Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington
Smooth Ambler Old Scout 107 Proof American Whiskey
Blended American Whiskey — Indiana and Tennessee (Bottled in West Virginia), USA
Reviewed
July 30, 2020 (edited December 3, 2020)
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).
35.0
USD
per
Bottle
Create Account
or
Sign in
to comment on this review
I didn’t care for this at all until I paired it with a cigar. I’m down to the end of my store pick bottle and am seriously considering picking up another one.