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Smooth Ambler Old Scout vs Charles Goodnight Bourbon
Put Smooth Ambler Old Scout next to Charles Goodnight Bourbon and you have a sourced, high-rye blend set against an uncut, high-rye heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Smooth Ambler Old Scout | Charles Goodnight Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | 6 years +1 yr |
| Proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +16 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$40 – $50 ~$33 less | ~$75 – $80 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Charles Goodnight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Smooth Ambler Old Scout Charles Goodnight Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10
oak 6/8 oak: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10
heat 6/8 heat: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 8 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 6 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10, Charles Goodnight Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- 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.
- Charles Goodnight Bourbon: A barrel-strength Texas bourbon. The hot Texas climate pulls a lot of oak in six years, giving deep wood, brown sugar and dark fruit with plenty of rye spice.
Which One Should You Choose?
- 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 significantly lower price point.
- Go with Charles Goodnight Bourbon if you want a bold, oak-heavy Texas bourbon at barrel strength with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout); neat, rocks (Charles Goodnight Bourbon).