Smooth Ambler 7yr or 10yr?

[BigPapa]

What is your preference of the two and why?

is the seven yr sweeter? and I am sure it is less oaky.

[petrel800]

I haven't bought either off the shelf offering.  I have come across so many store picks and had the opportunity to try before I buy that I've just stuck with the private label stuff.  Most have ranged between 7 and 11 years.  All have been good.

 

Either way, the price of the 10 and 7 year offerings are very reasonable, grab both and let us know what you think.

Edited March 31, 2016 by petrel800

[Richnimrod]

In my admittedly limited experience, either CAN be stellar, or merely good.     I've never owned any of either age that I felt was substandard; but have had a couple 10's and 3-7's I found excellent, out of about 4 and six respectively.   FWIW.

Good Luck.

[b1gcountry]

I haven't tasted the 10 yet, but after not liking the first pour, I really like the 7yr now. I do tend to prefer bourbon with less oak. I've never had anything I liked that was over 12yo.

[RussianBourbonLover]

I have yet to try the 7, however, like b1gCountry said, after opening my 10 yr, Every pour after the 1st has been fantastic.

[flahute]

In the standard offerings, it's useful to know that the 7 year is the high rye mashbill and the 10 year is the low rye. I have finished bottles of both and greatly prefer the 7 year. The 10 year was just OK. It took me a while to finish it because I always went to grab something else instead. Given the price it goes for these days, I'm not at all compelled to buy another.

[starhopper]

I currently have 3 bottles of each.  When I'm in the mood for something smooth as silk and subtle in it's depth, I drink the SAOS 10.  When I'm in the mood for a little "kick", and a "in your face" depth to it, I drink the SAOS 7. You can't go wrong with either one IMHO!

Edited March 31, 2016 by starhopper

[jeffrey r]

4 hours ago, flahute said:

In the standard offerings, it's useful to know that the 7 year is the high rye mashbill and the 10 year is the low rye. I have finished bottles of both and greatly prefer the 7 year. The 10 year was just OK. It took me a while to finish it because I always went to grab something else instead. Given the price it goes for these days, I'm not at all compelled to buy another.

+1

[LCWoody]

Hands down the 7y, SA did a great gob of managing these barrels. If you get a batch 100 or above, more than likely it's 9 to 11 year old bourbon. And if you see an OSSB spend an extra few bucks and pick it up. I have all of these OS open right now. 

they are all good... can't go wrong. 

[Fort Knox]

I agree that you can't really go wrong.  I do tend to prefer the 7yr. over the standard 10yr, but the cask strength PS's that I've had have all been around 9yo and they've all been fantastic.  I do have a couple of 10yr. CS PS's that I haven't opened yet, so we'll see how much I like them, but I can't imagine not liking them.

[jackthedog]

The single barrel I've tried is among the best bourbons I've ever had. 

For whatever reason, the 7 year has a strong resemblance to FRSiB for me. I haven't had the 10yr but would like to. 

Edited April 1, 2016 by jackthedog

[Harry in WashDC]

8 hours ago, flahute said:

In the standard offerings, it's useful to know that the 7 year is the high rye mashbill and the 10 year is the low rye. I have finished bottles of both and greatly prefer the 7 year. The 10 year was just OK. It took me a while to finish it because I always went to grab something else instead. Given the price it goes for these days, I'm not at all compelled to buy another.

This has been my experience.  Plus, I don't actively hunt; if I see and want it, I buy it.  I don't go store to store looking, though.  Thus, SAOS 7 is what I "buy to replace an empty" right now, awaiting the release of their own make later this year.

Last week while looking for some sherry for a chicken dish, I did find a SAOS "Rye" in the back of the liquor cabinet holding, mostly, liqueurs.  I wonder who put it there . . .

[tanstaafl2]

11 hours ago, jackthedog said:

The single barrel I've tried is among the best bourbons I've ever had. 

For whatever reason, the 7 year has a strong resemblance to FRSiB for me. I haven't had the 10yr but would like to. 

Not that surprising as 4R and MGP share some DNA from the past.

[ken_mays]

I actually prefer the 10 year. The flavors are more complex and delicate to me. I would be happy with either though. 

[JoeTerp]

Is there a way to tell which of the recipes a single barrel is?

[amg]

3 hours ago, JoeTerp said:

Is there a way to tell which of the recipes a single barrel is?

If you contact Smooth Ambler with the barrel number they will tell you. I've never had one that wasn't the high rye recipe.

[LCWoody]

I'm sure all SASB is high rye

[JoeTerp]

4 hours ago, amg said:

If you contact Smooth Ambler with the barrel number they will tell you. I've never had one that wasn't the high rye recipe.

Thanks

[TunnelTiger]

I also prefer the 7 yr for taste reasons only but I'll admit I quit buying when my local price went to $45.99.

 

Too many better pours IMHO at almost half that.

[flahute]

6 hours ago, TunnelTiger said:

I also prefer the 7 yr for taste reasons only but I'll admit I quit buying when my local price went to $45.99.

 

Too many better pours IMHO at almost half that.

Yep. They cost that and higher here these days so I've also quit buying.

[starhopper]

5 hours ago, flahute said:

Yep. They cost that and higher here these days so I've also quit buying.

I just saw the 10 yesterday for $75.00 and the 7 for $55!  Glad I bunkered them when they were $45 and $35!

[dmarkle]

For my money, it's the 7.  To my taste, it's got a fuller flavor than the 10.

[RussianBourbonLover]

I bought the 10 for $50, and the 7 last week for $40. The 10 yr I have is still better than the 7, to me.  Should I also try the rye, as well?

[meadeweber]

23 minutes ago, RussianBourbonLover said:

I bought the 10 for $50, and the 7 last week for $40. The 10 yr I have is still better than the 7, to me.  Should I also try the rye, as well?

The rye is drying up.  They are not bottling any more at this time.  So if you can find it and the price is in line with those other two, you may want to pick it up to try it, especially if you have not had MGP rye.  MGP rye has a distinctive flavor component.  I call it dill.

Edited April 14, 2016 by meadeweber

[RussianBourbonLover]

55 minutes ago, meadeweber said:

The rye is drying up.  They are not bottling any more at this time.  So if you can find it and the price is in line with those other two, you may want to pick it up to try it, especially if you have not had MGP rye.  MGP rye has a distinctive flavor component.  I call it dill.

Thanks, I'll make sure it's not overpriced, but the dill does intrigue me.