Day 6 of DB's Bourbon Trail 2023 Advent Calendar - Old Scout Gibby’s Single Barrel Select

Cheers and welcome to our 4th Annual Advent Calendar! Throughout the next month, we will be going on a high-end bourbon journey together and reviewing 25 bourbons from award winning distilleries across America. Starting on December 1st and ending on December 25th - we will get to experience everything from small batches to single barrels that are jam packed with flavor. Please join us in toasting to another incredible year and getting to virtually share some of our favorite bottles from this past year with you!

**This review has been completed by using a Glencairn glass and neat if you want to compare the same tasting notes as DB’s Bourbon Trail. BUT - the best thing about it being YOUR bourbon is that you get to enjoy it that way YOU want to and prefer! As long as it brings us together and you are enjoying it - pour it over ice, add water, or add it to a cocktail! It’s all about what makes you happy and what you enjoy - don’t let others influence you differently!**

Enough of me rambling, let’s dive into what brought us here!

Day 6 of DB’s Bourbon Trail 2023 Advent Calendar

Old Scout Straight Bourbon Whiskey - Gibby’s Single Barrel Select

Proof:

• 122.4 Proof (61.2%)

Distillery:

• Distilled in Indiana / Bottled by Smooth Ambler Spirits Co. (Maxwelton, WV)

Age Statement:

•  7 Years

Message on the bottle:

"We're always on the lookout, "scouting" for great whiskey. When we find something worthy, we haul it home to the mountains of West Virginia and bottle it, right alongside the whiskey we make ourselves. So, we don't make Old Scout; we procure it.

That's never been a secret and isn't one now. We think it's a cause for celebration when we find something delicious that can be made better. Consider this bottle your invitation to celebrate with us.

procure, verb: to obtain, especially with care or effort"

Price Point:

**At DB’s Bourbon Trail we utilize an app called BoozApp (not sponsored - we wish!) to ensure we are getting at least a fair price on our bourbon before purchasing. Nothing is worse than getting taken advantage of by a flipper playing the supply/demand game**

• Average MSRP:

  • $49.99

• Fair Price:

  • $49.99

• Shelf Price:

  • $49.99

• DB’s Bourbon Trail Instant Buy Price:

  • <$49.99

Review:

After reading the bottle, it got me wondering a little more about Old Scout and Smooth Ambler. You have to check out the Our Story portion of their website - parts of it had me ready to run through a brick wall after this pour (could have been the 120+ proof but that's up for discussion)!

At Smooth Ambler, tradition isn’t a recipe we follow. Our company is literal proof of solid Appalachian know-how. That’s when the hard working, creative, and resourceful folks of West Virginia come together to make something beautiful (and damn good) that no one else thought possible.

And the way we do it is simple, we do what we think is right, everyday. We don’t look to see what our competitors are doing, we don’t look at the past, we do it by being honest, embracing diversity, and creating relationships built on trust.

It’s not complicated, it's the only way we know how to do it.

I really respect the heck out of that and can definitely relate to their messaging. What makes it even better is how could the pour actually is. Let's dive into that now!

Nose:

• The nose of this pour is much different than the other days that we have dove into so far this year. It's an even balance of peanuts, caramel, and tobacco. It has more of a spice to it than the sweeter pours so far this advent season.

Palate:

• At first, the palate has a sweetness to it that I find incredibly intriguing. It starts with buttery caramel mouth feel that immediately starts to battle the spice associated with this pour. The spicer notes are led by tobacco but has a presence of leather and pepper. The flavor profile continues to fight right to the finish!

Finish:

• One word - Lingering. The finish is long and very enjoyable! Quite a bit of flavors ride this one out but pepper and butterscotch stay strong throughout!

Final Thoughts:

We have a few 7 year bourbons in the calendar this year, but Old Scout came out the gates swinging! This pour is jam packed with flavor and at 122.4. Not many times you can find a pour that has as much character as its distillery - but this one sure does!

Cheers y’all!

Interesting in what else we might have cooking? Learn more here!

Let's Connect!

• Have you ever had this pour?

• Thoughts on the review?

• Leave a comment below and share your experience - we would love to hear from you!