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Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond vs Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and Smooth Ambler Old Scout sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus a blender-built, rye-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond | Smooth Ambler Old Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | 5 years +1 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$16 – $22 ~$26 less | ~$40 – $50 |
- 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
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/7 spice: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- 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.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout).