Individual Review: Smooth Ambler Old Scout – Buster’s Single Barrel Pick

Opening Statement (Description of the Whiskey):

Smooth Ambler Old Scout – Buster’s Single Barrel Pick is a High Rye Single Barrel Uncut Straight Bourbon Whiskey distilled by MGP and bottled by Smooth Ambler Spirits Company. Smooth Ambler is a craft distillery located in West Virginia and was founded in 2009. The company’s name comes from the stride of a horse that is somewhere between a run and a walk. Hence, the company chose “Smooth Ambler” because it symbolizes “a balance between a job well done and the celebration that follows, between recognizing quality and having a good sense of where and when it best fits into” one’s life, according to their website. They currently source some of their spirits while others are made in-house. Their website also claims that one of their major goals transparency with what they are selling, and to their credit they are notably candid about which of their whiskeys are sourced, produced in-house, or a combination of the two.

Again, in the spirit of transparency, Old Scout is so named because it is “scouted out” by Smooth Ambler from a variety of sourced barrels. The normal version of Old Scout has a proof of 99 and no age statement (until 2016 it had a 7 year age statement, but high demand prevented Smooth Ambler from being able to continue to do so). This particular bottle is from their Custom Single Barrel Bourbon program, that allows customers (usually organizations and liquor stores) to buy an entire barrel selected from several and have it bottled exclusively for them. All barrel picks from this program are barrel proof, unfiltered, and aged approximately 5 years. This particular single barrel pick is from Buster’s Liquors and Wines.

Parent Company: N/A

Distillery: MGP

Bottling Company: Smooth Ambler

Mash Bill: 60% Corn, 38% Rye, and 4% Malted Barley

Proof: 116

Age: 5 Years

Direct Examination (AKA Tasting Notes):

Nose:

Chocolate Covered Cherries, Brown Sugar, Vanilla, Caramel, Oak, and Medium Strength Ethanol

Palate:

Candied Cherries, Vanilla, Caramel, Oak, and Decently Strong Black Pepper

Finish:

Whipped Cream, More Candied Cherries, Tobacco, Slight Bitter Barrel Tannins, and Powerful Slow Burning Pepper

Mouth Feel: Medium

Length: Long

Cross Examination (AKA The Whiskey's Shortcomings):

There is a slight bitter tannin note on the finish and the heat might be too strong for some.

Closing Arguments (AKA Conclusions about the Whiskey):

Wow! This bourbon is a fruity cherry bomb. Cherry is by far the dominant note, but it does not overcrowd the other flavors. The fruitiness mingles excellently with the creamy, sugary, and earthy notes. The depth of flavor is extremely impressive, not to mention simply delicious.

The only things holding this whiskey back are the hint of bitter tannin notes that linger on the finish and the intense heat. This bourbon, while delicious, packs a punch and is not for the faint of heart. Because this is a single barrel pick it can only be bought from Buster’s Liquors and Wines. The going rate for a bottle is $50 which is a fair price for the quality being sold here. I might have to hurry back for a refill before it disappears.

Verdict (AKA Score): 8

Verdict Key:

10: I do not possess the vocabulary to adequately or accurately describe this masterpiece. It should not be possible for man to create such art.

9: Incredible. Hoard this stuff. Paying secondary market prices is totally worth it.

8: A real pleasure to sip. Always try to have at least one bottle and a backup on hand.

7: A solid pour. Daily drinker for sure. Try to have a bottle on hand.

6: Would not say no to a pour if offered to me, but I won't go out of my way to find it.

5: Good to mix with a coke.

4: Swing and a miss. A mixer makes it tolerable.

3: Only if I had nothing else to drink in the house.

2: Was this made in a prison toilet?

1: This is the stuff the KGB used to slowly and painfully kill prisoners.

0: An abomination of epic proportions. Should not be called whiskey.