Distiller: MGP for for Smooth Ambler Spirits
Release: 2021
Whiskey: Old Scout Rye
Region: Maxwelton, WV
Price: $45.00
Proof: 114
Age: 4 Years
The Barrel Cellar Score: 87 Points
Review Date: 07/26/2021
About the Bourbon: From the bottle; “Smooth Ambler Old Scout is a collection of fine curated whiskeys “scouted” during our efforts to find exceptional spirits with smoothness and flavor we admire. Old Scout Rye is a very high rye mash bill, crafted in carefully chosen small batches.” The distiller this whiskey was sourced from is MGP in indiana.
I enjoyed the whiskey for this review using a set of Prestige diamond whiskey glasses.
Color: Pale Amber
Nose: Vanilla, oak dried fruits, smoke, dill spice, honey, and fresh cut pine.
Palate: Smoke, snickerdoodle, butter cream, dried apricot, cobbler crumble, leather, cinnamon, and citrus. Drop a couple of cubes in and it sweetens a bit with notes of sweet green apple, pear, pineapple, carrot, honey graham cracker, and milk chocolate.
Finish: Sustained with notes of cured tobacco, black pepper and oak
Assessment: The bottle identifies the juice within as “sweet and smooth;” which pretty much hits it on the head. Considering the bottle’s relatively high ABV, Old Scout Rye’s high proof is held in check by its full body and sweet overtones; there is very little heat at any point on the palate. I’ll also note that I wouldn’t call this a sweet spirit, but it is on the sweeter side of the spectrum for a rye.
The list of flavor notes on my palate is quite impressive; there are a lot of them! Served neat, the contrast between the wide variety of notes, and the sweetness can give an initial impression of a disjointed offering, however, I found that enjoying it with some ice evened out the dram. The ice improved the balance between the plentiful sweet and spicy notes and gives the dram a creamier texture.
At approximately $45 a bottle, this single barrel Rye is a good value.
The Barrel Cellar gives Smooth Ambler Spirits Old Scout Rye 87 points.
Special Offer
Prestige Decanters is offering our readers an 8% discount on all their products, including the diamond whiskey glasses used in my review of this whiskey as well as a wide variety of beautiful decanters. Use promo code “BarrelCellar” at checkout. Prestige’s products really are beautiful, they will make great conversation pieces for visiting friends and family, or a great gift. Read my review on a couple of the items here.
