Smooth Ambler Old Scout Binny's Private Selection 10 Year Straight Bourbon

VITALS:
- $60.00
- 107.8 Proof
- Aged 10 Years
- Barrel #1689

I've only had a Smooth Ambler product once before, and while I enjoyed their seven-year bourbon, it wasn't as though I was blown away or anything. However, when I got the opportunity to grab a private selection of their 10-year bourbon and to enjoy it at barrel strength, it was a must-buy moment. I've heard incredible stuff about their 10-year, particularly the private selection, barrel-strength bourbons, and I just had to see for myself.

I couldn't be more thrilled with a bourbon purchase I've made! This bourbon is full of the traditional bourbon flavors you'd expect, coming across as a powerful vanilla bomb, sweetened by caramel and toffee, and balanced out by a slight woody, oak flavor that is only prevalent enough to make you know it's there, but not to get in the way of the other flavors.

Each of the flavors are robust and easily distinguishable, causing you to notice them over and over with each sip. And to be clear, this is absolutely a sippin' whiskey. At 107.8 proof, it's got a heavy burn, but it does not detract from the enjoyment or in any way detract from its flavor. Rather, I believe the higher proof allows the vanilla and caramel to come forward and keep the tannic wood from overwhelming.

This bourbon is very dark in color and it is very thick in texture and very heavy on the tongue. While it isn't always this case, in this instance, that is certainly reflective of the richness of this bourbon.

I absolutely loved this bourbon from the get go. It embodies nearly everything I love in a bourbon. It is rich and sweet, and full of vanilla. On the back end it has a mild clove spice, indicating a higher rye content in the mashbill, followed by a lingering oakiness, but without the tannins, showing its age without drying out the whiskey.

I enjoyed every sip of this bourbon, without question, one of the best I've ever had!

Grade: A+