Smooth Ambler Old Scout Single Barrel Rye

58.4% ABV 8 Year | Barrel #1465 Nose - (w/o water) Sweet dark vanilla toffee, cinnamon spice, light sweet mint, buttered rye toast (w/ water) not much change. Taste - (w/o water) Heavy cinnamon spice/heat/tingle, dark chocolate covered dark toffee, sweet mint, hint of cherry coke concentrate (w/ water) Spice softens up considerably, dark chocolate, sweet mint is barely present now, more balanced cherry coke concentrate. Finish - (w/o water) Lingering cinnamon spice, lightly drying, woody cherry coke concentrate (w/ water) Lingering vanilla, chocolate, cherry coke concentrate. Score - 92/100 Final Thoughts - This was a really great rye. I'm a bit disappointed I didn't pick up a few more bottles when I had the chance because for the price I paid back then, this is a fantastic cask strength, 8 year old rye that hits all the notes I like in a rye. Nice sweet mint I usually get from MGP combined with a nice cherry coke concentrate flavor I quite like. A tiny bit of water really opens it up and softens out most of the harsh/woody notes in this. This would be great both neat with a tiny bit of water, or in a basic old fashioned. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Yes Would I buy a bottle? - Yes

Barrel No. 16747 Age 4 years 55.8%, 111.6 proof Open 2 weeks Nose - Strong lemon and citrus peel, Lemonheads, Pine Sol, eucalyptus, dill, saltwater taffy, toffee, strong ethanol. Palate - Surprisingly sweet up front, light caramel and butterscotch, toffee, lemon custard, powdered cinnamon and nutmeg, vanilla frosting. The finish is long, oily, and bright with lots of tannic oak and rye spices, black pepper, artificial citrus, butterscotch, and lighter than expected ethanol burn. For the money this is an incredible rye. I thought the Old Scout Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon I had recently was above average MGP for the money, but this blows it away at the same price point. Old Scout Single Barrel Cask Strength bottles are rare in NC, but I happened to see 10 on the shelf locally a few weeks ago and they sat there for days. I regret not picking up two. It is better than James E. Pepper 1776 Barrel Proof Rye, and as good as Templeton Rye Cask Strength for less money. It has a balance of citrus, baking spices, sugar, and eucalyptus/dill that those two don't. If you see this under $60 I would buy it immediately, it is a great and affordable representation of high rye whiskey.

The Party Source pick Barrel No. 32035 Age - 5 years 58.2% abv; 116.4 proof Open 4 months Nose - Classic rye notes of dill, pine, black pepper, eucalyptus, dry baking spices, orange spice, caramel cream, light oak, and medium ethanol. Palate - Spicy cinnamon, freshly cracked black peppercorn, coffee cake, gingerbread, tobacco leaf, orange oil, conifer extract, and stale honeycomb. Finish is medium-long with hot pepper and cinnamon, dry oak, dry baking spices, burnt orange peel, and medium ethanol. I'm tempted to just give this 5 stars, because it was $20. But I know that's unusual, these are typically around $50. Apparently The Party Source heavily discounts store picks that have been sitting on the shelf for months. I wish I knew that sooner so I could've saved up, because there are some stupid good sales that are still ongoing. I don't think this is the best example of an Old Scout Rye I've had, but it's still pretty darn good. Honestly, it's really difficult to beat Old Scout picks. I've bought plenty of older and more expensive MGP ryes that don't live up to this.

Bull City Bourbon Club pick, "Deitz Hometown Treatz" Barrel No. 16841 Age 6 years 61.6% abv; 123.2 proof Open 2 months Nose - Vanilla bean, black pepper, dried herbs, dill, pine needles, light menthol, medium oak, and medium ethanol. Palate - Sweet rye baking spices, light black pepper, light dill, crème brulee, ginger snaps, spearmint, and sweet oak. Finish is long with sweet oak spice, cinnamon, allspice, gingerbread, light dill, and light ethanol. These are bangers for the value, especially when ABC recategorized Old Scout Rye Single Barrel as a special package. The previous price was $50, so it's one of the few sought-after whiskeys that dramatically dropped in price in the last year. Getting cask strength MGP rye at 6 years for $35 is phenomenal, do not pass these up if you see them. At worst you can use them as a mixer or give to a friend.

Review is for a $50 bottle of SAOS SiB Rye 4 Year age statement and 114.8 Proof. Neck pour, tasted neat in Glencairn, and rested 10 minutes. Nose has a dose of ethanol heat but not over bearing for the proof. Getting past the heat a bright scent of sweet vanilla with hints of orange zest emerge that is underpinned by wafts of wet oak. On the palate an initial burst of sweet vanilla with a somewhat creamy mouthfeel, that shifts into tingling spicy heat and then further evolves to show mint and clove menthol like notes. Finally as the medium to long spicy finish begins to give way, slight heat and spice lingers, with a faint touch of dark cocoa powdered oak showing ever so slightly as it all fades away. Delicious MGP sourced rye.

Barrel number 16930. Aged 6 years, 117.8 proof. Has a dusty.mineral note on the nose followed by a weak but typical MGP profile. Unlike the nose, the palate is strong with the typical dill, maple, caramel, oak, and some peppery rye spice. To me, the typical MGP profile. The more i drink it the more it starts to transition to peppery rye spice mixed with medicinal herbal flavors. Today's tasting is probably the best this bottle has tasted to me--quintessential MGP rye thru and thru.