Smooth Ambler Old Scout Port Cask Finish Rye Whiskey
Smooth Ambler Old Scout Port Cask Finish Rye Whiskey is a 103-proof (51.5% ABV) 750mL straight rye that takes the distillery's signature Old Scout — a 95% rye / 5% malted barley mash bill — and finishes it in casks that previously aged tawny port, Smooth Ambler's first cask-finish experiment. Indiana-distilled and bottled at the distillery in Maxwelton, West Virginia, it earned a Double Platinum and "Best Special Barrel-Finished Rye" at the 2022 ASCOT Awards plus 95 points and Finalist honors at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 51.5% (103 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: no age statement (finish length undisclosed)
- Mash bill: 95% rye / 5% malted barley
- Finish: tawny port casks (French oak, per retailers)
- Origin: distilled in Indiana; bottled by Smooth Ambler Spirits, Maxwelton, West Virginia
Old Scout's First Trip Into Wine Wood
Old Scout is Smooth Ambler's flagship — a straight rye known for bold, unadulterated spice — and the Port Cask Finish was the distillery's first experiment with secondary maturation: the rye spends extra time in casks that enjoyed previous lives aging tawny port, which rounds the edges without taming the rye character. Bottled at 103 proof and non-chill filtered (per retailers), it keeps the velvety mouthfeel the brand's fans expect. Browse the Smooth Ambler collection and compare it with other rye whiskeys at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
The port casks bring dark cherry, plum, and fig layered over the classic Old Scout spice — caraway, black pepper, and cinnamon — with vanilla and oak sweetness from the underlying rye. The palate is full and oily, the tawny-port influence showing as dried fruit and a gentle tannic grip, and the finish is long, warm, and spice-forward with lingering dark-fruit richness.
How to Enjoy
Neat or with a splash of water to open up the port-cask fruit. It builds a memorable Manhattan — the tawny-port finish does half the vermouth's work for you — and stands up to a bold cigar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What proof is Smooth Ambler Old Scout Port Cask Finish Rye?
103 proof (51.5% ABV), non-chill filtered per retailers.
Where is Smooth Ambler Old Scout distilled?
The whiskey is distilled in Indiana and bottled by Smooth Ambler Spirits in Maxwelton, West Virginia.
What does port cask finishing add to the rye?
Dark-fruit depth — cherry, plum, fig — and a soft tannic structure that rounds the rye's natural spice without muting it.
Spice meets port — order Smooth Ambler Old Scout Port Cask Finish Rye online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.