Smooth Ambler Old Scout American Whiskey is a blended whiskey, but not in the way we typically see. This blend is made of bourbon from Indiana (MGP) and whiskey from an unnamed distillery in Tennessee (Dickel) who aged their spirit in re-charred oak casks which disqualified it for being called bourbon despite the mash qualifying.
In Scotland, this would be akin to a Blended Malt because, like a blended malt, it doesn’t contain any grain whiskey. Yes I see the obvious point that the TN whiskey is basically what the Scots would call grain whiskey (technically the bourbon too), but I was using blended malt to mentally illustrate how this differs from the typical American Whiskey blends out there like Seagram’s 7.
Old Scout American Whiskey Review: Details and Tasting Notes
In Smooth Ambler’s Words: Old Scout American Whiskey
“Old Scout American Whiskey is a union of two whiskies distilled from classic bourbon mash bills. One is aged in new oak barrels and the other matures in rejuvenated, re-charred bourbon casks. While this unique aging excuses the marriage from being called bourbon, it shares all of the character and drinkability you would expect from a whiskey on the brink of being one.”
Old Scout American Whiskey price, ABV, age and other details
Region: America
Distiller: MGP and a “TN Whiskey” (Dickel most likely)
Blender / Bottler: Smooth Ambler
Bottled For: Nasa Liquors
Blend: 9+ years 36% rye bourbon (MGP like Old Scout Single Barrel) and 5+ years “Tennessee Whiskey” distilled from a “bourbon mash”
Cask: New Charred Oak (MGP), Rejuvenated re-charred ex-Bourbon (TN Whiskey)
Age: 5 Years (5 and 9+ years)
ABV: 53.5%
Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Barrel: 8572
Price: $32
Old Scout American Whiskey Tasting Notes
EYE
Dark Amber
NOSE
Corn, caramel, oak, dark fruit, vanilla, honey graham and a bit of fruit, spice and lollipop sweetness.
PALATE
Honeycomb, vanilla, oak, caramel, toffee, dark fruit syrup, Malteesers and a bit of candied apples and spice.
FINISH
Long -> Honey, candied apples, spice and oak.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good, full, slick with a light oily quality.
Old Scout American Whiskey Review: Overall
Nasa Liquor in Houston seems to pick a lot of quality barrels. Thanks to a friend down in that area I’ve been able to taste and review quite a few of their picks over the years and I’ve never been disappointed. This Old Scout American Whiskey is no different.
Normally, when I think about “American Whiskey”, I think of things like Seagram’s 7 which is mostly a grain whiskey with some flavor whiskey added and it tastes like crap. But this smells and tastes… good. The aroma is sweet and crisp without being cloying and the palate is soft and oily without any aggressive bite at the full 107 proof.
I chalk this up to there being no grain whiskey in the mix. Instead, just “bourbon mash whiskey” that was aged in a combination of new and used cooperage. Well done Smooth Ambler, the Old Scout American Whiskey is nice new creation and unique addition to the market.
SCORE: 87/100 (B+)
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Old Scout American Whiskey Review
Old Scout American Whiskey Review Summary
Old Scout American Whiskey is soft without being wimpy, sweet without being cloying and light without disappearing. It successfully walks a fine line thanks to the balance it strikes and I think it’s a perfectly fine whiskey all around.
Overall
- Nose - 87
- Palate - 87
- Finish - 87
- Balance, Body & Feel - 87
User Review
( votes)( reviews)
I wonder how much variation in the barrels there is with these? How long has the blend been in barrels? Anyway, my local store just got a “barrel” in so I gave it a try. It is delicious! It has some heat that can get you in the back of the throat if you oversip it, which is hard for me not to do because the palette is so good. The weakness with this is it’s a little thin with a short finish. Extremely drinkable so it will sneak up on you.
Seems like a lot of variation, I just tried one last week that was kinda… meh. Like a B- range. Thanks for sharing Jon, cheers!
The jury is still out on this one for me. I get a lot of rye spice and a more salty, buttery and savory vibe. No sweetness until the finish. Mine is also HOT. Not on the finish, but mid-palate. Almost tongue numbing tingle. Perhaps it’s the used casks, but it reminds me of Scotch. Perhaps what Ardbeg 10 would taste like if you took away the peat. It’s definitely interesting. My small local ABC store got an entire barrel, so if I decide I like it well enough there should be plenty in my future.
Gotta love the variety in those single barrels :) If you come to love it at least you have a source. Cheers!
Sorry to be so dense, but how can it be a single barrel if the whiskey is a combination of two different barrels to start with. After the combination of the two are they re-barreled and aged longer? If so what kind of barrel is used and for how long? Or is the barrel just for holding the newly mixed whiskey and then bottled one barrel at a time. If that is the case, then what is so special about a “single barrel” designation. Thanks
Hey Terry,
You’re correct. The barrels are blended and re-barreled in used cooperage (hence being American whiskey and not bourbon). No word on exactly how long the barrel marriage is. The reason it’s still special is that it’s a small batch of blending it’s going to change from one to the other. We just did 2 single barrels side-by-side last night with the SCWC and they were noticeably different due to what was blended together.
Thanks Josh! I just picked up a single barrel bottle a few days ago and look forward to trying it. Coincidently I will be attending a tasting with Josh Foster of Smooth Ambler in mid October. We will be tasting samples from several barrels and as a group we will pick one and get bottles from that barrel. Looking forward to it!
By grain whiskey, do you mean neutral grain alcohol or some non-bourbon other aged spirit? I like your blog and check it a couple of times a week. Thanks.
I did mean Neutral Grain Spirit. Thanks for pointing out the clarification and thanks for reading. Cheers, Fred!