Smooth Ambler Contradiction

I received this from a friend sometime back. I have been sipping occasionally but never really analyzed fully. Tonight is that night while watching game 5 of the Tigers/Mariners playoff decider on a dank and damp evening. N: Worn leather greets the nose. A baseball glove. A soft layer of baking spices blends with the leather aromas with walnuts, rye and caramel. A warm introduction. P: The palate receives a spicy tingle with a touch of sweetness. Ground cinnamon which is mingled honey, vanilla, Demerara sugar, cherry NyQuil, pumpernickel. Solid but not deep or flashy. F: The finish is bitter and contrasts the nose and palate. The drying oak tannins last for a fair length fading along with baking spices. O: A promising nose which invites and welcomes a comfortable palate. Easy to sip. The finish doesn’t continue the invitation. The strong bitterness detracts from the palate just lessens the enjoyment of the dram. A good sipper when you want to just sip without getting too deep into your dram, which happens way too many times. A grab and go pour. Perfect for a chilled autumn evening. [85/100][Tasted: 10/10/25]

[5.30.24] It does seem like I've been drinking a fair bit of whiskey lately... As one does. This was actually a Christmas gift from the brother-in-law. Admittedly, if your brother-in-law is giving you whiskey for Christmas - it's going ok. I think some of these barrels are being used for a "bossing" good bourbon-barrel maple syrup project. Speaking of, maple syrup is exactly what I'd add to this in a mixed drink. This is smooth beyond its proof with a sweet vanilla malt flavor, almost like a liquor milkshake (complete with more oily profile than I think is credited by others on this app). Easy drinker, room temperature. To put it in perspective, I had mine after ice cream and still thought it was sweet.

Batch no. 395, 46% ABV. Neck pour, neat, sat for 20+ minutes. Maraschino cherry and vanilla on the nose, once you get by the first ethanol blast. Taste is rich with vanilla forward, then a floral note with cinnamon. Medium-to-long finish. Oak char and rye spice very evident on back end with black pepper. Hug starts early and hangs on for awhile. For contradictory mash bills of high rye vs. wheat, all that is going on is quite balanced, if rough around the edges. Adding a drop of water brought out caramel and brown sugar on the nose, opened the taste up for the vanilla & cinnamon, and rounded out the finish. At under $40, I could put this in the rotation as a sipper that way.

Ok. Oak. Pepper. Rye spices. Caramel. Faint cherry. Not a bad bourbon but nothing crazy. Finish is medium and mouthfeel is ok. I’ll try again at some point in a Glencairn. I use the rating scale below. Distiller uses a scale of 5 and I use a scale of 10, but I’m sure you’re not too drunk to do the math! 1. Disgusting - So bad I poured it out. 2. Poor - I wouldn't consume by choice. 3. Bad - Multiple flaws. 4. Below average - Not bad, but many things I'd rather have. 5. Good - Just average. 6. Very Good - Better than average. 7. Great - Well above average. 8. Excellent - In a league of its own. 9. Incredible - An all-time favorite. 10. Perfect

Rye, leather, cinnamon, mildly herbal nose with sawdust and nuts. Middle of the bourbon-road palate: caramel, honey, cherry, bread dough, vanilla, apple, sagebrush. Not light and flowery, not dark and autumnal—it’s late summer I guess. Interesting and endearing. Lumberyard finish with baking spices, pepper and peanuts. Re: the expert review, if i drank this at Christmas I’d feel a bit let down.

I like this one a lot for sipping neat, but not including much detail about flavor profiles, notes, and finish because as of right now, my Bourbon/Whiskey pallet is still pretty underdeveloped with more than 50 tracked tastings, but less than 100 as of 2022. (That's not all consumed, just all appreciated outside of shots and mixers)