OHLQ Announces Two Single Cask Selections of Smooth Ambler Old Scout Releases - Coming the Week of April 10

The Ohio Department of Liquor (OHLQ) has announced six barrels worth of single cask selection of Smooth Ambler Old Scout Bourbon and four barrels worth of the Smooth Ambler Old Scout Rye hitting stores this week (week of April 10th). Both selections will sell for $49.99 + tax at select OHLQ locations. 

These are bottled as single-barrels so each barrel will have a unique flavor profile based on how long and where in the warehouses they were aged. The tasting notes are:

Smooth Ambler Old Scout Bourbon

• Barrel 37442 - 112.4 Proof (56.2% alcohol) - Aged 7 Years - The nose evokes fresh vanilla bean, honeycomb, and florals and the flavor brings front palate sweetness with a lasting, lingering finish.

• Barrel 37445 - 112.2 Proof (56.1% alcohol) - Aged 7 Years - This selection includes delightful aromatics of banana bread, nuttiness, and buttercream.
  
  
• Barrel 37446 - 89.8 Proof (44.9% alcohol) - Aged 7 Years - The profile features browned butter flavor and finishes on the front-to-mid palate.
  
  
• Barrel 37464 - 116.2 Proof (58.1% alcohol) - Aged 7 Years - A honey aroma profile with notes of brown sugar, baking spices, and pear forwards to honeycrisp apple flavor at which point the honey follows through to a mid-palate, lasting, lingering finish.
  
  
• Barrel 37468 - 108.6 Proof (54.3% alcohol) - Aged 7 Years - An appealing nose of honey, rose, and vanilla segues to the rich flavor of toffee, building to a finish of mid-palate spice that lingers with tobacco.
   
• Barrel 37477 - 108.4 Proof (54.2% alcohol) - Aged 7 Years - A honied nose with a flavor profile balanced by hints of sweetness reminiscent of confectioners’ sugar.

Smooth Ambler Old Scout Rye

• Barrel 31977 - 114.2 Proof (57.1% alcohol) - Aged 5 Years - The sweet aromas of green apple, black tea, raisin, and buttercream meet a flavor profile of tobacco, toasted oak, and balanced spice with a medium-lasting, mid-to-back palate finish.
  
  
• Barrel 31979 - 115.8 Proof (57.9% alcohol) - Aged 5 Years - A floral nose with notes of marmalade, green hay, lemongrass, and maple syrup adds to the smooth flavor favored by rye drinkers, which features a front-palate sweetness that transitions to a warm white-pepper finish.
  
  
• Barrel 31993 - 115.4 Proof (57.7% alcohol) - Aged 5 Years - Aromatics of geranium and caramel greet a smooth and light, creamy profile marked by its nuttiness and vanilla bean notes.
  
  
• Barrel 31995 - 116.6 Proof (58.3% alcohol) - Aged 5 Years - An oaky, nutty nose with undertones of coffee, crème brûlée, and smokiness opens up to the taste of dark baking chocolate before finishing with front-palate sweetness.

You can use this site to try to track down a bottle of the bourbon and this site for the rye. Note that inventory will be made available on a daily basis as locations receive their shipments.

My Take

Although I haven't reviewed or had any Smooth Ambler, this is a great price for single-barrel products with those age statements. I'd prefer the bourbon over the rye, but that's personal preference. 

What do you think? Drop a note in the comment box below. 

Source: OHLQ