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Charles Goodnight Bourbon vs Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Put Charles Goodnight Bourbon next to Smooth Ambler Old Scout and you have an uncut, high-rye heavyweight set against a blender-built, high-rye bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Charles Goodnight Bourbon | Smooth Ambler Old Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years +1 yr | 5 years |
| Proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +16 proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$75 – $80 | ~$40 – $50 ~$33 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Charles Goodnight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Charles Goodnight Bourbon Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
oak 8/6 oak: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
heat 8/6 heat: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- Charles Goodnight Bourbon: A barrel-strength Texas bourbon. The hot Texas climate pulls a lot of oak in six years, giving deep wood, brown sugar and dark fruit with plenty of rye spice.
- Smooth Ambler Old Scout: Sourced MGP bourbon selected and bottled in West Virginia, and one of the more honest sourced brands about exactly what it is. The characteristic MGP dill-and-pepper signature, cleanly presented.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Charles Goodnight Bourbon if you want a bold, oak-heavy Texas bourbon at barrel strength with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Smooth Ambler Old Scout if you want the classic MGP high-rye profile from a bottler that has always been upfront about sourcing at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout).