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Jack Daniel’s 12 Year vs Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Put Jack Daniel’s 12 Year next to Smooth Ambler Old Scout and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a blender-built, high-rye bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jack Daniel’s 12 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 | 12 years +7 yr | 5 years |
| Proof | 107 proof (53.5% ABV) +8 proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$80 – $120 | ~$40 – $50 ~$55 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 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jack Daniel’s 12 Year Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 8/5 sweetness: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 8 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
spice 5/7 spice: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 5 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10
oak 8/6 oak: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 8 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 6 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 4 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10
heat 6/6 heat: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 6 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- Jack Daniel’s 12 Year: Twelve-year Jack Daniel's at 107 proof. Sweet and creamy, with butterscotch, pipe tobacco and seasoned oak.
- 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 12 Year if you want a sweet, creamy, well-aged Jack Daniel's with pipe tobacco and oak with slightly more proof behind it.
- 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 12 Year); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout).