The limited-edition bourbon sits in the Goldilocks zone for high-proof whiskey—just the right amount of heat.
Larceny Bourbon is a favorite of the Men’s Journal editors. Produced by Heaven Hill, it's a wheated bourbon, meaning the distillers use wheat instead of rye as the secondary flavoring grain after corn. The mashbill is 68 percent corn, 20 percent wheat, and 12 percent malted barley—which Heaven Hill claims this is twice as much wheat as you’d find in other comparable wheated bourbons. Whatever the case, the use of wheat provides a burst of sweetness on the palate as opposed to the spicy notes that rye adds.
But in 2020, Heaven Hill decided to add a barrel-proof version to its portfolio, much to the delight of bourbon fans. And the latest expression in this lineup, Larceny Barrel Proof B524, released just last month, is another winner.
The term “barrel-proof” refers to whiskey that isn't diluted before bottling, as opposed to being cut down to a minimum of 80 proof (as is the case with most whiskey). Sometimes, the liquid is filtered to remove any charred bits from the cask that might make its way into the bottle after years of aging. But other times it’s completely uncut and unfiltered.
Legally, barrel-proof whiskey is allowed to vary by up to two degrees, or proof points, from what it actually was when it was dumped. But overall, drinking a barrel-proof whiskey is as close to sipping straight from a barrel as you can get without actually doing so in a distillery’s rickhouse.
Larceny Barrel Proof is released in three batches per year, with the proof varying per release. Generally speaking, the age of the bourbon is between six and eight years old, and the proof tends to fall in the mid-120s. That's the Goldilocks zone for a high-ABV bourbon: not too hot and not too weak.
It's called B524 to indicate that it’s the second batch of the year (B), released in May of 2024 (524). It clocks in at 125.4 proof. It's an interesting bourbon, with strong and unusual notes of fresh orange on the nose. That burst of citrus is followed by milk chocolate, dusty oak, sweet hay, espresso, hot honey, and lavender on the palate. But that defining orange note is really pronounced, an unexpected but very tasty hit of freshness that really makes this particular batch stand out. Add a little bit of water or a large ice cube, and the palate opens up even further.
Larceny Barrel-Proof B524 is available now for $65, but always double-check to see which release it is before buying if you want to make sure you’re getting the latest one.
Related: The Best Wheated Bourbons to Buy When You Can’t Find Pappy
