Food & Drink

Review: Smooth Ambler Old Scout Bourbon Single Barrel 5 Years Old (2021)

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Easy Ambler’s Outdated Scout line helped to place the small craft distillery on the map greater than 10 years in the past. I recounted in my overview of the new Old Scout Bourbon how the distillery, after briefly working out of aged MGP inventory, resurrected the road in 2019 with a considerably bigger, if younger, stockpile of whiskey which now patiently ages of their West Virginia rickhouses. With provides renewed, the distillery determined in 2020 to reintroduce the Single Barrel Old Scout bourbon, a bottle that grew to become a darling of the bourbon obsessed again when few distilleries had been providing true single barrels of well-aged bourbon at cask energy. As with the primary releases, these bottles can be found solely on the distillery reward store in Maxwelton, WV and as non-public picks at retailers and eating places across the nation (be aware: labels gained’t denote “single barrel” however the title of the person or retailer deciding on the barrel with the barrel quantity will seem on the again). I received my palms on this reward store launch, dubbed Sarah for the pleasant girl who bottled it. No less than I hope she’s pleasant. As an apart, she seems to be a really prolific bottler since most of my Easy Ambler bottles from the final decade bear her title. Anyway, on to the tasting.

At simply 5 years previous, it’s nonetheless on the youthful facet, however the cask energy abv helps to raise its presentation. The nostril takes slightly time to open, however ultimately wealthy notes of leather-based and brown butter emerge. Some sweeter brown sugar and creamy toffee linger beneath with a depth seemingly past its years. On the palate, heat peanut brittle and darkish caramel dominate with subtler chocolate fudge and flamed orange peel lurking beneath. Issues are a bit burly at this proof, however there’s sufficient sweetness to melt the drier barrel notes. A fair, crimson pepper warmth lingers with a mild heat into the prolonged end, showcasing notes of barrel char, cinnamon stick, and Cracker Jacks.

We’re primarily beginning over with Easy Ambler’s Outdated Scout line, getting to observe batch by batch and single barrel by single barrel as this whiskey comes into its personal within the mountains of West Virginia. Don’t get me mistaken. I too lament the absence of the previous Outdated Scout line, but when this young-ish single barrel is any indication, we could also be in for an excellent higher evolution this go round.

118 proof. Reviewed: Barrel #24151.

A- / $60 / smoothambler.com

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Easy Ambler Outdated Scout Bourbon Single Barrel 5 Years Outdated (2021)

$60

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