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Smooth Ambler Old Scout vs Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Smooth Ambler Old Scout and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, rye-forward blend versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Smooth Ambler Old Scout | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 5 years +1 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $50 | ~$16 – $22 ~$26 less |
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond does not publish an official mash bill.
- 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.
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Smooth Ambler Old Scout Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/5 spice: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond: A bonded 100-proof bourbon at a price that barely seems possible, though distribution is patchy outside Kentucky. Unremarkable in the best way: it does everything a bourbon should and nothing extra.
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 Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded Kentucky bourbon for under twenty dollars, if you can find it in your state.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond).