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Jack Daniel’s 10 Year vs Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Comparing Jack Daniel’s 10 Year and Smooth Ambler Old Scout reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and a blender-built, spice-driven bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jack Daniel’s 10 Year | Smooth Ambler Old Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 80% corn, 8% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | 10 years +5 yr | 5 years |
| Proof | 97 proof (48.5% ABV) | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) +2 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$70 – $90 | ~$40 – $50 ~$35 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Jack Daniel’s 10 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jack Daniel’s 10 Year Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Jack Daniel’s 10 Year 7 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
spice 5/7 spice: Jack Daniel’s 10 Year 5 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Jack Daniel’s 10 Year 7 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Jack Daniel’s 10 Year 6 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: Jack Daniel’s 10 Year 5 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Jack Daniel’s 10 Year 4 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- Jack Daniel’s 10 Year: The return of an age-stated Jack Daniel's after more than a century. Ten years add dark fruit, cocoa and real oak to the familiar banana-and-caramel Lynchburg profile.
- 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 Jack Daniel’s 10 Year if you want an older, oak-forward Jack Daniel's with dark fruit and cocoa with an older age statement.
- 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 (Jack Daniel’s 10 Year); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout).