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Evan Williams Black Label vs Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Evan Williams Black Label and Smooth Ambler Old Scout sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus a sourced, rye-forward blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Evan Williams Black Label | 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 | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) +13 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$14 – $18 ~$29 less | ~$40 – $50 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Evan Williams Black Label
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Evan Williams Black Label Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/7 spice: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10
heat 3/6 heat: Evan Williams Black Label 3 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Evan Williams Black Label 6 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Evan Williams Black Label 5 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Evan Williams Black Label: The everyday black label, and a perfectly competent well bourbon. Softer and sweeter than the bonded version, with less to say but nothing objectionable.
- 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 Evan Williams Black Label if you want a dependable, inexpensive mixing bourbon and nothing more complicated than that at a lower price point.
- 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 with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Evan Williams Black Label); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout).