Smooth Ambler Old Scout 107 Proof American Whiskey

Great store pick. Lemongrass and lemon. So very tasty and interesting

Liquor barn store pick - barrel #10330. Golden color. Nose upon popping the bottle was a little ethanol, leather and oak but with 10 minutes changed completely and resembles cherry coke, cinnamon and vanilla. The ethanol hangs around but not overwhelming. Thin and immediately spicy with chocolate covered cherries and a medium, warm finish. Second or third (maybe fourth now?) approach brings out some of the malty, floral MGP notes. I don’t get much oak or leather but maybe a bit of tobacco. For the price it’s not bad. Neither smooth or complex I don’t know that I’d buy again but not regrettable by any means. Leave the lips “buzzing” beyond the majority of the finish and might turn off a new neat bourbon drinker. For someone more into MGP, Dickel or KC this probably won’t disappoint. ————— Revisit - legs are pretty quick once they break free. Nose reminds me of pecan pie, sweet but ultimately nutty. There’s a noticeable singe but no aroma of alcohol. First sip was pecan pie with brown butter and gobs of sugar. Body is thin to medium but oily and brings about a wave of allspice and heat. The heat on the palate fades over a minute or so, leaving a nice warm KY hug I the chest and a mouthful of pecan pie again. It seems that from first few pours u til now the malt and chocolate cherries have gone more derby or pecan pie. The nuttiness isn’t something I expected to find. For what seems to be a 9y MGP + 5y Dickel blend I have to admit that this is a new profile for me. No clove, no vitamins and somehow nuts... might be that I chased Bourye (10+ year MGP bourbon-rye blend) with this, might be that one of the base whiskeys was matured in second-use barrels. Might be worth revisiting again soon!! Score is held back on account of the heat (not quite Bookers level) but great coating sensation and novel pecan pie flavors deserve a bump from 3 to at least 3.75 (if not 4 for the nutty novelty).

Barrel #12052 - Nose: maple vanilla Palate: light brown sugar with fruit (cherry as some others have shared). Not too hot, but flavor falls off fast

Barrel No. 9792

Single barrel pick from Total Wine. MGP and Dickel sourced juice. Butterscotch and ethanol on the nose. Dickel vitamin hits on the palate, with some fruit and a lot of gritty corn dominating as well. Drying heavy oak and heat on the finish. Not worth the price of entry, pretty disappointing all in all. Admittedly reasonably smooth for the proof, but I like some flavor in my bourbon not just a smooth way to injest alcohol (sorry not sorry).

My scale: 1 - I’m giving this drink away 2 - I’ll mix it, but doesn’t stand on its own 3 - Enjoyable, but I’m willing to try something new 4 - Very good, If it’s on the shelf or menu - I’m buying 5 - Greatness Achieved, this drink is worthy of collecting