Review #522 - Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A125
The first barrel proof Larceny release of 2025 - this is batch A125, and it arrived in January. This is Heaven Hill's wheated bourbon, and while these bottles don't carry an age statement, we know the age of the bourbon to be in the 6 to 8 year range.
Heaven Hill uses a mashbill of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley; due to the absence of rye grain, this bourbon could present a softer or sweeter experience despite the high strength (62.5% ABV, or 125 proof, in this case). While the suggested retail price for this bottle is around $65 to $70, the going rate in our area is just a little bit higher.
Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A125
USA - Bourbon
Price: USD 78 (2025)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 62.5% ABV
Details: Not chill filtered; batch A125, bottled 2025
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle 90% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Oaky, even a bit leathery, and then a nutty scent arrives; this is a bit hot, even on the nose. Spirity, with some sharpness from white pepper; that nutty note becomes more defined, specifically dusty peanut shells. The nose leans dry as opposed to sweet.
Palate: A thick mouthfeel - great texture. It is a bit hot and spicy, though, quite woody, although it doesn't taste old. Cinnamon, even Cinnamon Toast Crunch breakfast cereal, mixes with leather, and there's an accent of cardamom; somewhat simple, but powerful.
Finish: A little sweeter into the finish - bruleed sugar, toasted oak. There's still some leathery oak and dry cinnamon, and in the aftertaste, a soft herbal grain side appears. It's a long finish, quite warm.
Final Note: We loved the texture here, and while the flavor is strong, this batch felt a bit more simple than average for these barrel proof offerings from Heaven Hill. It does have a classic profile with the combination of oak, soft nutty flavor, and baking spice; this batch also leaned more toward the dry side than some other Larceny offerings.
Value is okay - the prices on these barrel proof bourbons (both Larceny and Elijah Craig) from Heaven Hill are still quite reasonable in general... this just wasn't our favorite batch.
Our Average Rating: 6.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.09
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other Larceny reviews:
