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Smooth Ambler Old Scout vs Four Roses Small Batch
On paper Smooth Ambler Old Scout and Four Roses Small Batch are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so proof (99 vs. 90) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Smooth Ambler Old Scout | Four Roses Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) +9 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$40 – $50 | ~$32 – $38 ~$10 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.
Four Roses Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Smooth Ambler Old Scout Four Roses Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 5/7 fruit: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10
heat 6/4 heat: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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.
- Four Roses Small Batch: Four Roses' yeast strains push this toward fruit and florals rather than wood. Red berry and cinnamon over a light body, with the rye showing up as brightness instead of bite.
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 slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Four Roses Small Batch if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout); neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch).