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Four Roses Small Batch vs Smooth Ambler Old Scout
On paper Four Roses Small Batch and Smooth Ambler Old Scout are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so proof (90 vs. 99) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | Smooth Ambler Old Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 5 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) +9 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$32 – $38 ~$10 less | ~$40 – $50 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Four Roses Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 7/5 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
heat 4/6 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Four Roses Small Batch: Four Roses' yeast strains push this toward fruit and florals rather than wood. Red berry and cinnamon over a light body, with the rye showing up as brightness instead of bite.
- 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 Small Batch if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template at a slightly 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 slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout).