4 days ago
America's Top Bourbon—According To The Beverage Testing Institute
A bottle of Larceny Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Photo, courtesy Heaven
Larceny Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch No. A125 was America's top-ranked bourbon at the 2025 Beverage Testing Institute (BevTest) bourbon judging. The whiskey scored 97/100 points and was awarded a Platinum Medal. Below is a background on the bourbon, as well as a detailed tasting note along with the official BevTest evaluation.
Larceny Barrel Proof is produced by Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. America's largest family-run spirit producer, the Larceny expressions continue a legacy rooted in the iconic 'Old Fitzgerald' mash bill lineage.
This expression is released three times annually—January, May, and September. Batch A125 is the January 2025 edition, with 'A' denoting the first release of the year, '1' for January, and '25' for the year.
The whiskey is based on the standard Larceny and Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond series mash bill of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley. The 20% wheat in the mash bill classifies the whiskey as a 'wheated bourbon,' although there is no legal definition of a wheated bourbon from the TTB.
The whiskey does not carry an age statement but is believed to be aged between 6 and 8 years. It's bottled at cask strength, usually around 62.5% ABV or 125 proof. It's non-chill filtered and uncut, bottled straight from the cask, allowing bourbon enthusiasts to experience true barrel character.
The whiskey is a deep amber with a reddish glow, a rich hue typical of bourbons aged in warmer rickhouse locations.
On the nose, the whiskey features aromas of maple-glazed French toast, butterscotch/toffee, overripe orchard and tropical fruit, and seasoned oak. As the bourbon opens up, additional aromas of yeasty, tangy unbaked sourdough bread, cornmeal cake, and baking spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove emerge.
It's rich and smooth on the palate with a viscous mouth-coating quality and a pronounced mouth weight. It's remarkably well-balanced and silky for such a high-proof whiskey.
Flavor-wise, the bourbon opens with caramel and brown sugar, transitioning to ginger cookies, dried cherries, roasted nuts, and candied pecans, followed by fig preserves/jam, nougat, hints of cold smoke, and a pronounced barrel char.
As the whiskey evolves, notes of baked peach dusted with cinnamon, with a hint of allspice and cardamom, along with savory notes of cornbread and sourdough bread, emerge on the mid-palate. There is also a slight but persistent tanginess.
The finish is long and spicy and slightly candied, featuring lingering notes of cinnamon candy, pink bubblegum, caramel, baking spices—especially clove—and seasoned oak.
A few drops of water open the bourbon beautifully, bringing forward pronounced notes of sweetness from the wood sugars and caramel, and giving the whiskey an even silkier and rounder tasting experience.
The BevTest Judging Panel described the bourbon as featuring aromas of 'Rainier cherry, wood-grilled peach, and caramelized fig, along with flavors of baklava gelato, espresso pecan tart, and buttered broiled peaches. Bold, unique blend of coffee, sherry, and chocolate—a tsunami of flavor—a perfect Bourbon to sip and repeat neat.'
Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A125 is a remarkable expression of Heaven Hill's wheated heritage, capturing bold, concentrated layers of sweetness, spice, and oak in its purest, barrel-strength form. Its complex nose, rich mid-palate, and spicy, enduring finish make it an engaging sip, especially when a small amount of water is added to reveal nuance.
At a list price of $64, and often found on sale below $50, it's an exceptional value for what is one of America's top bourbons. Whether you're drawn to wheated bourbons or seeking a powerful yet balanced high-proof experience, Batch A125 stands out as both classic and compelling. More From Forbes Forbes America's Top-Rated Wheated Bourbons And Whiskeys: Smooth, Bold And Affordable By Joseph V Micallef Forbes America's Top Bourbon, According To The International Wine & Spirit Competition By Joseph V Micallef Forbes The World's Best Wheated Bourbon, According To The San Francisco World Spirits Competition By Joseph V Micallef
