Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch C924

Appearance: Deep Bronze-Amber. Smell: Powerful alcohol scent mixed with barrel char and softer notes of leather and oak. I suspect this aroma will change with time and further servings. Taste: (first sip, undiluted) A rather thick texture; A substantial initial hit of spice and sweetness, followed by a warming sensation that could thaw the coldest heart! It certainly lives up to its alcohol content... yet, it's quite well-rounded. The warmth lingers. This liquid is very toasty, truly. (second sip, with a big ice sphere) Similar spicy-sweet initial sips... I'm sure there's "caramel" present. Also cinnamon... yes, the cinnamon is here! As the ice melts more, "caramel" definitely emerges, and "Sweetness" starts to dominate the "Spice". Having sampled many different Bourbon brands and varieties, at various proofs — including other Larceny batches — I must say, this reminds me of other potent batches I've tried (Booker's, EC, etc.). Plenty of char, spice, oak, and sweetness. It's not very precise, I know... but I believe you get the idea. Aftertaste: Moderate, with barrel char and oak. A bit drying, in my opinion. I would like to compare this directly with 2 or 3 other recent Larceny batches, to better understand each one. But it's difficult to keep each batch on hand, as obtaining them requires effort (at least for me), and it's months before I can find the newest release. By then, the previous bottle is finished. Reflecting on my assessments of past Larceny releases, the A124 was impressive. I'm uncertain if this C924 will achieve the same recognition, but I consider it comparable to most other Larceny batches from my history. I actually purchased this for about $10 less than the suggested retail price. Therefore, what I had planned to rate 4.0 stars, is boosted due to the value to 4.25 stars.

Larceny barrel proof holds a similar place in my life as Booker's. If I happen to find a bottle at the suggested retail price, I'll typically buy it. If nothing else, it'll serve as some good, potent sipping bourbon. That being said, as expected, C924 doesn't taste its proof in the least. The nose is classic high proof bourbon. Dark cocoa powder, charred oak, honey roasted nuts and spicy cinnamon. This whiskey has an incredibly thick mouthfeel. Dark cocoa powder, honey roasted nuts, caramel, baking spice, and some slightly tart raspberries all combine and actually work well together. The finish is long, oily, and lingering. It carries some drying spice and heat. Cinnamon, dark cocoa powder, leather, and ethanol all conclude the tasting on a satisfyingly hot and complex note. Quite a tasty one, this. Actually, the most striking characteristic here is just how viscous and mouth-coating this bourbon tastes. With the bottling coming in at a fiery 125.1 proof, a little goes a long way. If you can find a bottle at the original price, these Larceny Barrel Proof releases are always an amazing deal.

The aroma is somewhat muted for this particular bottling, which isn't necessarily a bad thing as they can sometimes be overpowering; notes of peanut shell, wood shavings, blackberry (?), figgy pudding, chocolate fudge, and smoke are detected. A musty, barnyard character emerges as it warms. The ethanol presence is well-managed (low). The palate delivers toffee, cocoa powder, barrel char, caramel, tobacco, fig, and most pleasingly, various red fruits (red apple, cherry, pomegranate). The flavors are rich and decadent. The long finish includes cinnamon, nutmeg, oak, black pepper, lingering fruit notes from the palate, cola, dark chocolate, smoke, and leather. The mouthfeel is full-bodied and unctuous. I hesitate to repeatedly state 'this is the best LBP yet!' but it feels that way. If the brand isn't consistently improving, it's certainly becoming more consistently good. At the $60 I paid at Total Wine, it offers excellent value.

Nose is rich and full of chocolate and roasted peanuts with a hint of cinnamon. The initial taste is predominantly chocolate with some vanilla. As the taste develops, I get the peanut note from the nose. The finish brings some espresso notes. There is spice and heat that provides a drying quality to the finish that lingers for a long time.

Yes, this is genuinely excellent spirit. I'm pleased it's receiving the distribution it truly merits. It has a nice, spicy baking spice aroma, with a delicious and mild sweetness and smoothness on the palate, finishing with a nice bite. You can tell it's a quality product. I paid too much ($83), but if I could get it closer to $60, I'd definitely buy it again.

Nose: Cocoa powder, oak, wheat, vanilla. Palate: Begins with a good balance of heat and sweetness. Toasted oak, cinnamon, and baking spices are present. It concludes with notes of chocolate and brown sugar, along with a touch of smokiness. As it mellows, I detect coffee notes. Finish: Reasonably smooth for a barrel-proof. The heat provides a warming sensation in the throat that lingers. Very good.