Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 and 6 year TNMT battle(Blind)

 

Smooth Ambler Old Scout 5 and 6 year TNMT battle(Blind)

These picks are from DFW Whiskey Club and were released one year apart. The 2 5 year olds followed by the 2 6 year olds. I thought it would be fun to stack them against each other to see which comes up on top. The whole thing was done blind with colored glencarins so for the sake of not making it too confusing, I'll write it up with the correct TNMT names. Enjoy!

Contestants: Leonardo. Barrel #27871 at 57.8% abv and 5 year.

                     Raphael. Barrel# 27876 at 57.4% abv 5year

                     Michaelangelo. Barrel #24482 at 59.1% abv 6 year

                     Donatello. Barrel# 24476 at 56.7% abv 6 year

Leonardo. Barrel #27871 at 57.8% abv and 5 year.

N: Strong vanilla, orange zest, slight ethanol, toasted marshmallows, strawberry/blackberry jam, hints of black tea leaves and cinnamon emerge over time.

10

P: Orange zest and vanilla dominate. Hints of prunes and tannins. Walnuts come to mind.

9

F: OMG! Super soft and gives you a hug from the inside. Starts with toasted marshmallows and ends with walnuts.

10

O: Holy moly that is an impressive bourbon. Possibly the best I've had in this price range.

29

Raphael. Barrel# 27876 at 57.4% abv 5year

N: Another vanilla bomb with a slightly darker attitude from Leonardo. Chocolate oranges come to mind. More ethanol than the rest. Has a lemonheads twist with hints of black rubber.

9

P: Not much stands out here. Its down the line good whiskey but comes across as unmemorable. Caramel, apple, and alcohol burn.

6

F: The finish on this one falls flat compared to the others. A bit of a disappointment. Doesn't swell much and  finishes dry. The only flavor that reveals itself to me is slightly tart apple.

6

O: The nose on this promised more than the rest could deliver. It's not bad, just boring.

21

Michaelangelo. Barrel #24482 at 59.1% abv 6 year

N: Very floral up front. Nothing particular, just a bouquet. A little deeper in the glass, juicy fruit gum is revealed with an overarching tart candy sweetness. Deeper still, it becomes a little herbal.

9

P: Little rubber and bubble gum meets herbal notes and is a little bitter.

7

F: Bitterness quickly morphs into dark sweetness that evolves further into orange candy goodness and dissipates with black cherries.

10

O: The palate on this is a little dry but boy does it deliver at the end? Very good. I'm tempted to give it a +1 for creativity.

26 

Donatello. Barrel# 24476 at 56.7% abv 6 year

N: Candy sweetness right away up top. Orange marmalade with no ethanol burn to be perceived. It's a bit floral as well as having notes of vanilla and caramel.

8

P: Green apples, honey, melon, and watermelon. 

9

F: Takes a dark turn as oak and ash flow into it. Very woody but good.

O: This was also nicely done and a great whiskey for the price

25

That was definitely a fun experience. Leonardo was the clear winner and among the best I've had in the price range. Great selections from DFWWC as always.

Cheers

My Rankings:

1 Leonardo

2 Michaelangelo

3 Donatello

4 Raphael