleasant blend of sweet and spicy notes, including red hots candy, black sweet and sour sauce, black pepper, peanut butter, and oak, which is slightly more bitter than the oak detected on the palate. The mouthfeel is very rich and chewy, yet also has a slightly grainy texture, a minor imperfection. It's one of the better releases. I found myself wishing the flavors were a bit smoother and the mouthfeel more velvety, but one can't have everything. At $79.99, there's nothing that would deter me from continuing to purchase the three annual releases, unless the quality significantly declines.

LARCENY BARREL PROOF A123 *NOSE: Adheres to the sides of the Glencairn like glue. Dry Brown Sugar, Maple, Baked Sweet Potato, Barrel Spice, Fresh Hay, Fall Spices (Allspice, Cinnamon, Nutmeg), and Orange Peel. *NEAT: Thick, Coating Mouthfeel. Big Sweetness up front with Brown Sugar, Molasses, Sweet Potato, Sweet Oak. Mid-Palate gets a little Tannic Bite, Drying Oak, and Orange Peel. Backend gets Cinnamon and more Bitter Tannins. Long Finish with a Big KYHug but doesn’t drink higher than its proof the way most Larceny does to me. Great Thick Clingy Coating of Cinnamon, Orange Peel, and Oak that layers with each sip. * SPLASH: A few drops of water and the Orange Oil really takes over. A few drops more and you get Root Beer Barrels, Sawdust, and Peanut Shell. *VERDICT: This is definitely better than the B520 that I have. Not the hugest fan of HH’s Wheated Mashbill, but this is worth a pickup at retail. I do wish at the price point it was age stated.

Dark copper in color and quite viscous for a barrel proof product. The legs appear late and move slowly. Naturally, the wheat is prominent on the aroma, with baking spices, toast, light caramel, fresh hay, and fresh oak. The mouthfeel is thin, but it lingers on the palate and the back of the tongue. It's spicy and warm, with hints of vanilla and caramel. The finish is long: chocolate, dark caramel, clove, and concludes with a touch of ripe fruit and a rich sweetness that emerges through the dry oak and baking spice. Naturally, it opens up a bit with some water. Not the best release I've experienced, but it's still excellent and significantly more complex and exciting than its "regular" counterpart.