whiskeyfortheages, Author at Whiskey for the Ages

Smooth Ambler BWE Private Pick Review

Posted on 16-August-202109-May-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Smooth Ambler BWE Private Pick Review – Old Scout

Original review written August 10, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

While I had Smooth Ambler on a vacation, bringing this home and sipping it again doesn’t quite live up to the standard I’ve created in my head. Woody and salty, I find this leaves my palate confused and lost. 82/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Lawrenceburg, Indiana, USA
– Distillery: Midwest Grain Products (MGP)
– Bottled by: Smooth Ambler Spirits, Maxwelton, West Virginia, USA
– Classification: Bourbon Whiskey; Private Barrel Pick
– Age: 5 yrs.
– Mash Bill: Corn=60%; Rye=36%; Malted Barley=4%
– Casks: unpublished char
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 58.4% (116.8 proof)
– Barrel #: 24339
– BW1=Smooth Ambler, Boise Whiskey Enthusiasts (BWE)
– Price: $52.95 USD in Idaho

For more information, visit smoothambler.com and mgpingredients.com/distilled-spirits/beverage/product/bourbon/bourbon-36-rye.html

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn glass with sister, Elora, as well as father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

I imagine sitting outside, perhaps in the middle of a wood. Looking up, I can picture seeing birdhouses, standing out in bright colors and decorated with songbirds and chirping. Smooth Ambler belongs with the earth and is meant to be surrounded by nature. Settle in, bury your toes in the dirt and let nature take over the senses with Old Scout sitting in the soul.

Photo by Johnny Brewer on Unsplash

NOSE:

Caramel and butterscotch leap from the glass with a bit of earthy nuttiness chasing just behind it. The nuttiness is very reminiscent of unsalted peanuts, and even still settled in their shells. Deeper inhales bring out a savory oakiness, smoke of a mild barbeque, and a freshly baked rye bread. There’s almost a vegetable quality, perhaps like a potato starch, though it is still very fresh and not at all unpleasant. I find a slight hint of black pepper and sea salt, but otherwise, the spices are very gentle and mild. The sea salt pairs with the aforementioned caramel along with a bit of dark chocolate for some sweetness. I do not find any fruit here whatsoever.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: This is very soft and velvety on the tongue, with only a slight zing of an alcohol tingle.
– Balance: Wood forward, yet still mostly balanced. The saltiness might be a little heavy at times and cover other flavors slightly, but it does add an interesting dimension to the bourbon overall.
– Visual: Carrot in color, there are long legs that disappear quickly, but the crown lingers for a good while.

– Taste: The freshly shelled peanuts, pine nuts, and corn come across the palate first, along with some smoky, oaky sawdust. The smokiness is a lot like the bark on a cut of cooked meat. The rye bread from the nose is here again, with the rye lifting the natural depth of the bourbon a bit. I taste a leather element that seems to be seasoned with a rich herbal quality, like a sprig of rosemary. I find a rich, but odd sweetness, almost like brown butter. The other sweetness noted on the nose is still here also, but seems more confined to a salted caramel.

The alcohol tickles just slightly, but otherwise is mild and blends with the freshness of the herbs. A small amount of sweetness emerges when I partake in the Kentucky chew, with brown sugar apples taking lead. The salt kicks in again and once again, makes the palate quite savory.

To be sure, this is a good bourbon; however, the savory flavors and surprises around every corner of this whiskey make it difficult to predict. It makes my mouth salivate for the saltiness, but without a poignant spice or juicy fruit, I can’t help but feel slightly lost. The woodiness and corn accents make this definitely bourbon, but by also being nutty and almost meaty, my palate just doesn’t know what to do.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. I get some flavors that stick around for a while, but any kind of bourbon heat dissipates quickly.
– Between Sips: Sea salt, fresh and bright rye, and a certain tang linger between sips. I wouldn’t say it’s a citric acid, but it does make the back corners of my mouth tingle a little.

