Smooth Ambler Old Scout - TPS Bottling

[theglobalguy]

Noticed store bottling at TPS today, anyone try and have feedback? At the least a wasn't nearly as expensive as i would have expected given the proof in the 50-65% range on the 7 and 10 yr. Passed for now, but may swing back and grab.

[petrel800]

I have both of the 7 years, I just opened the 120 proof bottle and finished the 115 bottle a couple of weeks ago. So far I liked the 115 a little better than the the 120, but I haven't had enough of the 120 to be definitive. For the price and proof they are solid, I'd buy the 115 again, but I don't think they are all that complex. A lot of Rye spice through the middle of both and they are pretty similar in taste and structure. It's LDI juice and I doubt it was ever made to be a single barrel bourbon.

Edited May 5, 2013 by petrel800

[theglobalguy]

Thanks for the feedback.

I have huge respect for Smooth Ambler being so transparent as to the product in the bottle and for not shying away from a higher proof offering. The LDI juice doesn't always agree with my taste buds, but i may have to grab one next time in town.

[bad_scientist]

What about the 11 year that they had like 40 or 50 bottles of? My sister has one waiting for me, but I'm not going to be able to claim it for a few months.

[P&MLiquorsEric]

i have a non TPS bottle of 11 year very old scout. Paid around 70. A bit overpriced but the bourbon is decent.

[petrel800]

What about the 11 year that they had like 40 or 50 bottles of? My sister has one waiting for me, but I'm not going to be able to claim it for a few months.

I was in Cincinnati this week for business and stopped in TPS. I saw a bottle of the 11 year in the case, it was labeled with the IN DSP, so I'm assuming this is another LDI bourbon. Though interested, I passed as nothing was inspiring enough there to separate me from my money which is almost blasphemous at the party source.

[bad_scientist]

I was in Cincinnati this week for business and stopped in TPS. I saw a bottle of the 11 year in the case, it was labeled with the IN DSP, so I'm assuming this is another LDI bourbon. Though interested, I passed as nothing was inspiring enough there to separate me from my money which is almost blasphemous at the party source.

Heh, that's pretty much my thought, as well. Actually, I see both of your points - I feel like a big hole opens up inside when I go there and nothing stands out

I was interested because so much had evaporated from the barrel. I'm hoping that the trauma in the aging process has resulted in a unique flavor.

[theglobalguy]

Heh, that's pretty much my thought, as well. Actually, I see both of your points - I feel like a big hole opens up inside when I go there and nothing stands out

I was interested because so much had evaporated from the barrel. I'm hoping that the trauma in the aging process has resulted in a unique flavor.

I've learned a trick for that, OWA TPS. I figure i spent at least that much in gas money...might as well grab a bottle for the bunker while i'm there.

[cowdery]

We haven't talked about this much, but since Smooth Ambler has made so much use of the MGP bourbons, it's worth mentioning here. I have found all of the MGP bourbons to be a little off, not 'off' in the sense of spoiled or damaged, but in the sense of short-of-outstanding. It just doesn't have very much flavor, even with a lot of age, and what it has just isn't that great. They are using masonry warehouses, but so do Brown-Forman and Buffalo Trace, with good results. I don't know what their barrel specs are, but that could be part of it. The best of the MGP-sourced bourbons are the finished ones, such as New Holland's Beer Barrel Bourbon. Obviously, everything I've tasted has been prior to MGP's takeover, but I sure hope they're addressing this. This is just one man's opinion and it obviously is not hurting sales, but it sure keeps me from getting excited about another MGP bourbon. The rye, on the other hand, is absolutely stellar.

[Phil T]

I agree with what your saying Chuck. I really dig their rye, the sweetness and spicyness hits my sweet spot. I've had a couple of the bourbons, and they were barrel strength, in the 7 to 9 yr range. To my pallet, the flavor profile reminds me a lot of KCSB, and just doesn't agree with me at all.

It is my understanding that their bourbon is mainly distilled as a blending whiskey and not meant to be a stand alone product??

[squire]

I was curious about the blending whisky origins as well.

[cowdery]

All of the whiskey recipes MGP has been making, and LDI before them, are the old Seagram's recipes intended as the component whiskeys for Seagram's Seven Crown and other blends, both American and Canadian. Some of them were sold as straights before Templeton started to sell the rye in 2005, but they were all bottom shelf commodity brands (effectively, generics) or exports; Cougar for Australia being the main example. As we know from Four Roses, of course, even Seagram's straight bourbons were 'blends' in that they were not singles, but combinations of bourbons. In the Seagram's days, most of those were from Four Roses because the Indiana products couldn't say "Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey," but perhaps also because the Kentucky product was simply better. I know that some of the Four Roses output also went to Indiana for use in the blends. As we all know, all of the bourbons Four Roses makes are wonderful, so there's some kind of disconnect between what they're doing in the two Lawrenceburgs. The proof of the pudding is always in the tasting, and the Indiana bourbons aren't great.

[BoyScout]

I first tasted Old Scout in Vegas back in January. The first pour at this bar was a Pappy 20 followed by the Old Scout 6. I was blown away by the favorable comparison. Now I'm picking up Old Scout anywhere I can find it. Nashville was my first find. I didn't realize it belonged in the premium category. Now I've tasted the 2011 bottle of 6, a 2012 bottle of 6, and a 2012 bottle of 10 from the Liquor Barn in Lexington. It's getting better all the time. Last week I also went by TPS near Cincy and picked up their private bottles of 6 (111 proof) and 10 (100 proof). Can't wait to taste then next. I also have two bottles of Rye waiting for the right opportunity.

[Gillman]

I agree with Chuck. Something about the wood background seems lesser than the best Kentucky bourbon.

Gary

[BourbonJoe]

I was recently at the Party Source. They had 3 expressions. One was 7 y/o, one was 10 y/o and I think one was 6 y/o. The guy working in the bourbon section told me that the 7 y/o was by far, the best of the bunch, so I bought one.

Joe :usflag:

[sku]

They just got a COLA approved for a MGP corn whiskey for The Party Source. I think this is the first time I've seen a bottle of MGP corn whiskey, though I know they've made it for years, presumably to go into blends. https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do?action=publicFormDisplay&ttbid=13164001000320

[bllygthrd]

They just got a COLA approved for a MGP corn whiskey for The Party Source. I think this is the first time I've seen a bottle of MGP corn whiskey, though I know they've made it for years, presumably to go into blends. https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do?action=publicFormDisplay&ttbid=13164001000320

[squire]

Something old is new again.

[petrel800]

I've been working on a bottle of the TPS 7 yr. (120 proof). This one has been a fight the whole way. The rye content is obviously high and isn't well balanced with the wood. This is definitely no where near as drinkable as the 7 year 115 proof that I had earlier. I find myself using it a lot in old fashions and manhattens to finish it off since the proof makes for a nice cocktail, but its not something that was ever meant to work on its own.

[BoyScout]

I would have to agree with petrel. The 7yo Rye I have, while only 99 proof does not live up to the smoothness of the 6yo Bourbon. If I'm going to drink straight Rye I'd prefer Templeton. However, both the 6 and 10yo Bourbon compete for the top of my list as an everyday sip.

[chperry]

My local store, McScrooges, has a couple of custom bottlings of Old Scout. I purchased the 7 year, 117 proof version. I know the manager and usually like any whisky he selects. I like this quite a lot. It is not perfect and it is not the best bourbon I have ever had, but it is very good and the price was not bad. I like that Smooth Ambler does not hide the fact that they did not distill it. They get extra credit for that alone ;-) Neat it is very good, with rye spice. A little water makes it better. Amazingly, on these hot days, this whisky is VERY good on the rocks. Very good. I have yet to try a Manhattan but do not doubt it will be good also.

One of these days I will take a tasting class and learn how to find those black currents, tobacco, and figs in my bourbon.

[BoyScout]

Beverage Superstore in Suwanee, GA is now carrying Old Scout 6yo Bourbon and 7yo Rye

[joboyd]

Has anyone tried the 19-year version?

[Yeti]

anyone try and have feedback?

I can't believe I never posted in this thread. I bought all 4 of the bottles in the original post. I really love both of the 10 year olds. I thought they were good bourbons right in line with the market at their price/age/proof. The 7 year bottles were weird and more of unique experience. What Cowdery said about them being intended for blending jumps out at you because they have a very pronounced menthol flavor from what I remember. I gave away the open bottles of 10 year to friends at the KBF but I brought the 7 years home. I'll give them another whirl in the next day or two and see how a few months of air have effected them.

I also enjoyed the 8 year rye that Phil brought to the Gazebo. Very much in line with the young Willett's but with a bit more richness and depth at 8 years and 125 proof. I'll be getting a bottle or two when I make it back to Cincinnati. May have to restock those 10 year olds as well...

[BoyScout]

Hmmm - 7 yo issues? I just picked up the first bottle I've seen in west Cobb. It was a 7yo bottled in June of this year. My others are 1/13 or 3/13 and 6yo. Now I'll have to open the 7yo before I try to share it.