Smooth Ambler Founders’ Cask Strength Series
Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Bourbon Mashbill 2
2022 Batch 4
6 Years old
61.4% ABV
$55
Website
We would like to thank Smooth Ambler and Cork + Knife for sending us a sample to review.
What the Distillery Says
We love sharing our homemade liquid because we get to let y’all taste what makes our part of the world so perfect for making whiskey. With this Bourbon recipe, we add a modest amount of rye to play well with our casks in the Appalachian climate. It’s a surprising meddling of flavors and geographical super powers that just work effortlessly.
Didn’t know we made a rye-backed Bourbon? Yeah… we didn’t but now we do. You’re welcome. So please enjoy this newly minted convergence of flavors from our home to yours.
SUBTLE SPICE? IT’S NICE
UNIQUE BATCHES? YOU BET
LOW RYE BOURBON? COOL HUH!
CASK STRENGTH? ALWAYS
Graham Cracker, Dark Chocolate, Cherry, Allspice
DISTILLED IN WEST VIRGINIA
71% CORN
21% RYE
8% MALTED BARLEY
What Gary Says
Nose: Caramel, vanilla, charred oak, fall leaves, dark chocolate, smoke, orange zest, cherries and a hint of root beer.
Palate: Chewy mouthfeel, caramel, dark chocolate, walnuts, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, orange bitters, cola, graham crackers and a bit of molasses.
Finish: Moderate in length, drying with nutty caramel and pepper spice.
Comments: I’ve been a fan of Smooth Ambler since the ‘old days’ (in fact, I still have some of their sourced barrel proof rye stashed), but didn’t love Contradiction (which blends sourced whiskey with their own make). So I was excited for the opportunity to try something that is all their own whiskey. This is a really nice, solid, straight down the middle of the plate bourbon. Well balanced, just a bit of spice and not too much oak. In my opinion, 6 years is a really solid age for bourbon (not that I don’t love a four-year old bottled-in-bond, but I find 6-8 years old to be right in my wheelhouse). Also appreciate the price point given the age and proof. While a smaller distillery (have heard some refer to them as one of the ‘original craft distilleries’), this is doesn’t come across like a small distillery “figuring things out”. This takes water well, bringing out notes of fresh tobacco on the nose and rice putting on the palate.