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New Riff Bottled-in-Bond vs Smooth Ambler Old Scout
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond and Smooth Ambler Old Scout are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is age (4 years vs. 5 years).
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond | 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 | 4 years | 5 years +1 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$40 – $50 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/7 spice: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10
sweetness 4/5 sweetness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
heat 6/6 heat: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- New Riff Bottled-in-Bond: At 30% rye this is about as spice-forward as bourbon gets before becoming rye whiskey. Peppery and herbal with mint and dill, non-chill-filtered for texture, and noticeably dry rather than sweet.
- 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 Bottled-in-Bond if you want aggressive rye spice and a dry, herbal profile from a modern craft distillery 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.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout).