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Smooth Ambler Old Scout vs Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing Smooth Ambler Old Scout and Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond reveals a matchup between a sourced, spice-driven blend and a modern, wheated craft expression.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Smooth Ambler Old Scout | Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | 64% corn, 24% wheat, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | 6 years +1 yr |
| Proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$40 – $50 ~$8 less | ~$45 – $60 |
- 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.
Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Smooth Ambler Old Scout Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/3 spice: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10, Wilderness Trail 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.
- Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond: A sweet-mash, bonded wheated bourbon from a distillery founded by two fermentation scientists, and the technical care shows in how clean it tastes. One of the strongest craft arguments on the shelf.
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 slightly lower price point.
- Go with Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, sweet-mash wheater from a modern distillery doing genuinely careful work with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout); neat, rocks (Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond).