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New Riff 8 Year vs Smooth Ambler Old Scout
New Riff 8 Year and Smooth Ambler Old Scout are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$65 – $70 vs. ~$40 – $50).
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff 8 Year | Smooth Ambler Old Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | 8 years +3 yr | 5 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$65 – $70 | ~$40 – $50 ~$23 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff 8 Year Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
spice 8/7 spice: New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- New Riff 8 Year: The older, deeper version of New Riff's bonded bourbon. Same 30% rye recipe, but eight years add richer oak and darker sugar while keeping the spice front and center.
- 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 New Riff 8 Year if you want an older, deeper take on New Riff's spicy high-rye recipe with an older age statement and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- 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 lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout).