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Four Roses Single Barrel vs Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Four Roses Single Barrel and Smooth Ambler Old Scout are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$45 – $55 vs. ~$40 – $50).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Single Barrel | Smooth Ambler Old Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 5 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$40 – $50 ~$5 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Four Roses Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Single Barrel Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 7/5 fruit: Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
spice 8/7 spice: Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
heat 6/6 heat: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Four Roses Single Barrel: The OBSV recipe on its own at 100 proof — the highest-rye mash Four Roses uses, paired with their most floral yeast. Cherry and clove in equal measure, and a genuinely distinctive glass.
- 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 Four Roses Single Barrel if you want the most expressive, spice-and-fruit-forward single recipe in the Four Roses range.
- 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 slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout).