Table Of Contents

The Details

Rating 87
Style
American Whiskey
Whiskey
Produced In Kentucky
United States
ABV 62.5%
Availability Limited
Price $65.00 
Reviewed By
Reviewed 2025-04-15

Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A125 Review

Released three times per year, Heaven Hill’s Larceny Barrel Proof bourbon is the most common version of the distillery’s wheated mash bill at cask strength. It’s distilled from a recipe of 68 percent corn, 20 percent wheat, and 12 percent malted barley — the same mash bill as both regular Larceny (bottled at 92 proof) and the company’s Old Fitzerald decanter series, which is always a bottled-in-bond 100-proof expression of varying ages.

Larceny Barrel Proof is generally between six and eight years old, though individual releases contain no specific age statement. While normal Larceny is an always-on (and generally always-findable) bottle, the barrel proof version is released every January, May, and September. Today, we’re looking at Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A125. The “A” stands for the year’s first batch, the “1” signals January, and “25” corresponds to the year of release.

Coincidentally, Batch A125 is bottled at exactly 125 proof, just 0.1 proof points below the final batch from 2024.

Let’s see how Heaven Hill’s latest barrel--proof wheated bourbon tastes!

Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A125 review.

Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A125: Stats and Availability

Larceny Barrel Proof maintains the same MSRP — around $65 — in 2025 as in 2024. This is a popular, somewhat limited nationwide release, though it’s far easier to find than its cousin Old Fitzgerald. Most fans can find bottles within $15 of MSRP, even in the biggest metropolitan markets.

Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A125 Review

As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

The nose starts with classic elements of Heaven Hill’s wheated mash, with plenty of ethanol heat: caramel corn, hard butterscotch candy, toasted oak, maple-glazed French toast, and corn pudding. Both unbaked sourdough and toasted sourdough bread build with time in the glass. Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ground clove add intense character on a second sniff, though perhaps dragging the overall nose a little further into baking spice territory than would normally be expected with this expression.

There’s a semi-sour and mildly fruity aroma just below the surface, reminiscent of overripe bananas or fermenting apples; indeed, I’m reminded of an active tank of sour mash. I’m smelling noticeably less dark cherry — a somewhat common scent on well-aged wheated bourbons — than with some recent versions of Larceny Barrel Proof, which might have otherwise balanced out some of that aforementioned tart/fermenting fruit, in addition to tempering the ethanol. A tiny wisp of burnt matches pops up on a very deep inhale; it’s surprising, but not so sulfur-forward as to be detrimental to the overall experience.

Taste

A first sip hits the front palate with caramel-drizzled gingersnaps, and the early flavors already showcase a bit more balance than the nose. Roasted, spiced cashews and almonds follow in short order, along with Medjool dates and fig preserves, which glide steadily back across the tongue. Those dark, preserved fruits are joined by hefty helpings of barrel char and oak.

At first, the bourbon drinks noticeably below its 125 proof, though alcohol-forward heat builds with each subsequent sip until we’re left with something about how one might expect the ABV to land.

Similar to the nose, the midpalate grows slightly tart, big on baked green apples dusted with a heaping portion of cinnamon. Savory cornbread and hot dinner rolls linger from here through to the finish. While I found that fermented, sour mash quality dominated on the nose, it’s manifesting here as a more composed — but still highly bready — series of flavors.

Finish

The finish suddenly bursts with potent cinnamon candy and pink bubblegum before settling back into clove and oak-forward caramel. It’s a spicy, moderately hot finish that grows in complexity with more sips, though residual cinnamon muscles out some more subtle flavors that might otherwise shine in this final act.

After some trial and error, I found a little dilution goes a long way toward rounding out this bourbon, bringing out more wood sugars and dark pan caramel. As such, I’d recommend experimenting with a dropper to get the most out of a pour.

Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A125 Rating

87/100

Recap

Since its introduction in 2020, Larceny Barrel Proof has gained status as a sleeper hit among bourbon fans. It’s arguably one of the best deals in Kentucky bourbon, often stacking up — or simply outperforming — some older whiskeys with much higher price tags. This latest Larceny Barrel Proof checks most boxes one would expect from the expression. But it does so with a bit less poise than some recent versions, at times leaning either sweet or tart without complementary aromas and flavors in the same proportion. It’s still a bourbon I’d be happy to sip on most occasions, though in this case, I’ll keep a dropper handy to round out a few of the unpolished edges.

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87
POINTS
Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A125
Released three times per year, Heaven Hill’s Larceny Barrel Proof bourbon is the most common version of the distillery’s wheated mash bill at cask strength. It’s distilled from a recipe of 68 percent corn, 20 percent wheat, and 12 percent malted barley — the same mash bill as both regular Larceny (bottled at 92 proof) and the company’s Old Fitzerald decanter series, which is always a bottled-in-bond 100-proof expression of varying ages. Larceny Barrel Proof is generally between six and eight years old, though individual releases contain no specific age statement. While normal Larceny is an always-on (and generally always-findable) bottle, the barrel proof version is released every January, May, and September. Today, we’re looking at Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A125. The “A” stands for the year’s first batch, the “1” signals January, and “25” corresponds to the year of release. Coincidentally, Batch A125 is bottled at exactly 125 proof, just 0.1 proof points below the final batch from 2024. Let’s see how Heaven Hill’s latest barrel--proof wheated bourbon tastes! Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A125 review.

Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A125: Stats and Availability

Larceny Barrel Proof maintains the same MSRP — around $65 — in 2025 as in 2024. This is a popular, somewhat limited nationwide release, though it’s far easier to find than its cousin Old Fitzgerald. Most fans can find bottles within $15 of MSRP, even in the biggest metropolitan markets.

Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A125 Review

As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

The nose starts with classic elements of Heaven Hill’s wheated mash, with plenty of ethanol heat: caramel corn, hard butterscotch candy, toasted oak, maple-glazed French toast, and corn pudding. Both unbaked sourdough and toasted sourdough bread build with time in the glass. Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ground clove add intense character on a second sniff, though perhaps dragging the overall nose a little further into baking spice territory than would normally be expected with this expression. There’s a semi-sour and mildly fruity aroma just below the surface, reminiscent of overripe bananas or fermenting apples; indeed, I’m reminded of an active tank of sour mash. I’m smelling noticeably less dark cherry — a somewhat common scent on well-aged wheated bourbons — than with some recent versions of Larceny Barrel Proof, which might have otherwise balanced out some of that aforementioned tart/fermenting fruit, in addition to tempering the ethanol. A tiny wisp of burnt matches pops up on a very deep inhale; it’s surprising, but not so sulfur-forward as to be detrimental to the overall experience.

Taste

A first sip hits the front palate with caramel-drizzled gingersnaps, and the early flavors already showcase a bit more balance than the nose. Roasted, spiced cashews and almonds follow in short order, along with Medjool dates and fig preserves, which glide steadily back across the tongue. Those dark, preserved fruits are joined by hefty helpings of barrel char and oak. At first, the bourbon drinks noticeably below its 125 proof, though alcohol-forward heat builds with each subsequent sip until we’re left with something about how one might expect the ABV to land. Similar to the nose, the midpalate grows slightly tart, big on baked green apples dusted with a heaping portion of cinnamon. Savory cornbread and hot dinner rolls linger from here through to the finish. While I found that fermented, sour mash quality dominated on the nose, it’s manifesting here as a more composed — but still highly bready — series of flavors.

Finish

The finish suddenly bursts with potent cinnamon candy and pink bubblegum before settling back into clove and oak-forward caramel. It’s a spicy, moderately hot finish that grows in complexity with more sips, though residual cinnamon muscles out some more subtle flavors that might otherwise shine in this final act. After some trial and error, I found a little dilution goes a long way toward rounding out this bourbon, bringing out more wood sugars and dark pan caramel. As such, I’d recommend experimenting with a dropper to get the most out of a pour.

Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A125 Rating

87/100

Recap

Since its introduction in 2020, Larceny Barrel Proof has gained status as a sleeper hit among bourbon fans. It’s arguably one of the best deals in Kentucky bourbon, often stacking up — or simply outperforming — some older whiskeys with much higher price tags. This latest Larceny Barrel Proof checks most boxes one would expect from the expression. But it does so with a bit less poise than some recent versions, at times leaning either sweet or tart without complementary aromas and flavors in the same proportion. It’s still a bourbon I’d be happy to sip on most occasions, though in this case, I’ll keep a dropper handy to round out a few of the unpolished edges.

Reviewed On: 04-15-2025
87
POINTS
Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A125
Released three times per year, Heaven Hill’s Larceny Barrel Proof bourbon is the most common version of the distillery’s wheated mash bill at cask strength. It’s distilled from a recipe of 68 percent corn, 20 percent wheat, and 12 percent malted barley — the same mash bill as both regular Larceny (bottled at 92 proof) and the company’s Old Fitzerald decanter series, which is always a bottled-in-bond 100-proof expression of varying ages. Larceny Barrel Proof is generally between six and eight years old, though individual releases contain no specific age statement. While normal Larceny is an always-on (and generally always-findable) bottle, the barrel proof version is released every January, May, and September. Today, we’re looking at Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A125. The “A” stands for the year’s first batch, the “1” signals January, and “25” corresponds to the year of release. Coincidentally, Batch A125 is bottled at exactly 125 proof, just 0.1 proof points below the final batch from 2024. Let’s see how Heaven Hill’s latest barrel--proof wheated bourbon tastes! Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A125 review.

Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A125: Stats and Availability

Larceny Barrel Proof maintains the same MSRP — around $65 — in 2025 as in 2024. This is a popular, somewhat limited nationwide release, though it’s far easier to find than its cousin Old Fitzgerald. Most fans can find bottles within $15 of MSRP, even in the biggest metropolitan markets.

Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A125 Review

As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

The nose starts with classic elements of Heaven Hill’s wheated mash, with plenty of ethanol heat: caramel corn, hard butterscotch candy, toasted oak, maple-glazed French toast, and corn pudding. Both unbaked sourdough and toasted sourdough bread build with time in the glass. Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ground clove add intense character on a second sniff, though perhaps dragging the overall nose a little further into baking spice territory than would normally be expected with this expression. There’s a semi-sour and mildly fruity aroma just below the surface, reminiscent of overripe bananas or fermenting apples; indeed, I’m reminded of an active tank of sour mash. I’m smelling noticeably less dark cherry — a somewhat common scent on well-aged wheated bourbons — than with some recent versions of Larceny Barrel Proof, which might have otherwise balanced out some of that aforementioned tart/fermenting fruit, in addition to tempering the ethanol. A tiny wisp of burnt matches pops up on a very deep inhale; it’s surprising, but not so sulfur-forward as to be detrimental to the overall experience.

Taste

A first sip hits the front palate with caramel-drizzled gingersnaps, and the early flavors already showcase a bit more balance than the nose. Roasted, spiced cashews and almonds follow in short order, along with Medjool dates and fig preserves, which glide steadily back across the tongue. Those dark, preserved fruits are joined by hefty helpings of barrel char and oak. At first, the bourbon drinks noticeably below its 125 proof, though alcohol-forward heat builds with each subsequent sip until we’re left with something about how one might expect the ABV to land. Similar to the nose, the midpalate grows slightly tart, big on baked green apples dusted with a heaping portion of cinnamon. Savory cornbread and hot dinner rolls linger from here through to the finish. While I found that fermented, sour mash quality dominated on the nose, it’s manifesting here as a more composed — but still highly bready — series of flavors.

Finish

The finish suddenly bursts with potent cinnamon candy and pink bubblegum before settling back into clove and oak-forward caramel. It’s a spicy, moderately hot finish that grows in complexity with more sips, though residual cinnamon muscles out some more subtle flavors that might otherwise shine in this final act. After some trial and error, I found a little dilution goes a long way toward rounding out this bourbon, bringing out more wood sugars and dark pan caramel. As such, I’d recommend experimenting with a dropper to get the most out of a pour.

Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A125 Rating

87/100

Recap

Since its introduction in 2020, Larceny Barrel Proof has gained status as a sleeper hit among bourbon fans. It’s arguably one of the best deals in Kentucky bourbon, often stacking up — or simply outperforming — some older whiskeys with much higher price tags. This latest Larceny Barrel Proof checks most boxes one would expect from the expression. But it does so with a bit less poise than some recent versions, at times leaning either sweet or tart without complementary aromas and flavors in the same proportion. It’s still a bourbon I’d be happy to sip on most occasions, though in this case, I’ll keep a dropper handy to round out a few of the unpolished edges.

Reviewed On: 04-15-2025