A. Smith Bowman Comes Out With Port Finished Bourbon

Virginia’s A. Smith Bowman Distillery is announcing an addition to its permanent line of spirits. In 2016, one of the distillery’s releases was named the World’s Best Bourbon by Whisky Magazine, the Abraham Bowman Port Finished Bourbon, which was released in limited quantities. Now, due to popular demand, A. Smith Bowman Distillery is excited to announce it will be launching Isaac Bowman Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Barrels, as part of the Distillery’s core line of spirits. This bourbon will be made using the same process as the lauded 2016 release.

Smith Bowman Distillery finished its bourbon in a variety of port barrels from across Virginia and from Portugal for between three to six months, depending on flavor, before marrying them together to create Isaac Bowman Port Barrel Finished Bourbon. These barrels were made using American Oak and French Limousin Oak, with some barrels originating from Minnesota, Kentucky, Missouri, Virginia, and others. Master Distiller Brian Prewitt tasted these barrels every month to determine the optimum time to be emptied.

Prewitt describes this bourbon as having a dark amber color with a reddish hue.

“The nose greets you with our characteristic cherry and baked apple but supplemented with jammy fruit notes and balanced with the enticing aroma of vanilla, brown spice, and toasted pecans,” Prewitt notes.

He describes the flavor as “bold and sweet with the toasty notes of French and American oak rounding out to a long smooth finish that pleasantly lingers on the palate.”

A portion of each batch will be held back for blending with the next batch to ensure consistency in flavor and color going forward.

This port barrel finished bourbon is named after Captain Isaac Bowman, the youngest of the Bowman Brothers, who was a soldier and Virginia militia officer in the American Revolutionary War. Isaac was at one point taken as a prisoner of war, but was able to make a historic escape before embarking on a two-year adventure and then returning home to Virginia. He then settled down at Fort Bowman Estate where he became a prosperous farmer and landowner. The Distillery felt it fitting to name this bourbon after Isaac whose great American spirit was evident throughout his life and many adventures.

While Abraham Bowman Port Finished Bourbon was only released once in limited quantities, Isaac Bowman will be offered as an everyday item as part of the Distillery’s standard line of spirits for the suggested retail price of $39.99. Isaac Bowman will launch initially in Virginia only, but eventually spreading into North Carolina and a few additional markets.