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Smooth Ambler Old Scout vs Jack Daniel’s Bonded
Smooth Ambler Old Scout and Jack Daniel’s Bonded 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 | Jack Daniel’s Bonded |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | 80% corn, 8% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years +1 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$40 – $50 | ~$30 – $38 ~$11 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.
Jack Daniel’s Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Smooth Ambler Old Scout Jack Daniel’s Bonded
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/4 spice: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s Bonded 4 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s Bonded 6 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s Bonded 4 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s Bonded 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s Bonded 4 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s Bonded 6 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.
- Jack Daniel’s Bonded: Bonded Jack at 100 proof, and far more serious than the black label most people picture. The charcoal mellowing still rounds everything off, but there is real bourbon structure underneath.
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.
- Go with Jack Daniel’s Bonded if you want the Tennessee charcoal-mellowed character with bonded proof and genuine structure at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Jack Daniel’s Bonded).