Compare
Smooth Ambler Old Scout vs Penelope Rio
Smooth Ambler Old Scout and Penelope Rio sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, rye-forward bottling versus a sourced, classically built blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Smooth Ambler Old Scout | Penelope Rio |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) | 98 proof (49% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$40 – $50 ~$45 less | ~$80 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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 Rio
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Smooth Ambler Old Scout Penelope Rio
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 5/9 sweetness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, Penelope Rio 9 out of 10
oak 6/4 oak: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, Penelope Rio 4 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, Penelope Rio 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10, Penelope Rio 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 Rio: Penelope's four-grain blend finished in honey barrels and then amburana wood. It tastes like a cinnamon roll: honey, gingerbread and sweet baking spice.
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 significantly lower price point.
- Go with Penelope Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio).