🥃 Larceny Bourbon Showdown – Small Batch vs. Private Barrel Pick! Is the Thief Still Winning?

Jun 4

Larceny Bourbon Showdown – Small Batch vs. Private Barrel Pick! Is the Thief Still Winning? That’s the question we’re uncorking in this week’s episode of Tortured Bourbon. We’re diving headfirst into the world of wheated bourbon, where the mash bill is soft, the stories are wild, and the flavor? That’s what we’re here to find out.

In one corner, we’ve got the Larceny Small Batch—a budget-friendly, readily available sipper with a mellow wheated profile. In the other, a Private Barrel Pick—barrel proof, single-barrel, and full of unique personality. It’s the bourbon equivalent of comparing your daily driver to a hand-built street racer.

🔍 The Legend Behind Larceny

Before we talk tasting notes, let’s talk history. Larceny Bourbon is named after John E. Fitzgerald, a 19th-century treasury agent with keys to the rickhouses—and a habit of helping himself to the best barrels. Rather than punish him, bourbon marketers turned him into a legend, and Heaven Hill turned him into a brand.

So yes, this is a bourbon that proudly embraces its criminal past. And we love it for that.

🏭 Who Makes Larceny?

Distillery: Heaven Hill

Distilled at: Bernheim Distillery, Louisville, KY

Bottled in: Bardstown, KY

Heaven Hill is one of the last major family-owned bourbon producers in Kentucky. They also make Elijah Craig, Henry McKenna, Evan Williams, and Old Fitzgerald. Their wheated mash bill links Larceny directly to some legendary bourbon lineages—especially for fans of Pappy Van Winkle and Weller.

⚗️ The Mash Bill

Larceny uses Heaven Hill’s wheated mash bill:

68% Corn
20% Wheat
12% Malted Barley

Wheat in place of rye means a softer, rounder flavor profile. Think pastry over pepper. It’s approachable, but when you raise the proof—as with our private pick—you add heat and complexity.

🥃 Larceny Small Batch – The Baseline

Proof: 92
Age: ~6–8 years (not age-stated)
MSRP: ~$25–30
Availability: Widely distributed

Tasting Notes

Nose: Caramel, butterscotch, and fresh-baked bread

Palate: Vanilla, honey, soft roasted nuts

Finish: Medium, mellow, with lingering sweetness

The Vibe: Porch swing. Sunset. Maybe a cardigan.

🥃 Larceny Private Barrel Pick – The Upgrade

Proof: Varies (ours comes in at ___)
Style: Single barrel, barrel proof
MSRP: ~$55–65
Availability: Limited, store/club picks only

Tasting Notes

Nose: Richer caramel, dark fruit, toasted oak

Palate: Bold vanilla, cherry, cinnamon, a hint of chocolate

Finish: Long, layered, and spicy

The Vibe: More kick, more character, and way more potential for you to say, “This is the best bourbon I’ve had this month.”

🥄 So… Which One Wins?

That depends. Are you looking for an easy sipper with classic Heaven Hill wheated notes? Small Batch is your jam. Want something unique, high proof, and full of personality? The Private Barrel Pick is where the thief’s true spirit lives on.

On our Tortured Bourbon ranking scale, we’re tasting both live, giving you unfiltered reactions, and picking a winner. Spoiler: both bottles bring something worth breaking into.