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Old Grand-Dad Bonded vs Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Comparing Old Grand-Dad Bonded and Smooth Ambler Old Scout is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$24 – $30 vs. ~$40 – $50).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Grand-Dad Bonded | Smooth Ambler Old Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% 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 2 | ~$24 – $30 ~$18 less | ~$40 – $50 |
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Grand-Dad Bonded Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10
spice 8/7 spice: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/5 sweetness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
heat 6/6 heat: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
- 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 Old Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money.
- 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 (Old Grand-Dad Bonded); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout).