Larceny Barrel Proof Batch C923 Review
Barrel Proof Series
Larceny C923 has arrived and it seems to have mixed reviews, with some folks loving it and others finding it to be lackluster (Breaking Bourbon didn’t care for it very much). I’ve been a fan of the Larceny Barrel Proof releases over the past few years, especially at the price point of around $70. I do still tend to favor Heaven Hill’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof better, but then, that has historically been at least a 12-year-old product, versus the Larceny 6 – 8 years. So, let’s pour a dram and get to work on this Larceny Barrel Proof Batch C923 review!
Series: Larceny Barrel Proof – released 3 times per year
Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Age: 6 – 8 years
Proof: 126.4
Batch Designation: Small Batch
Proof Designation: Barrel Proof
Filtered Status: Non-Chill Filtered
Mash bill: 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, 12% Malted Barley
Distillery: Heaven Hill
Company: Heaven Hill
Bottled By: Old Fitzgerald Distillery
Distilled/Aging Location: Bardstown, Kentucky
Release Date: September 2023
MSRP: $60 (2023)
Availability: Moderately Available
Larceny Barrel Proof Batch C923 Review
My tasting reviews are unique in that I include the notes of several well-known whiskey critics. The hope is that this format will help me and others to explore and expand their tasting experience. After you have taken your own tasting notes, read the reviews and see if there is a flavor note that others discerned that now you can detect as well.
Nose
Some ethanol but not overpowering, sweet oak, caramel, vanilla, a hint of peanut shells, figs, molasses, and some sort of pastry or dough. Once you get past the ethanol, it is a predominantly sweet nose.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Mash & Drum: Smells like a wheated bourbon covered in that Heaven Hills nuttiness. Cracker Jacks, chocolate covered peanuts, tons of vanilla & caramel. This is very sweet once you get past the nuttiness.
Whiskey Raiders: Bold and sweet, full of maple, pancake syrup, brown butter, toffee and cherry cola. It’s powerful, fun and loaded with wheater character and pleasant sweet oak. Yum.
Bourbon Inspector: Deep caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, light cinnamon, and touch of chocolate. Not as hot as the proof would suggest. This is one of the better noses I’ve experienced.
Palate
Caramel, chocolate, barrel char, vanilla, mild cinnamon, hint of peanuts, toasted barrel, root beer, dark brown sugar, dark fruits, leather, baking spices. It starts off sweet, then spiciness and barrel char kick in, and then sweetness emerges once more. The sweet and dry/spicy notes are a staccato of flavors, alternating one to another, but overall seem to be balanced.
C923 is viscous and has a pleasant mouthfeel. The alcohol heat is warming rather than sharp or harsh.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Mash & Drum: This is delicious. It glides across your palate. Heavy brown sugar, heavy vanilla, powdered sugar, powdered doughnut-type vibe, a little Luxardo cherry. It is easily one of the sweeter Larceny Barrel Proofs.
Whiskey Raiders: Thick mouthfeel with a prickle of heat. There’s a bit more ethanol on this release compared to the first two of 2023, but it’s far from punishing. Maple, cinnamon, pepper, clove and a hint of nutmeg blend with decadent pancake syrup, maple, crème brûlée and caramelized sugar.
Bourbon Inspector: The deep caramel carries through and is still not as hot as the proof suggests. Spice comes in mid-sip but it’s very balanced overall. Additional notes of brown sugar, graham cracker, and maple syrup. This is a really good high-proof wheated bourbon.
Finish
A moderately long finish with caramel, vanilla, old oak, leather, mild baking spices, and a hint of hazelnuts.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Mash & Drum: Nice finish, a little peppery.
Whiskey Raiders: Long finish: Light on oak but heavy on dessert. This drinks like pot de crème and crème brûlée all day long. I love it.
Bourbon Inspector: Medium, satisfying, and spicy (but still not too spicy for the proof). Initial notes of cinnamon, caramel, and maple syrup with a touch of oak to round it out. The pour is pretty sweet throughout.
The Burn
5 out of 5. This means that the burn from the alcohol is lower (10% to 20%) than what I would expect it to be. I would guess this to be around 114 proof, not 126.4 proof.
Summary
Overall, I would say that this is a solid, interesting pour, worth the $60 MSRP, and I’ll probably get a bunker bottle. As a note, I vacillated between B523 & C923 for the second place position…ultimately, the longer finish of B523 placed it above C923 for me. My personal rankings of the 2022 – 2023 Larceny batches from favorite to least favorite based on a 1 – 10 scale are:
- B522 8.4 complex sweetness & spice w/ long semi-sweet finish
- B523 8.3 the finish is quite a bit longer than C923
- C923 8.2 sweeter palate than B523 but the finish is less
- C922 7.9 spicier w/ mild sweetness, shorter semi-dry finish
- A123 7.5
Notes and History
Read the Elijah Craig bourbon history by following this link to my review of batch A123.
My Tasting Notes
A blank version of this tasting wheel to use for your own tasting notes is available to paid subscribers.
If you found this Larceny Barrel Proof Batch C923 review helpful, forward it to a friend!
