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Jack Daniel’s Bonded vs Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Jack Daniel’s Bonded 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 | Jack Daniel’s Bonded | 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 | 4 years | 5 years +1 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$30 – $38 ~$11 less | ~$40 – $50 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Jack Daniel’s Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jack Daniel’s Bonded Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/7 spice: Jack Daniel’s Bonded 4 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Jack Daniel’s Bonded 6 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Jack Daniel’s Bonded 4 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: Jack Daniel’s Bonded 5 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Jack Daniel’s Bonded 4 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Jack Daniel’s Bonded 6 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Jack Daniel’s Bonded: Bonded Jack at 100 proof, and far more serious than the black label most people picture. The charcoal mellowing still rounds everything off, but there is real bourbon structure underneath.
- 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 Bonded if you want the Tennessee charcoal-mellowed character with bonded proof and genuine structure 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.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Jack Daniel’s Bonded); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout).