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Larceny Small Batch vs Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Larceny Small Batch and Smooth Ambler Old Scout sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus a sourced, rye-forward blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Larceny Small Batch | Smooth Ambler Old Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 5 years |
| Proof | 92 proof (46% ABV) | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) +7 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$25 – $32 ~$17 less | ~$40 – $50 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Larceny Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Larceny Small Batch Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/7 spice: Larceny Small Batch 2 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10
sweetness 8/5 sweetness: Larceny Small Batch 8 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
heat 3/6 heat: Larceny Small Batch 3 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
oak 4/6 oak: Larceny Small Batch 4 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Larceny Small Batch 5 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Larceny Small Batch 3 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Larceny Small Batch: Heaven Hill's everyday wheater and the most affordable way into the style. Soft honey and butterscotch with almost no spice, and a texture that makes the low price hard to argue with.
- 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 Larceny Small Batch if you want an easy, sweet, genuinely inexpensive wheated bourbon at a 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 (Larceny Small Batch); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout).