John E. Fitzgerald "Larceny B523" Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)
Variety: Bourbon
Fitzgerald possessed a refined taste for high-quality bourbon and would sneakily take the best barrels as they aged, utilizing his warehouse keys. These barrels, known as "Fitzgerald barrels," and the brand were memorialized when Pappy Van Winkle named his bourbon Old Fitzgerald after the treasury agent, adding a "Whisper of Wheat" to its recipe. Pappy substituted wheat for rye as the secondary grain in the mash bill, resulting in a smoother, rounder flavor profile in Old Fitz than other bourbons of its time. Heaven Hill Distillery launched the highly successful Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon in 2012, paying tribute to both John E. Fitzgerald's excellent taste and the legacy of Old Fitzgerald. Its barrel-proof small batch version, the larger sibling, is released three times a year and bottled at varying barrel-proof with no chill filtration. This wheated bourbon adheres to the Old Fitz tradition, replacing rye with wheat and featuring a mash bill of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley. Larceny Bourbon has a sweeter, rounder, and softer flavor profile than bourbons that utilize rye as their secondary grain, with notes of bread, honey, vanilla, maple, dark sugar, nuts, and light cinnamon, as well as a subtle edge of oak and spice that finishes with a lingering warmth. Each batch is intended to be aged 6 to 8 years.