– No More: Salted caramel and toffee color the empty glass with sweet oak. If the pour itself had tasted more like this, I know I would have enjoyed it more, because this empty glass smells incredible.

WORTH THE PRICE?

This is a good bourbon to be sure, but at over $50, the uniqueness of flavors and confusion settling on my palate makes me hesitate. I think the price is fair, and I’m sure for some, this would be an absolute steal. However, as it doesn’t quite line up with my preferred flavor profiles and leaves me more lost than found, I do not think I will be purchasing again.

I would like to note that I did enjoy this bourbon before partaking in reviewing it. I had been in the company of friends and family, and that can have more than enough effect on any pour to make an event enjoyable. And while I would have loved to have encapsulated that joy and carried it to an existing bottle at home, a part of me is happy to have left the bubble around the campfire of my vacation. There, it can always exist as a distinct point in time when everything tasted warm and delicious.

SMOOTH AMBLER BWE PRIVATE PICK REVIEW RATING: 82/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 82/100 to access other whiskies with this rating.

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Whiskey Reviews

Smooth Ambler Old Scout BWE Private Pick

Posted on 15-August-202106-May-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Smooth Ambler Old Scout BWE Private Pick Review:

reviewed 10-August-2021

SMOOTH AMBLER OLD SCOUT BWE PRIVATE PICK BOURBON REVIEW:

In early 2021, one of the Boise Whiskey Enthusiasts (BWE, a Facebook group of which I am a member) moderators posted, “How many BWE members would commit to purchase a Smooth Ambler 5-6yr MGP bourbon private barrel pick?” After much work and follow up by the moderator, other members of the group and staff at the Idaho State Liquor Division, Smooth Ambler BWE Private Pick became the subject of this review.

Before continuing it must be noted, there was a major methodology departure in the way this evaluation was conducted. First, I lost my senses of smell and taste about two months prior to the review. However, I did open and pour a glass in mid-July just after my bottles were secured. While I was not well enough to conduct a proper assessment, I could tell this was a good one. So I brought a bottle to share with family and friends while vacationing. Our consensus was one of approval.

While this bottling was only available to BWE members, it is a perfect example of why one should always consider bringing home bottles marked with “Director’s Cut”, “Private Barrel”, “Private Pick”, “Private Select”, and/or “Store Pick” whenever they are found in your local liquor haunt. And although I may have set the stage for possible memory bias, Smooth Ambler Old Scout BWE Private Pick (SAOS-BWE) is a fine bourbon and perfect for sharing.

SMOOTH AMBLER BWE PRIVATE PICK BOURBON VITAL STATS:

– Category: High Rye Bourbon, Private Barrel Pick
– Region: Lawrenceburg, Indiana, USA
– Distillery: Midwest Grain Products (MGP)
– Bottled by: Smooth Ambler Spirits, Maxwelton, West Virginia, USA
– Mash Bill*: high rye mashbill 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley
– Barrel Char: unpublished
– Barrel entry proof: unpublished
– Age: 5 Years (age stated on bottle)
– ABV: 58.4% (116.8 Proof) bottled at cask strength
– Batch or bottle number identifiers: BWE 1, Old Scout, 58.4% ALC./VOL., 5 YEARS AGED Barrel #: 24339
– Price: $52.95 (Idaho, July 2021)

Click Smooth Ambler and/or *MGP High Rye Mash Bill to learn more.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

To achieve sufficient review amounts, alternate pours into Glencairns were made. The bourbon was then enjoyed neat with my daughters Elora and Hannah, my fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

SMOOTH AMBLER OLD SCOUT BWE PRIVATE PICK NOSE:

When first brought to my nose, SAOS-BWE provides a quick burn which gives way to light fruit tree blossoms, roasted sweet corn and the sensation of ripe berry nectar. This bourbon smells of caramel mixed with allspice, cinnamon, white pepper, rye and a fresh citrus zestiness, poured over fresh cut apples. While I would not classify the aroma as sweet, I do pick up traces of light vanilla, simple syrup, and caramelized brown sugar drizzled over roasted pine nuts. And all the while, its light oakiness and faint toasted wood enhance the gentle freshness.

