Smooth Ambler Old Scout Straight Bourbon 750ML

Smooth Ambler Old Scout Straight Bourbon 750ML is a 99-proof (49.5% ABV) small-batch straight bourbon sourced from MGP and bottled in West Virginia. Awarded 95 points by Wine Enthusiast and Grand Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Old Scout has earned a reputation for delivering uncommon depth and an earthy complexity that stands apart from other MGP-sourced releases.

Quick Facts: ABV: 49.5% (99 Proof)  |  Origin: Indiana (Distilled) / West Virginia (Blended & Bottled)  |  6–7 Year Age Range  |  Distillery: MGP (Source) / Smooth Ambler Spirits (Bottler)

Production & Heritage

Smooth Ambler Spirits operates out of Greenbrier County in the Appalachian hills of West Virginia. For Old Scout, the team hand-selects barrels of six and seven-year-old bourbon distilled at MGP's facility in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, using a high-rye mashbill of 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley. The selected casks are blended in limited small batches with local West Virginia mountain water, bottled by hand without chill-filtration — a choice that preserves the whiskey's full body and natural oils. That high rye percentage and the non-chill-filtered approach contribute to Old Scout's notably spicy, textured character, distinguishing it from smoother, corn-forward bourbons at similar proof points.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with toasted oak and brown sugar, followed by a wave of sweet apple and cherry fruit. Beneath that, a thread of pipe tobacco and a faint spearmint note add aromatic complexity.

Taste: Entry is rich with butterscotch and vanilla, quickly giving way to a spicy mid-palate driven by the high rye content — cinnamon, black pepper, and clove. As it develops, an underlying earthy quality emerges alongside sweet almond and leather, lending the bourbon a savory dimension that is uncommon among MGP-sourced releases.

Finish: Long and layered, with baking spices, sweet almond extract, and a faint eucalyptus coolness. Oak tannins linger alongside vanilla and a persistent cinnamon warmth that slowly fades.

How to Drink Old Scout

At 99 proof and non-chill-filtered, Old Scout rewards neat sipping, though a few drops of water open up additional fruit and spice layers. It also holds its own on the rocks without losing structure. Three cocktails where it excels: a Manhattan, where the high-rye spice and cherry-tobacco depth complement sweet vermouth beautifully; an Old Fashioned, where the butterscotch and oak stand up to bitters and sugar without becoming muted; and a Boulevardier, where Old Scout's earthy backbone balances Campari's bitterness and adds welcome warmth.

Best For

• Bourbon enthusiasts exploring high-rye MGP-sourced expressions
• Gifting a whiskey-savvy friend who appreciates batch-selected, non-chill-filtered releases
• Building a robust home Manhattan or Old Fashioned with a proof-forward bourbon
• Side-by-side tasting nights comparing sourced MGP bourbons at different age statements

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Old Scout taste like? Old Scout delivers rich butterscotch and vanilla up front, followed by cinnamon-driven rye spice, leather, and a distinctive earthy quality. The finish is long, with baking spices, almond sweetness, and lingering oak.

How does Old Scout compare to Smoke Wagon Small Batch? Both are sourced from MGP using the same 60/36/4 mashbill and sit at nearly identical proof points (99 vs. 100). Old Scout tends toward a more pronounced earthy, tobacco-driven profile, while Smoke Wagon leans slightly sweeter and more grain-forward, though the two deliver comparable overall quality.

Is Old Scout good for sipping neat? Absolutely — the 49.5% ABV and non-chill-filtered bottling give it enough body and flavor intensity to drink neat, while the six- to seven-year aging softens any harsh ethanol bite. A splash of water further opens the fruit and spice notes.

Where is Old Scout made? The bourbon is distilled at MGP's distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, then the hand-selected barrels are transported to Smooth Ambler Spirits in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, where they are blended with local mountain water and bottled.

What foods pair well with Old Scout? Smoked brisket or pulled pork, where the bourbon's oak and spice echo the smoke; dark chocolate truffles, which mirror the butterscotch sweetness; sharp aged cheddar, whose tang contrasts the vanilla and caramel; pecan pie, complementing the almond and baking-spice finish; and charcuterie with salami or prosciutto, matching the leather and earthy undertones.

What sizes does Old Scout come in? The standard release is the 750ml bottle. Limited availability of 375ml half-bottles may vary by market.

Is Old Scout worth the price? Old Scout positions as a mid-shelf bourbon that punches well above its tier — a 95-point Wine Enthusiast rating and multiple gold medals at major competitions are unusual for bottles in its price range. For a non-chill-filtered, batch-selected bourbon with six to seven years of age, it represents strong value against comparable MGP-sourced releases.

Why Old Scout?

What separates Old Scout from the growing number of MGP-sourced bourbons is a distinctive earthy, tobacco-laced character that the Smooth Ambler blending team consistently coaxes from its barrel selections — a quality that is difficult to find elsewhere, even among whiskeys sharing the same mashbill and distillery of origin. The non-chill-filtered bottling preserves every ounce of that texture and complexity. A 95-point Wine Enthusiast score, Gold from the American Distilling Institute, and Grand Gold from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition confirm that this isn't just marketing talk — the liquid delivers. For drinkers who want proof-forward, high-rye bourbon with genuine depth and verifiable critical acclaim, Old Scout remains one of the strongest values in the sourced-bourbon category.