Compare
Smooth Ambler Old Scout vs Larceny Small Batch
Smooth Ambler Old Scout and Larceny Small Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, rye-forward bottling versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Smooth Ambler Old Scout | Larceny Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) +7 proof | 92 proof (46% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$40 – $50 | ~$25 – $32 ~$17 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.
Larceny Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Smooth Ambler Old Scout Larceny Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/2 spice: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 2 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 8 out of 10
heat 6/3 heat: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 3 out of 10
oak 6/4 oak: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 4 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 3 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.
- Larceny Small Batch: Heaven Hill's everyday wheater and the most affordable way into the style. Soft honey and butterscotch with almost no spice, and a texture that makes the low price hard to argue with.
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 Larceny Small Batch if you want an easy, sweet, genuinely inexpensive wheated bourbon at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout); neat, rocks, cocktails (Larceny Small Batch).