Smooth Ambler Old Scout Straight Bourbon Store Picks 5 Year

Consumed neat. Neck pour. A selection from NASA Liquors. I swapped a bottle I had duplicates of with a bourbon acquaintance for a barrel I hadn't tried before. I'm very pleased Old Scout is back to using MGP. This is my eighth bottle from a different barrel; only two have been disappointing so far. This is a promising pick on the nose. It lacks the characteristic young MGP scent, which is a significant drawback for me. I'm optimistic! It's bursting with citrus, specifically orange peel. There's also a lot of vanilla, creating a delightful combination. A hint of graham cracker with honey is present, but the aroma remains predominantly light and bright. The ability to maintain this brightness without showing its youth is impressive. My favorite Old Scout picks have typically been darker, with the youth masked by heavy barrel influence. This one takes a different aromatic approach. Extremely oily. The graham cracker and honey are the initial dominant flavors. Wow. This is excellent. It evolves into orange and vanilla. The orange lingers and lingers. And lingers. A delayed warming sensation. More orange. Oh, a chocolate note is emerging with later sips. For a $50 MGP, it doesn't get much better. I'd estimate it's around 7 years old blind; it's performing well above its category. And this is just the neck pour. I believe this is the best of the recent young MGP picks I've acquired. I'll need to compare it blind against the Gallenstein and Party Source after it airs out.

This is a five-year, 59.4% ABV selection by Liquor Barn, barrel 27819, bottled by Jordan. While I enjoy Remus Reserve, Boone County's 12-14 year picks, and Down Home 12, I haven't experienced young MGP bourbon before. For a similar price, you could get Belle Meade Bourbon or standard Remus, possibly older but less potent. The color is a pleasing burnt orange. The neck pour's aroma is unusual, with notes of oak, pepper, cardamom, blood orange, ethanol, dill, and Hawaiian Punch. The palate is lively, with Hawaiian Punch, tobacco, and oak that shifts to tannic dill, more oak, antacids (typical MGP), and then returns to punch and tobacco. The texture starts thin but leaves a drying, slightly oily sensation on the tongue, extending into the finish. I'd purchase this again for $45-50. Mine was about $53, but it competes well with Rare Breed and 1920 at the same price point. Its profile is distinctively MGP, quite close to the $80 Remus Reserve, and fruitier. While its spice range isn't as broad as Russell's Reserve or Rare Breed, it's certainly not lacking in spice. The fruitiness is comparable to 1920, though less smoky. Considering its proof, it has minimal palate burn, offering a pleasant warmth. I can only imagine its quality at 14 years, but this stands its ground. I'll have to compare it to the Belle Meade 2020 NAS Cask Strength soon.

A selection from Total Wine and More in Tempe, Arizona. Barrel number 27886. Bottled at 56.9% ABV with a 5-year age statement. Inviting aromas present a broad spectrum of barrel spices: cinnamon, allspice, clove, ginger, and nutmeg. Underlying notes of tamarind, nut, and vanilla are present, but the spicy scents dominate. A touch of ethanol is noticeable with deep inhalation, though it's easily overlooked considering the 113 proof. The palate begins with unsalted peanuts and buttered popcorn, transitioning to familiar vanilla and caramel flavors before erupting into the prominent baking spice profile hinted at on the nose. The finish echoes the spice notes previously mentioned and extends to a medium-long length. A slight tingle acknowledges the proof, but it complements the flavor rather than detracting. The texture is rich and viscous, a definite advantage. While the standard 99 proof, 5-year SAOS "non store pick" left something to be desired, this particular bottle delivers a more robust and satisfying encounter across the board. It shares some characteristics with Booker's, though it lacks the same level of depth and polish. Regarding value, instead of the usual "good, but perhaps not worth repurchasing at this price," this offering is pleasantly surprising; a 113 proof bourbon without drawbacks for $42 is exceptional value. It's definitely a repeat purchase, as spirits of this caliber and proof typically cost over $50.

Tried it neat after a neck pour. This is Gallenstein #11. I have five or six distinct barrels of these five-year-old Old Scout selections. Every single one surpasses any other MGP product I've sampled. Remus single barrels are now appearing locally, but they don't measure up to these Old Scouts. Seeing this bottle at a preferred shop today brought excitement, even with my existing collection of these. Intriguing, the aroma is quite subdued. Pleasant, lightly toasted caramel. A scent reminiscent of a fresh cinnamon roll. Hints of baked apple. Deeper notes of clove and baking spices emerge as it rests. There's also a pleasant vanilla frosting aroma. Despite being close to 120 proof, it's undetectable on the nose. No youthful characteristics, which is, again, fantastic for these relatively young Old Scouts. The mouthfeel is surprisingly light and airy. Sweet vanilla at the start gives way to a rich caramel explosion. Those baking spices and a peppery note appear in the finish, with the rye making its presence known. The baked cinnamon apples also come through. Another successful pour. Truly. I'll need to taste them blind soon to determine my favorite barrel. This specific barrel will rank highly. It's incredibly smooth and bright. Perhaps not profoundly complex, but the flavor is genuinely delightful. It cost only $60 as well. Fortunate to have secured a second bottle.

Consumed neat. First pour from the bottle. This is the third single barrel of Old Scout I'm opening today. The first two single barrels from this distillery rank among the worst barrels I've had. Let's see if the third attempt is better. The aroma is a bit intense, so approach this one with some care. There's a young, green note at the forefront. It's very bright. Behind that, a tart pear emerges with lots of cinnamon and baking spices. Faint butterscotch and graham cracker crust. The brightness is overpowering, though. This aroma makes me worried... Very thick and viscous. Cinnamon and a bit of musty funk on the palate. Oh no, this one comes across as too young. I feared that. That young green note completely dominates the initial taste. It transitions to some pleasant cherry and then finishes with caramel, but the young note returns on the finish. It's even harsh. What a shame. Disappointing. I enjoy MGP, but when a barrel is too young, it's a real turn-off for me. The cherry note offered some redemption, but overall, it was a lackluster use of $50.

A special selection from Star Liquor in Phoenix, Arizona. 117.4 proof. Aged for 5 years. A strong aroma features circus peanuts, macadamia nuts, orange peel, mild oak, and nutmeg. Some nights this smelled strongly of ethanol, and other nights it didn't (including tonight), which is very confusing. On the palate, there's a significant nutty presence (a mix of cashew, peanut, and walnut), cherry, oak, caramel, and barrel spices (equal parts cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, clove, and allspice). The finish is so sharp it's like a knife, with "atomic fireball" cinnamon candy, ash, and an unreduced alcohol bite that really stings the tongue. It's medium in length, but since it's not a great finish, you'd probably prefer it shorter. The texture is grainy, which only adds to the harshness. Considering I used to get a superior five-year store pick from Total Wine for $42, the $57 price makes this a difficult one to appreciate. I'm a fan of the five-year store picks and would buy them again, just not necessarily this specific one.