SMOOTH AMBLER OLD SCOUT BWE PRIVATE PICK PALATE:

On the palate, SAOS-BWE offers just enough flavors to mimic the aromas I sensed. There is a quick bite and even a little burn, followed by faint fruit tree blossoms, roasted corn, some subtle dark fruit and a slight acidity which seems to enhance a hint of brininess. Allspice, cinnamon, pepper, and rye blend nicely with light vanilla, woody brown sugar caramel, and light molasses. Don’t misunderstand, as on the nose this is not a sweet bourbon. It is much more wood forward as faint pine nuts and slightly bitter dry roasted peanut dance with dry, heavy oak, hazy, smoky-sweet char and earthy leather and tobacco. I look forward to pairing this bourbon with smoked meat … maybe pork or beef ribs with some savory rye bread.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
The aromas and flavors of SAOS-BWE are solid and well blended, yet when I hold the whiskey in my mouth upon taking the first sip, it is a bit rough and tongue tingling. When my mouth becomes accustomed to the bite, the nectar has a nice buttery feel. As each sip is downed, long clinging legs return the remaining liquid to the carrot colored pool, leaving behind a diminishing droplet crown.

SMOOTH AMBLER OLD SCOUT BWE PRIVATE PICK FINISH:

Smooth Ambler Old Scout BWE Private Pick offers a medium length, warm finish of briny roasted corn, cinnamon, pepper and burnt caramel. There is also plenty of dry, heavy and strong oak pairing with hazy char. And when the last dram is downed, smoldering old oak sawdust wafts from the empty Glencairn.

MY SMOOTH AMBLER OLD SCOUT BWE PRIVATE PICK RATING: 88/100

Would I buy this whiskey again? YES
BWE purchased Barrel #24339 from Smooth Ambler from which its 174 bottles were purchased by group members. While no bottles remain, I watch for and will regularly purchase Store Pick Whiskey.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 88/100 to access other whiskies with this score.

SMOOTH AMBLER OLD SCOUT BWE PRIVATE PICK TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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We May Never Pass This Way Again

Posted on 04-August-202104-August-2021 by whiskeyfortheages

We May Never Pass This Way Again

Dad passed away last November. My brothers and I decided to delay the celebration of his life until safe travel to Wisconsin for family, friends and well-wishers could be assured. The three of us chose to mark his passing on Saturday, 24-July-2021.

THE GATHERING

After the service, the brothers and I invited the throng to the family cottage on the lake built by my grandfather back in the early 1940s. There we had spent the summers of our youth and knew Dad would be near.

As our guests arrived, my brothers and I worked our way through the gathering crowd. We visited, recounted memories and told stories of our father, enjoyed adult beverages, and thanked those had who stopped by. Old friendships were rekindled and the forging of new ones began.

Later in the day, after our meal of pulled pork and chicken, smoked beans, assorted tubs of salad and fruit, chips and various trays of cheese and crackers, some of us migrated inside the cabin. And as we may never pass this way again, all were invited to experience a few pours from the whiskies we’d assembled. There was quite a line up from which to sample …

THE WHISKEY COLLECTION

Hannah and I had brought bottles of Booker’s 2021-02 (Tagalong Batch), Larceny Barrel Proof B521, and a Cask Strength Smooth Ambler Old Scout from a barrel our local Facebook group had secured. (Thank you Boise Whiskey Enthusiasts!) And on the ninety minute journey from the airport to the cabin, a pit stop at 45th Parallel Distillery yielded a bottle of 6-year Bottled-in-Bond New Richmond Rye and another of 5-year Cask Strength Border Straight Bourbon.

