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Wild Turkey Rare Breed vs Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Comparing Wild Turkey Rare Breed and Smooth Ambler Old Scout reveals a matchup between an uncut, spice-driven heavyweight and a sourced, spice-driven blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Wild Turkey Rare Breed | Smooth Ambler Old Scout |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 5 years |
| Proof | 116 proof (58% ABV) +17 proof | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$40 – $50 ~$5 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Wild Turkey Rare Breed
Good flavor.
Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Smooth Ambler Old Scout
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/6 oak: Wild Turkey Rare Breed 8 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
heat 8/6 heat: Wild Turkey Rare Breed 8 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Wild Turkey Rare Breed 6 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
spice 8/7 spice: Wild Turkey Rare Breed 8 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Wild Turkey Rare Breed 4 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Wild Turkey Rare Breed 3 out of 10, Smooth Ambler Old Scout 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Wild Turkey Rare Breed: Barrel-proof Wild Turkey at a price that still looks like a mistake. Everything the 101 does with considerably more force, and one of the most consistently praised bottles in its category.
- 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 Wild Turkey Rare Breed if you want barrel-proof spice and oak with a reputation to match, at half what comparable bottles cost with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Wild Turkey Rare Breed); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Smooth Ambler Old Scout).