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New Riff Single Barrel vs Smooth Ambler Old Scout
New Riff Single Barrel and Smooth Ambler Old Scout are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$55 – $70 vs. ~$40 – $50).
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Single Barrel | 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 | 5 years | 5 years |
| Proof | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) +6 proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$40 – $50 ~$18 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
New Riff Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Single Barrel Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/7 spice: New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10
sweetness 4/5 sweetness: New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
heat 7/6 heat: New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- New Riff Single Barrel: The single-barrel expression of New Riff's 30% rye mash, non-chill-filtered and at higher proof than the bonded version. As dry and peppery as bourbon gets before it stops being bourbon.
- 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 Single Barrel if you want the most aggressively spice-driven bourbon in this list, with single-barrel variation on top 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 lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout).