Smooth Ambler Old Scout 99 Proof American Whiskey (750ml)

Note: Box has come from a private collection and as such has some light creasing/scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.

With so many well-established distilleries in Kentucky, starting a new whiskey company from scratch in the hills of West Virginia might seem like a crazy move. It's one that's paid off for the fiercely independent folks at Smooth Ambler. They launched with a seven year old, but that was suspended in 2016 as a result of rapid and unanticipated growth. Not long after, Smooth Ambler was acquired by spirits giant, Pernod Ricard. In 2019, Old Scout was re-released, this time with no age statement (though the company notes the blend is approximately five years old). It's a combination of two whiskeys distilled from classic Bourbon mashbills, one aged in new oak, the other in rejuvenated re-charred Bourbon casks. It's this unconventional ageing that disqualifies it as a Bourbon, hence they don't call it that on the label, but flavour wise, that's essentially what it is. As for the name, it highlights a commitment to transparency, referring to the fact that the product is sourced, or as Smooth Ambler refers to it, “Scouted out.” This edition has Tennessee and Indiana components. 49.5% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.