To help round out our whiskey bar, a cousin contributed an Elijah Craig Small Batch and the husband of another came bearing Belle Meade Reserve. A partial Larceny Straight Bourbon from a past gathering was found and a brother brought bottles of Cask Strength J Henry Patton Road Reserve from the bottler’s tasting room. The other said a friend would be bringing something special in a short while. We were pretty much set.

ASSEMBLY AND PREPARATION

None of us had ever enjoyed a lineup like this before and we were in for an eye-opening adventure. There were all levels of whiskey familiarity in the group; young nieces and nephews, cousins and old family friends alike. Many were novices, though several had toured Kentucky Distilleries.

For me and for the first time in many years, new bottles of whiskey would be opened for pure enjoyment, with no intent of review. Yet I felt a certain amount responsibility (possibly mis-guided) to share the knowledge I’ve acquired over the years. After all, shouldn’t we be ambassadors for our beloved nectar?

All manner of drinking vessels were dispersed; assorted small juice glasses, rocks glasses, and Glencairns. I (with help from Hannah and our donators) explained whiskey was meant to be sipped and enjoyed (not taken in shots, as we did in our youth). We discussed cooperage, flavors, profiles, and the origins of each offering. The documentary “Neat – The Story of Bourbon” was referenced on several occasions.

POURS, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

We encouraged those who wished, to select a bottle and pour themselves a sample. A few abstained, but most picked from the array before them and when the whiskey began to flow, toasts to Dad were offered. And while Dad preferred Brandy (there was some of that too), I’m sure he would have humbly accepted. As new people trickled in, lessons were repeated and questions answered:

▪︎Early on came, “What is the difference between Whisky and Whiskey?”
~ We discussed labeling and tradition with Scotch, Irish, Canadian and American whiskies.
~ Then came, “Why does Maker’s Mark proclaim their products as Whisky rather than Whiskey?”
▪︎Our selections were primarily Bourbon, so someone posed, “How does Bourbon differ from Scotch?”
~ I’ve not yet dabbled in Scotch, so those with the knowledge explained Scotch regions and the subtleties of each.
▪︎Somebody asked, “What is a Mash bill?”
~ Hannah and I delved into the typical mix of grains used to make bourbon giving a brief overview of the process.
▪︎When bills with rye and wheat were mentioned, someone asked, “What difference does it make?”
~ As there was a variety of both options, small pours of each were offered up as tastings for the inquisitive.
▪︎A couple of people had samples from Larceny bottles.
~ This made for a perfect segue to discuss barrel proof options versus standard fair. (And we had many high proof bottles.)

Our Q&A session continued as people came and went. Glasses emptied and new drams were poured. Occasionally two-fisted drinkers were in the mix as differences were compared.

SOMETHING SPECIAL

About an hour in, my brother’s friend came in bearing a bottle of 10-year Old Rip VanWinkle. We discussed bourbon lore, its lineage and place in the Pappy lineup. Soon the gift was uncorked and my brothers and I toasted Dad again. Someone suggested we return the stopper to save the bottle for another time. I declined, noting this moment and gathering would never happen again and assured anyone who wanted a pour would receive one. The bottle was passed. Surprisingly, it came back to me and I was able to make a second pour (what a nice bourbon).

GIVING BACK

By the end of Dad’s celebration, I felt contentment and peace settling over me. In several previous hours, whiskey had been responsibly shared and enjoyed. I had sipped more than a half dozen new offerings with friends and family, and now have memories from which to draw in future tastings.

As whiskey enthusiasts, we have a responsibly to impart our knowledge to others. And share we should. So buy new bottles. Bring out your “dusties”. Enjoy with family and friends. And as Seals and Crofts wrote, “We May Never Pass This Way Again“.

Love you Dad.

We May Never Pass This Way Again
written July 2021 by Brian Dawson,
Editor, Whiskey for the Ages