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Smooth Ambler Old Scout vs Evan Williams Black Label
Smooth Ambler Old Scout and Evan Williams Black Label sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, rye-forward bottling versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Smooth Ambler Old Scout | Evan Williams Black Label |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) +13 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$40 – $50 | ~$14 – $18 ~$29 less |
- 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.
Evan Williams Black Label
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Smooth Ambler Old Scout Evan Williams Black Label
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/4 spice: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10
heat 6/3 heat: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 6 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 5 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10, Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- Evan Williams Black Label: The everyday black label, and a perfectly competent well bourbon. Softer and sweeter than the bonded version, with less to say but nothing objectionable.
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 with more proof behind it.
- Go with Evan Williams Black Label if you want a dependable, inexpensive mixing bourbon and nothing more complicated than that at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout); cocktails, highball, rocks (Evan Williams Black Label).