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Smooth Ambler Old Scout vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
Smooth Ambler Old Scout and W.L. Weller 12 Year 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 | W.L. Weller 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 5 years | 12 years +7 yr |
| Proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) +9 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $50 ~$80 less | ~$70 – $180 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- W.L. Weller 12 Year 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.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Smooth Ambler Old Scout W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/2 spice: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
heat 6/3 heat: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 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.
- W.L. Weller 12 Year: Twelve years on a wheated mash at a modest 90 proof, which is the combination that made this bottle famous. Deep caramel and baked fruit with polished rather than aggressive oak — the closest widely-discussed analogue to the Pappy profile.
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 W.L. Weller 12 Year if you want age and elegance on a wheated mash, and you are willing to chase it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).