Introduction
Today, we’re checking out Smooth Ambler Old Scout American Whiskey. To be clear: this is not Old Scout Bourbon, which has become the predominant expression carrying this label. The Old Scout label from Smooth Ambler offers a variety of whiskeys, and this American Whiskey is a blend that includes bourbon and Tennessee whiskey.
The tricky part is that there’s not a lot of transparency about what exactly goes into this blend. We suspect there’s some MGP distillate in here, along with the Tennessee whiskey, but that’s just speculation. What we do know is that this whiskey comes in at 99 proof, and although the bottle doesn’t carry an age statement, it’s supposed to be around seven years old. With that out of the way, let’s dive into our thoughts on this intriguing whiskey.
The following review is taken from our episode "Roman Holiday / Smooth Ambler Old Scout American Whiskey." Click the link to listen to this review in audio format.
Nose
Bob: I have to say, nosing this one, it smells fantastic. It’s got aspects of all my favorite bourbons—there’s that dustiness I love, a peanut butter note that’s just spot on, warm cinnamon, and maybe even a hint of almond this time around. It’s like a mix of all the best parts of bourbon, all wrapped into one. It’s got that classic bourbon nose that I think just about anyone would enjoy. No matter what your preferred bourbon profile is, there’s something here that you’ll fall in love with.
Brad: Yeah, I’m with you on the peanut butter, but for me, I also got something of a Rolo—you know, that chocolate-caramel mashup. It’s not like I got a chocolate note and a caramel note separately; they’re kind of combined into this cheap candy aroma that I really like. I’m also getting some orange peel and a bit of cardamom spice. There’s definitely cinnamon coming through as well. It’s not blowing me out of the water, but it’s a really nice nose overall.
Bob: I’m going to give it a nine out of ten. I think when you drink a lot of bourbon like we do, sometimes it’s easy to overlook how well a nose like this just hits all the right notes. It’s everything you want in a bourbon nose. There might not be any one aspect of it that absolutely knocks me on my ass, but it’s still commendable.
Brad: I’m a bit more reserved here. I think it’s a really nice nose, but I’ll give it a seven out of ten. It’s solid, but not quite mind-blowing for me.
Taste
Brad: Moving on to the palate, I found that this whiskey brings a lot to the table. There’s a really nice caramel note that’s front and center, along with some leathery notes and a good amount of vanilla. The cardamom I picked up on the nose kind of morphs into more generic baking spices here. For me, the flavor is definitely a step up from the nose, so I’m jumping up to an eight out of ten.
Bob: I’m in the exact opposite place, man. I actually liked the nose a lot more than the flavor. Everything I smelled on the nose is present on the palate, but there’s this introduction of tobacco and leather that just overwhelms everything else for me. The tobacco, especially, gets really bitter towards the back of the palate, and it’s really tamping down those black cherry and dusty notes that I really liked from the nose. It’s still a good whiskey, but I wish the things that shined on the nose were more prominent on the palate.
Brad: I hear you, but for me, the palate is where this whiskey really comes together. I didn’t get as much of the bitterness you’re talking about, though I can see where you’re coming from with the tobacco and leather. Those notes can definitely be a bit overpowering.
Bob: Yeah, it’s good, but not quite what I was hoping for after that fantastic nose. I’m going to give it a seven and a half out of ten on the palate.
Finish
Brad: The finish is where it really fell off for me. The toasted oak and leather notes you mentioned earlier are definitely there, but for me, the bitterness really waits until the end to show up, and when it does, it’s almost like a high-rye bourbon that went wrong on the rye portion. It’s not the worst finish I’ve ever had, but it’s definitely a step down from the palate.
Bob: I think I’m in the same place here. I didn’t mind the palate as much as you did, but the finish... yeah, it’s just okay. The same notes that didn’t quite work on the palate are present here—especially that toasted oak, which I’ve never been a huge fan of. Toasted oak has that woody bitterness that doesn’t have the same caramelization you get from charred oak, and it really comes through on the finish. I think I’ll stick with a seven and a half out of ten here as well.
Brad: I’m dropping down to a six and a half out of ten for the finish. It’s not bad, but it’s not where I’d like it to be. The bitterness just doesn’t do it for me.
Balance
Brad: Balance-wise, I think this is a solid whiskey, but it’s not exceptional. It has some nice flavors, but it doesn’t quite come together in the way I’d hoped. I’m sticking with a seven out of ten here.
Bob: Yeah, I’m with you on this one. It’s good, but it doesn’t quite reach that next level. I’ll give it a seven out of ten as well. It’s balanced, but it’s not the most cohesive whiskey we’ve had.
Value
Bob: In Ohio, this will set you back about $35. Honestly, I don’t think that’s a bad value at all. It’s sourced, sure, but it’s blended well, and it’s from a smaller producer. I actually think that’s a pretty fair price for what you’re getting here. I’m going to give it a seven out of ten on value.
Brad: I think $35 is fair, but it’s not exactly cheap for what you’re getting. I wasn’t blown away by this whiskey, so I’ll give it a six and a half out of ten on value. It’s decent, but there are other options at this price point that I might reach for first.
Final Scores
Bob: I’m coming out to a 38 out of 50 for this one.
Brad: I’m a bit lower at 35 out of 50. So that brings our combined score to 36.5 out of 50, or 73 out of 100.
Concluding Thoughts
So, where does that leave us? A 36.5 out of 50 is a solid score, but it doesn’t quite hit that 40/50 mark where we start really recommending you go out and buy a bottle. This is an above-average American whiskey that’s blended well, but there are a few notes that just don’t quite hit the mark for us.
At $35, it’s a good value, but if you’re looking to explore what Smooth Ambler has to offer, we might recommend trying a pour at a bar before committing to a full bottle. For us, anything over 40/50 is worth picking up, and anything over 45/50 is something special. This one falls just shy of that threshold, but it’s still worth checking out if you’re a fan of the Old Scout line.
