Compare
Smooth Ambler Old Scout vs Eagle Rare 12 Year
Comparing Smooth Ambler Old Scout and Eagle Rare 12 Year reveals a matchup between a blender-built, spice-driven bottling and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Smooth Ambler Old Scout | Eagle Rare 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | 12 years +7 yr |
| Proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) +4 proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $50 ~$20 less | ~$50 – $80 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Eagle Rare 12 Year 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
Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Eagle Rare 12 Year
Top 3, behind George T. Stagg and Jack Daniel's 14.
Flavor Profile
Smooth Ambler Old Scout Eagle Rare 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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.
- Eagle Rare 12 Year: Two more years and five more proof points than Eagle Rare 10. Brown sugar and toffee lead, with a drier, more astringent oak finish.
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 lower price point.
- Go with Eagle Rare 12 Year if you want an older, richer step up from Eagle Rare 10 with more brown sugar and oak with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout); neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year).