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Buffalo Trace vs Larceny Small Batch
Buffalo Trace and Larceny Small Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Buffalo Trace | Larceny Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 92 proof (46% ABV) +2 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 | ~$25 – $32 |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Buffalo Trace does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Buffalo Trace
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Larceny Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Buffalo Trace Larceny Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/2 spice: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 2 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 8 out of 10
oak 6/4 oak: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 4 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 3 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 3 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Buffalo Trace: The reference-point Kentucky bourbon: balanced brown sugar and vanilla sweetness, a whisper of mint, and just enough oak and spice to keep it interesting. Nothing is loud, which is exactly the point at 90 proof.
- Larceny Small Batch: Heaven Hill's everyday wheater and the most affordable way into the style. Soft honey and butterscotch with almost no spice, and a texture that makes the low price hard to argue with.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Buffalo Trace if you want the balanced, everyday Kentucky benchmark that does nothing wrong at a fair price.
- Go with Larceny Small Batch if you want an easy, sweet, genuinely inexpensive wheated bourbon without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Buffalo Trace); neat, rocks, cocktails (Larceny Small Batch).