Smooth Ambler Old Scout Straight Bourbon (NAS)

This is readily available by me in North Florida, but I never bit on the Smooth Ambler stuff (always assumed it was a little pricey for sourced bourbon). But maybe I was missing out. It was on clearance today for $27 (about $5-7 off), and I think this could make the case to be the ultimate daily sipper if I can steadily find it at $30. Fruit notes, floral, and enough complexity going on to make me think I'm drinking a $45-$50 bourbon. Nose (0-2): Confectionary sugar, roasted almonds, a little maple syrup along with honeysuckle, and an eathy tobacco note. (1.5 out of 2...well above average and just extremely pleasant) Taste (0-4): Traditional caramel up front, but it evolves into rich strawberry jam, raw honey, and cherry-flavored pipe tobacco. Starts off softly and kicks into a full -flavored bourbon. (2.75 out of 4) Finish (0-1): Easy, with enough oaky notes and some cinnamon spice to add some drama to the end of this drink. No big rye notes, but the high-rye mash bill provides the right amount of spice. Mellow and sugary Pops! cereal at the end as well. (0.5) Cohesiveness/Complexity (0-1): It hits both cohesiveness and complexity. The drinks unfolds perfectly and gives you enough drama throughout if you want to focus on it and try to pick out flavors, but it's also straight-forward enough to just sit down and enjoy with a movie without thinking too much (1 out of 1). So it's 5.75 out of 8 at $30ish (less than that for me). Tough to beat. Value (0-2): This is a realllly good bourbon that offers up some versatility at a slightly-below average price. This is excellent value. (2 out of 2). Overall: 7.75. I don't often get above a 7-7.5 on my scale, so this is impressive. Excited to see what else Smooth Ambler is doing after trying this bourbon, and might need to add another bottle at its price. My scale: 10 is an elite value for the price...8-9 is a must-buy and great value. ...7 is a very good value for what you're paying. ...6 is above average value. ...5 is average. ....4 below average. ...2-3 is poor value. ...0-1 is NEVER BUY.

Good nose with sweet smells, rich flavor with a little spice on the palet, finish is kinda short, little pepper and warming on the end.

Easy drinking, smooth for 115 proof. Good overall pour for the buck

Smooth for 99 proof. Decent campfire whiskey.

Sweet start, vanilla & brown sugar. Slight warming on the finish. A little light and lacking bold depth