Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 Year Old Rye

Smooth Ambler: what a name! I like it already. But that obviously says nothing about their product. This American craft distillery was only opened in 2009 in West Virginia and is run by only three people. They make Whitewater Vodka and Greenbrier Gin, but also the Smooth Ambler Whiskey, with an emphasis on rye.

The nose reminds me more of a rum than a rye whiskey, to be honest. The rye spiciness is prominent, but clearly outdone by loads of sugar cane or molasses. Hence the association with rum. It also gets a nice sweetness by something that reminds me of cocoa powder.

The arrival is somewhat light, but it still sticks to the teeth. Again a clear hint of sugar, although it leans a lot more towards caramel than molasses. The spiciness is less feisty than expected. Very quaffable, I must say.

The finish is indeed very smooth and fairly spicy, but not very long.

This is a light and pretty sweet rye best served with dessert. I can imagine sipping this with a cube of ice in the garden, emptying the bottle in one session with some friends.