Meet the Makers

Spirits · Maxwelton, West Virginia

Smooth Ambler Spirits

West Virginia whiskey blending and distilling in the Appalachian hills.

Founded
2009
Founded by
Tag Galyean, John Little
Based in
Maxwelton, West Virginia

Making it since

2009

Their story

Smooth Ambler was founded in 2009 by John Little and his father-in-law, Tag Galyean, in Maxwelton, a small community in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. They started building the distillery that August, tucked into the Appalachian hills.

The company made its name by finding and blending excellent aged whiskey while its own spirits matured. In late 2016 Pernod Ricard agreed to buy a majority stake, with Little staying on to run the business.

How it's made

The Old Scout line is blended from whiskeys the team scouted and bought from other distilleries, then selected and bottled in West Virginia. Smooth Ambler also distills its own spirits, including Greenbrier Gin, in its still house in Maxwelton.

We feel like we're in great hands with the Pernod partnership.
John Little, co-founder and head distiller, to WhiskyCast (2016)

Why we carry them

Smooth Ambler shows how much skill goes into choosing and blending great barrels. Old Scout is a bourbon we are happy to recommend.

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