Smooth Ambler Big Level Wheated Bourbon

This is the first bourbon release from this distillery that is distilled, aged, and bottled at their West Virginia facility. It's a 100 proof wheat bourbon with no age statement, though the distillery claims it's over 5 years old and not chill filtered. The grain bill is 71% corn, 21% wheat, and 8% malted barley. It was aged in #4 char 53-gallon barrels. This specific bottle is from batch 16. Nose: Pears, fresh bread, oak, malt, the initial distillate cut, light hints of vanilla and maple. Palate: Initial sweetness is quickly replaced by dryness and bitterness. Light vanilla and maple – bitter apples, pears, oak, malt, corn. Finish: Dry, astringent, with burnt pepper and oak. This has a very unusual bourbon taste profile. This bourbon has received many negative reviews and comments. I was aware of this before buying a bottle, but it didn't deter me. It's fruity and somewhat dry. It's hard to believe this is over 5 years old. Its color seems a bit light considering its age and bottling proof. I would have expected more barrel influence, but the flavor is definitely driven by the grains. I'm unsure if it was aged low in the rickhouse, or if there wasn't much wood penetration, or what the reason is, but something seems off. If you've ever smelled the initial distillate cut (the compounds that come off the still before the alcohol), you'd recognize it here. Nothing about this bourbon is particularly good, but the tannic/astringent burnt oak finish is the most unpleasant aspect. I haven't encountered a bourbon like this in quite some time. I like this company, primarily because they are quite transparent about providing information on their products, and they have released some decent sourced products in the past. I have no doubt they will produce better products in the future.

This is the most recent standard offering from Smooth Ambler, hailing from Maxwelton WV. It's their "wheater," and I suspect it's the first SA release made entirely with their own whiskey, not sourced from MGP. It's bottled at 100 proof and costs $55 at the distillery. I haven't encountered it in Virginia stores, so I'm fortunate to have purchased a couple of bottles during a recent visit to family. This particular bottle is from Batch 19 and presents a dark amber/copper hue in the Glencairn. It has an oily texture and leaves prominent legs in the glass. The aroma is rather unremarkable, even after 20-30 minutes: there's no prominent oak, no alcohol burn, and only faint vanilla or sweetness. This isn't an auspicious start. Fortunately, the palate gains momentum with pleasant, sweet wheat and cinnamon notes, arriving with intensity and a slight harshness. That's unexpected for a wheated whiskey, certainly, but after the subdued nose, it needed a jolt, and this provides it. The finish is lengthy and spicy, with abundant warming, woody notes, ultimately finishing somewhat smoothly on the palate and throat. In summary, it's a bit unpolished for a wheat whiskey, but it still delivers where it matters: the flavor. This one was a little pricey at $55 from the distillery. I'm uncertain if it justifies that cost, but I still encourage trying it. Perhaps sample it at a bar before committing to a full bottle. 3.5 stars. Enjoy.

I'll get straight to it. The nose was potent and reminiscent of acetone. This didn't make me eager to taste it. There's a slight sweetness on the nose. The first taste was harsh. An immediate alcohol punch. Once that subsides, a passable sweet corn and spice emerges on the palate at the very end. It lingered briefly. The second taste wasn't much different. Adding water softened the intense alcohol but it's not enjoyable for me at all. In summary, I will not purchase this again. Perhaps I'll avoid anything from smooth ambler in the future. Ten-dollar bottles of bourbon can outperform this.

I made the error of purchasing this based on prior enjoyment of some Smooth Ambler products. After reviewing many of these comments, I quickly regretted my choice. To be fair, my specific batch (50) doesn't seem as disappointing as some earlier ones, but it's certainly not worth the $55 price. Yes, it is spicy for a wheated whiskey, and yes, it lacks depth. It doesn't have as much acetate as some have reported, but it pales in comparison to less expensive wheated options (Weller, Bernheim, Journeyman). Adding water or letting ice melt improves it somewhat, but not significantly. Keep your money.

It ranked in the middle of the pack in a tasting of 10 different wheated bottles for me. Strong notes of toasted corn flakes on the nose. The palate is similar, with prominent corn flavors and wet burlap. The finish softens enough to reveal almond notes. It does have a lengthy finish, so if that's what you prefer, it's worth exploring. Unfortunately, among the 10 of us tasting, I gave it the highest rating. Quite disappointing, as I usually appreciate Smooth Ambler's offerings.

Typical bourbon aroma with a hint of mustiness – it reminds me of corn tortillas. A pleasant, tart sweetness upfront. A distinct peanut flavor and a lengthy, oaky finish. Noticeable warmth for a wheated bourbon. Although the mashbill contains no rye, there's a spiciness that could have been mistaken for it. Overall, it's a decent drink, but likely not worth the cost..