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Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel vs Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel and Smooth Ambler Old Scout sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus a blender-built, rye-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel | Smooth Ambler Old Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 5 years |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$60 – $80 | ~$40 – $50 ~$25 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 8/5 sweetness: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 8 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
oak 9/6 oak: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 9 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
spice 5/7 spice: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10
heat 4/6 heat: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel: Finished in a second toasted (not charred) barrel, which produces an unmistakable toasted-marshmallow note. Sweet and heavily wooded, and one of the more distinctive finishes any major producer makes.
- 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 Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel if you want a distinctive toasted-oak, marshmallow-sweet finish you will not find in a standard bourbon.
- 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 lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout).