Smooth Ambler Contradiction is a unique blended straight bourbon from the small Appalachian craft distillery founded in 2009 in Maxwelton, West Virginia by Master Distiller John Little. The expression earns its name by uniting whiskey Smooth Ambler distills in house with whiskey they thoughtfully source, combining a wheated bourbon made on site in the Greenbrier Valley with high rye straight bourbons sourced from Tennessee and Indiana. The in house wheated bourbon contributes corn, wheat, and malted barley, while the sourced bourbons add corn, rye, and malted barley character, creating a final four grain profile that no single mash bill could deliver alone. Smooth Ambler ages its in house spirit in the cooler West Virginia climate, which the distillery argues delivers a more mellow maturation environment than Kentucky thanks to the area's roughly ten degree cooler average temperatures and four distinct seasons. Bottled at 92 proof, non chill filtered, and presented with the brand's signature elephant on barrel artwork, Contradiction is full bodied with notes of dried fruit, butter rum, and four grain complexity. A defining bottle for fans of craft blended bourbon and transparent sourcing.
ABV / Proof
| Brand |
Smooth Ambler |
| Distillery |
Smooth Ambler Spirits, Maxwelton, West Virginia |
| Master Distiller |
John Little |
| Type |
Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey |
| Composition |
Wheated bourbon distilled in house in West Virginia, blended with sourced high rye straight bourbons from Tennessee and Indiana |
| Final Grain Profile |
Four grain blend: corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley |
| Average Age |
Approximately 9 years |
| Cask |
New Charred American Oak |
| Filtration |
Non chill filtered |
| Color |
Natural, no added color |
| ABV |
46% |
| Proof |
92 |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Country |
USA |
| Founded |
2009 |
Tasting Notes
Color: Warm amber with copper highlights.
Nose: Sweet peppery rye, dried cherries, toasted vanilla, cinnamon, and graham cracker with a hint of butter rum.
Palate: Full bodied and harmonious with cracked black pepper, dried fruit, sweet vanilla, caramel, and toasted marshmallow. Wheated softness rounds out the rye spice through the mid palate.
Finish: Long and warming with charred oak, leather, baking spice, and a final flourish of dried fruit and Christmas spice.
FAQ
Why is it called Contradiction? The name reflects the bourbon's unusual construction. Smooth Ambler combines bourbon they distill in house in West Virginia with bourbon they source from other distilleries in Tennessee and Indiana, marrying two normally opposing approaches into a single bottle.
What is the mash bill? The final blend draws from multiple mash bills. Smooth Ambler's in house wheated bourbon uses corn, wheat, and malted barley, while the sourced high rye straight bourbons use corn, rye, and malted barley. The end result tastes like a four grain bourbon, even though no single mash bill in the blend contains all four grains.
Is Contradiction rare? No. Contradiction is a permanent core expression in the Smooth Ambler lineup and is generally available at retail, though distribution varies by state. It is part of the brand's transparent approach of mixing make and merchant whiskeys, alongside their Old Scout sourced bourbon line.
Where can I buy Smooth Ambler Contradiction online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
