Heavy caramel | Spicy pepper | Potent barrel char | Melted chocolate | Cinnamon | Roasted mixed nuts | Fresh baked bread

Dark fruits | Cinnamon | Robust baking spices | Hazelnut | Raisin | Spice-forward | Medium-bodied

Cinnamon | Mexican chocolate | Barrel char | Nutmeg | Black pepper | Touch dry | Hot but heat dissipates quickly

Heaven Hill opened the year with Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch A124 in a new direction for the brand. Moving away from the refinement and balance of Batch B523 and Batch C922, Batch A124 went bold with its spice - perhaps too much. I found major fault with the results. Despite a strong base of quality overall, the newfound focus on spice was so overdone, it resulted in one of the lowest-rated Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon batches we ever reviewed.

Batch B524 keeps with the spice direction that Heaven Hill appears to be targeting with their 2024 batches, except dials it in with much more finesse and precision. The flavor profile as a whole is surprisingly similar to Batch A124 with heavy caramel, spice, and chocolate creating a solid base, but the infusion of baked bread on the nose, dark fruit on the palate, and cinnamon on the finish transforms the whiskey into a much more three-dimensional sip. Where Batch A124 was overrun by spice, Batch B524 tempers it slightly, but pairs it with flavors that help balance it. It remains a hot pour, but it quickly dissipates leaving behind a cinnamon, Mexican chocolate, and barrel char aftertaste that makes the finish the standout aspect of its sip. Where Batch B523 and Batch C922 featured all-around great pours, I'm not convinced their finishes reach the heights of this batch’s finish offers. As a result, I’m looking forward to how this release changes and possibly improves with time after being open, as this whiskey hints at further greatness. Batch B524 is a very well-done bourbon that shows that even if a major distillery flubs a release, they can quickly bounce back with something great.