Company: Smooth Amber Spirits Co.
Distillery: MGP
Region: Maxwelton, West Virginia
Aging: 7 Years
Barrel No: 36684
ABV: 59.4%
Proof: 118.8
Mash Bill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
Price: $50
Appearance: Honey
Smooth Ambler Old Scout Tasting Notes
Nose: Caramel, oak, beef jerky, pepper, Worcestershire steak sauce, almond, hazelnut
Palate: Caramel, oak, smoked meats, brown sugar, leather, dark fruit, cherry, pepper, rye spice
Finish: Long bold finish with a lovely savory mouthfeel with caramel, oak, and pepper spice
Is Smooth Ambler Old Scout an Approachable Whiskey?
This FWGS bottle of Smooth Ambler Old Scout is nearly 60% ABV but every bit of the heat is delicious and enjoyable. I still probably would not recommend giving this whiskey to beginners, but any experienced whiskey drinker will likely enjoy everything about this bottle.
Is Smooth Ambler Old Scout Complex?
I can honestly say that I have not had a bourbon that has this combination of flavors before.
It’s the first bottle that I have ever reviewed that I have gotten “smoked meats” and “steak sauce” on the nose.
The moment I lifted this one to my nose, it immediately made me think of beef jerky or smoked steak seasoned in peppercorn.
Maybe it’s the 36% Rye in the mash bill, but instead of being extremely rye spice forward, this bottle has a very nice blend of sweet and spicy which is probably why I thought of a sweet steak sauce to go with the smoked meat flavors.
Either way, I am loving the complexity of this pour and it certainly offers quite a number of layers of flavor.
What are Smooth Ambler Old Scout’s strongest attributes/flavors?
This bottle of Smooth Ambler Old Scout does a great job of blending the sweet caramel, corn, and oak flavors with the pepper and spice notes from the rye. On top of that, it is a barrel select exclusive for Fine Wine and Good Spirits here in Pennsylvania so it has all the oily and buttery mouthfeel qualities I love most from a barrel-proof bourbon.
Is Smooth Ambler Old Scout a go-to whisky?
This bottle is a limited edition bottle that was exclusively selected for Fine Wine and Good Spirits here in Pennsylvania. I was lucky enough to find this one sitting on the shelf since Smooth Ambler generally goes under the radar in my area.
If you notice in the featured image of this review, the label states that this bottle is hand-selected by Fine Wine and Good Spirits and I must say they did a damn good job picking this one.
That being said, this is a bottle I will save for special occasions. My guess is I will break out this bottle at a good steak cookout and pair it with food that matches its flavors.
Is Smooth Ambler Old Scout priced accurately to its quality?
At $50, I must say this FWGS barrel pick of Smooth Ambler Old Scout most certainly delivered on its price tag. I’ve had Old Scout before, but this barrel-proof bottle went above and beyond my expectations.
If you see any Old Scout barrel-proof bottles in your area, I highly recommend picking them up. I have a feeling this brand may be an up-and-comer since they were purchased by Pernod Ricard USA.
Conclusion for this FWGS Barrel Pick of Smooth Ambler Old Scout
I didn’t know what to expect when I first bought this bottle. I’m a bit of a sucker for barrel-proof whiskey and I was hoping it’d have a buttery texture to it and I was right.
With the 59.4% ABV, this bottle is almost certainly non-chill filtered which is why it has such a wonderful consistency to it. With each sip of this pour, you get a buttery mouthfeel that coats your entire mouth with flavor.
I have a feeling that Smooth Ambler is going to be making its mark on the bourbon community, so I’d recommend picking it up sooner rather than later before more people start finding out about this one.
Let Us Know What You Think
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Thanks for reading and cheers!
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