Smooth Ambler Old Scout Single Barrel Rye

58.4% ABV, 8 Years Old | Barrel #1465 Nose - (Without water) Sweet dark vanilla toffee, cinnamon spice, light sweet mint, buttery rye toast. (With water) Not much change. Taste - (Without water) Intense cinnamon spice, heat, and tingle, dark chocolate-covered dark toffee, sweet mint, a trace of cherry coke concentrate. (With water) The spice significantly softens, revealing dark chocolate, barely perceptible sweet mint, and a more balanced cherry coke concentrate. Finish - (Without water) Lingering cinnamon spice, slightly drying, with a woody cherry coke concentrate. (With water) Lingering vanilla, chocolate, and cherry coke concentrate. Score - 92/100 Final Thoughts - This was a truly excellent rye. I regret not purchasing more bottles when I had the opportunity, as it represents a fantastic value for a cask strength, 8-year-old rye offering the flavors I enjoy. The pleasant sweet mint, typical of MGP, combined with a delightful cherry coke concentrate note, is noteworthy. A small amount of water greatly enhances it, smoothing out most of the harsh or woody characteristics. It's enjoyable neat, with a touch of water, or in a simple old fashioned. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Yes Would I buy a bottle? - Yes

Barrel No. 16747 4 years old 55.8% ABV, 111.6 proof Opened 2 weeks Nose - Intense lemon and citrus zest, candy resembling lemon, pine cleaner, eucalyptus, dill, saltwater taffy, toffee, strong alcohol smell. Taste - Unexpectedly sweet initially, light caramel and butterscotch, toffee, lemon cream, powdered cinnamon and nutmeg, vanilla icing. The finish is extended, smooth, and vivid with abundant tannic oak and rye spice, black pepper, artificial citrus, butterscotch, and less burn than anticipated from the alcohol. Considering its cost, this is an outstanding rye. I previously felt a certain bourbon was above average for its price from a particular producer, but this surpasses it at the same price. Bottles of that bourbon are scarce in my state, yet I observed many on shelves locally a while back and they remained there for days. I wish I had purchased two. It's superior to a specific barrel proof rye, and equally as good as a particular cask strength rye for less money. It possesses a harmony of citrus, baking spices, sugar, and eucalyptus/dill that the others lack. If you find this for under $60, grab it without hesitation; it's a fantastic and accessible example of a high-rye whiskey.

From a specific store selection, Barrel No. 32035, aged 5 years, at 58.2% abv (116.4 proof), open for 4 months. Nose: Classic rye characteristics such as dill, pine, black pepper, eucalyptus, dry baking spices, orange spice, caramel cream, mild oak, and moderate ethanol. Palate: Notes of spicy cinnamon, freshly ground black peppercorn, coffee cake, gingerbread, tobacco leaf, orange oil, conifer extract, and stale honeycomb. The finish is medium-long with hot pepper and cinnamon, dry oak, dry baking spices, burnt orange peel, and moderate ethanol. Despite the low price of $20, which is unusual as these typically cost around $50, I'm tempted to give it a perfect score. It appears this store offers significant discounts on store picks that have remained in stock for extended periods. If only I had known earlier, I could have taken advantage of other ongoing excellent deals. While not the absolute finest Old Scout Rye I've sampled, it's still quite good. Frankly, Old Scout selections are consistently impressive; I've sampled many MGP ryes that are older and pricier yet don't measure up to this.

From the Bull City Bourbon Club, this bottle, "Deitz Hometown Treatz", is from Barrel No. 16841. It's 6 years old, bottled at 61.6% abv (123.2 proof), and has been open for 2 months. Nose: Vanilla bean, black pepper, dried herbs, dill, pine, a hint of menthol, moderate oak, and moderate ethanol. Palate: Sweet baking spices from the rye, mild black pepper, faint dill, crème brulee, ginger snaps, spearmint, and sweet oak. The finish is lengthy, featuring sweet oak spice, cinnamon, allspice, gingerbread, a touch of dill, and a whisper of ethanol. These are fantastic for what you pay, especially since ABC reclassified Old Scout Rye Single Barrel as a special package. It used to be $50, making it one of the few whiskeys people hunt for that has significantly decreased in price over the past year. Finding 6-year-old, cask-strength MGP rye for $35 is incredible; don't miss out if you spot them. At the very least, you could use them for mixing or share them with someone.

This $50 bottle of SAOS SiB Rye, 4 Years old and 114.8 Proof, was tasted neat in a Glencairn after a 10-minute rest, right after opening. The nose has a noticeable ethanol warmth, though it's not too much for the strength. Beyond the heat, a vibrant aroma of sweet vanilla and a whisper of orange peel appears, supported by notes of damp wood. The palate starts with a surge of sweet vanilla and a somewhat smooth texture, transitioning into a zesty spice and then developing into mint and clove-like sensations. The medium to long spicy finish begins to recede, leaving a subtle warmth and spice, with a faint trace of dark chocolate-dusted wood fading out. A delightful MGP-sourced rye.

From barrel 16930. It's been aged for 6 years and is 117.8 proof. There's a scent of dusty minerals initially, leading into a less pronounced but standard MGP character. Contrasting the aroma, the taste is robust, featuring the familiar notes of dill, maple, caramel, oak, and a touch of spicy rye. This is what I consider the classic MGP profile. As I continue sipping, it evolves towards spicy rye combined with herbal, medicinal notes. This particular tasting experience is arguably the finest I've had with this bottle; it's a pure example of MGP rye.