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Smooth Ambler Old Scout vs New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Smooth Ambler Old Scout and New Riff Bottled-in-Bond are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is age (5 years vs. 4 years).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Smooth Ambler Old Scout | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years +1 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$40 – $50 | ~$38 – $45 |
- 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.
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Smooth Ambler Old Scout New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/9 spice: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10
sweetness 5/4 sweetness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
heat 6/6 heat: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 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.
- New Riff Bottled-in-Bond: At 30% rye this is about as spice-forward as bourbon gets before becoming rye whiskey. Peppery and herbal with mint and dill, non-chill-filtered for texture, and noticeably dry rather than sweet.
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 New Riff Bottled-in-Bond if you want aggressive rye spice and a dry, herbal profile from a modern craft distillery with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond).