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Smooth Ambler Old Scout vs Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Put Smooth Ambler Old Scout next to Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year and you have a blender-built, high-rye bottling set against an uncut, high-rye heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Smooth Ambler Old Scout | Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | 70% corn, 25% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | 7 years +2 yr |
| Proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) | 115.2 proof (57.6% ABV) +16 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$40 – $50 ~$18 less | ~$60 – $65 |
- 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.
Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Smooth Ambler Old Scout Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
heat 6/8 heat: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 8 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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.
- Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year: Penelope's uncut flagship, now with a seven-year age statement. It is richer and spicier than the Four Grain, with caramel and rye spice carried by a lot of proof.
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 at a lower price point.
- Go with Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year if you want a well-priced, seven-year, uncut blend with real depth and spice with an older age statement and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year).