Old Scout Cask Strength Bourbon and Rye

[BoyScout]

Last week I picked up an 8 year old Old Scout Single Barrel Cask Strength @ 56.3% ABV along with a 7 year old 62.2% ABV Cask Strength Rye. I've been enjoying their regular 6,7, and 10 year varieties and was curious about their full strength versions. We opened the bourbon the same day - wow, what a spicy bomb! Tons of flavor, clearly a high rye, and it needs at least one ice cube to settle it down. This will be a special occasion offering.

[jmj_203]

I can imagine. I was just posting about this last week, with reference to the spicy character on WT products and how My Old Scout 7yr bourbon bottles really remind me of that. So I can imagine at cask strength its quite the cinnamon spicy tongue tingle. I'm really enjoying SA products, lets just hope when they get to their own stuff that its as delicious as their sourced juice. They clearly have good taste as far as sourcing bourbon.

[whiskeyagonzo]

Some friends and I were sampling some 11 year SAOS and we thought one was the high rye mashbill. It turns out it was actually the low rye recipe. Both were MGPI sourced and they have 2 bourbon mashbills with rye as the predominate secondary grain. If memory serves they are 60/36/4 & 75/21/4.

[s8ist]

I think your assumption was correct. I would consider both of those mashbills to be high rye bourbons.

Not sure if there is a standard, but I believe "low rye" bourbons are typically under 10% rye, and rye is usually third (or last) in the percentage category.

[BoyScout]

Where do you find 11yo SAOS and is there a way to tell which mashbill is used from the label?

[squire]

Yeah, I would call 21% rye somewhat high, certainly more than average.

[dcbt]

I ran across the mash bills randomly recently, just re-found it:

http://www.cooperedtot.com/2014/03/smooth-ambler-old-scout-10-vs-old-scout.html

That site claims 75/21/4 for the older varietals (10 year mentioned specifically) and 60/36/4 for the younger varietals.

[whiskeyagonzo]

Yes I realize that both are technically "high" rye but for the sake of SAOS there is a high and low that they use. Very similar to FR. My point was we thought it was the 60/36/4 but was actually 75/21/4. As far as where to find them, I would imagine that they will start popping up in places like Binny's, Kenwood, etc.

[Tony Santana]

I've got a Very Old Scout 11 year, didn't know they did an Old Scout 11. Is the Very Old Scout series dead now? I've seen/bought 11 year and 19 year variations, and heard of the 14 year.

[HD 335]

I've got a Very Old Scout 11 year, didn't know they did an Old Scout 11. Is the Very Old Scout series dead now? I've seen/bought 11 year and 19 year variations, and heard of the 14 year.

I haven't seen the Very Old Scout bottlings since early 2013 in my area.

[tanstaafl2]

Yes I realize that both are technically "high" rye but for the sake of SAOS there is a high and low that they use. Very similar to FR. My point was we thought it was the 60/36/4 but was actually 75/21/4. As far as where to find them, I would imagine that they will start popping up in places like Binny's, Kenwood, etc.

No need to guess. MGPI publishes the amount of rye content!

Bourbon (21% Rye)

Bourbon (36% Rye)

Bourbon (45% Wheat)

Bourbon (49% Barley Malt)

Bourbon (99% Corn)

http://www.mgpingredients.com/product-list/#sthash.YQClTiTe.dpuf

The wheat and barley bourbon mashbills were both introduced last year (along with several other new mashbills) and presumably won't be ready for a few years. Which doesn't mean somebody won't try to sell 2 yo bourbon using one of them at some point soon...

No idea what the "99% corn bourbon" mashbill is used for. Anybody ever seen that used for anything? I know Smooth Ambler does an "American Whiskey" sold by TPS (and elsewhere?) that is high corn but they don't call it bourbon. I presume this 99% corn mashbill goes in new charred oak in order to be called bourbon but since they don't label it that way I am guessing they are using the corn whiskey mashbill with 15% rye. It isn't on the Smooth Ambler website either so perhaps it is a TPS exclusive? Anyone know for sure?