Hey everyone, and welcome back! I've just returned home from the 🇮🇹Dolomites⛰️—unfortunately. Or maybe not? There's no place like home, but some places leave such a mark on you that you wish you could call them home too. The Dolomites are definitely one of those places for me. The atmosphere, the people, the breathtaking scenery—I truly fell in love with it all. We tackled some incredible hikes and via ferratas, summiting over seven peaks, including three that stood taller than 3,000 meters. How could I not miss it?

But I digress. Today, I've got something quite interesting for you—an American whiskey that is, in every way, a bourbon… except it legally can't be called one. Why? Because part of it was aged in re-charred bourbon barrels instead of new American white oak. But we'll get into that shortly.

I'm really curious about this bottle—it's sparked quite a range of opinions and reviews. So let's not waste any more time. Let's dive right in!

But before we go any further, please check out my previous reviews.🥃✅

About the company

That makes this whiskey

Smooth Ambler Spirits was founded in 2009 by TAG Gaylean and John Little in Maxwelton, West Virginia, starting as a small craft distillery producing bourbon, vodka, and gin, alongside sourcing whiskey to bottle under their own brand.

They built their reputation with the Old Scout line—a range of transparently-sourced whiskeys sourced from MGP (Indiana) and others like Dickel (Tennessee), blended and bottled in West Virginia.

In December 2016, the company was acquired by Pernod Ricard, coinciding with a pause in Old Scout bourbon production.

The name "Old Scout" comes from scouting out barrels of compelling sourced whiskey—originally high‑rye bourbon from MGP aged 7–12 years.

Their Old Scout Bourbon 7-Year (7 yr age‐statement) became a standout, but by 2016, Smooth Ambler sold through its aging stock and discontinued the age-stated bourbon.

They resumed Old Scout bourbon in late 2019, now with a ~5‑year non–age‑stated expression, bottled at 99 proof (49.5% ABV).

Smooth Ambler now categorizes its portfolio into three lines:

1. Old Scout – sourced whiskeys
2. Contradiction – blends of house-made plus sourced
3. House-made – their Big Level bourbon

Smooth Ambler Old Scout 107 - Natural Color, Non-chill filtered, 53.5%

Old Scout 107 American Whiskey isn't labeled bourbon because it's a blend of two mash‑bill whiskeys:

A high‑rye bourbon (MGP) aged in virgin American oak.

A second bourbon‑mash whiskey aged in re‑charred used (re‑fill) bourbon barrels, likely from George Dickel in Tennessee.

My bottle after a thorough research is an older one which consists of:

• 28% 12 year old MGP sourced Indiana Straight Bourbon whiskey aged in virgin American oak barrels
• 72% 6 year old tenessee whiskey with a bourbon mash-bill (probably from George Dickel) aged in re-charred bourbon barrels

Despite being a bourbon‑style mashbill, it can't legally be called "bourbon" due to part of the blend using used barrels.

So our final mash-bill and average age looks something like this.

Mash-bill:

Corn = (60% × 0.28) + (84% × 0.72) = 16.8 + 60.48 = 77.28%

Rye = (36% × 0.28) + (8% × 0.72) = 10.08 + 5.76 = 15.84%

Barley = (4% × 0.28) + (8% × 0.72) = 1.12 + 5.76 = 6.88%

Average Age:

(12 × 0.28) + (6 × 0.72) = 3.36 + 4.32 = 7.68 years

Nose: Inviting and unmistakably bourbon-like—sweet, robust, and immediately layered. Prominent notes of peanuts, vanilla, and deeply charred oak come through right away. A bold, nutty character is joined by hints of maple and orange peel. It's remarkably smooth on the nose, with no harsh alcohol presence. Loads of chocolate and touches of red fruit give it a rich, dessert-like aroma.

Taste: Thick, oily, and mouth-coating. Sweet and indulgent. Flavors of peanut butter, sweet corn, and roasted nuts take center stage, underscored by a powerful charred wood profile. It's deeply flavorful, with layers of maple syrup, orange zest, cherry, and a touch of peppermint. Subtle floral notes peek through, adding complexity. Creamy, engaging, and richly satisfying.

Finish: Medium to long with a slight hint of ethanol. The charred wood note lingers, accompanied by savory nuances like leather and black tea. Vanilla, caramel, black cherry, and mint round it out, along with roasted nuts and a syrupy sweetness. There's just a touch of astringency at the very end—enough to keep things interesting without disrupting the balance.

In my opinion, this is something genuinely special. It feels like more than just another bottle—it has a certain character that stands out. At around 40–50€, it offers incredible value for what you're getting. It's well-made, satisfying, and leaves a lasting impression. I give it an 8 out of 10—definitely a great deal and one I'd happily recommend to anyone looking for something with depth and distinction. Buy it. Try it. Drink responsibly.

This bottle scores 77 points on my Seal of Approval scale, so it does not quite hit the mark for the Seal of Approval but this is still a bottle I recommend you to get if you can and even stock on it if you can afford it.

Some of the photos featured in this article are not my own; I've credited the original owners. All other images bearing my logo were taken and are owned by me.

Feel free to check out the scores and rankings I've given to each whisky I reviewed.

Thanks for reading—I hope you enjoyed it! Here's to many more drams. Sláinte!

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