Bowman Brothers Small Batch is proving just what the A. Smith Bowman Distillery can do.
The A. Smith Bowman Distillery first opened in 1988 and began distilling around 1991. The distillery is named for John, Abraham, Joseph, and Isaac Bowman, who fought in the Revolutionary War and who’s descendants established the distillery in 1934. Yet even after all this time distilling, it seems that Bowman has only recently started getting attention. And that’s because the brand was purchased by the Sazerac Company in 2003. Sazerac is the powerhouse behind brands like Benchmark, Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Blanton’s, W.L. Weller, 1792, Sazerac Rye, and E.H. Taylor. So with Sazearc power and cash behind them, A. Smith Bowman really started to take off.
To date, the distillery has released everything from gin and vodka to dark rum and bourbon cream. Their experimental Abraham Bowman collection runs the gambit with coffee finished bourbon, merlot finished bourbon, or vanilla bean infused whiskey. However, there standard releases include Isaac Bowman Port Barrel Finished Bourbon, John J. Bowman Single Barrel Bourbon, and Bowman Brothers Small Batch Bourbon.
Although it’s arguably the most well known offering from Bowman, not much is known about Bowman Brothers. The distillery so far hasn’t released any info on the mashbill, age statement, or source. A few rumors have swirled around that the bourbon has been sourced from Buffalo Trace, which wouldn’t be too far-fetched given the Sazerac connection. No matter the exact source or the exact age statement, Bowman Brothers turns out to be a delicious bourbon. It’s a full-bodied sipper that’s filled with a strong brown sugar cinnamon smell. The flavor is sweet, with a toffee and vanilla taste that’s balanced out by just the right amount of oaky spice. The finish is peppery and spicy and lingers just long enough. Overall, it’s a bourbon that has a lot to offer, even before considering the very affordable price.
We may have been skeptical about trusting any Virginia bourbon, but now truly believe that Virginia is for Bourbon Lovers.
STATS: Bowman Brothers
- Price for us: $30 for 750 mL
- Proof: 90
- Aged: NAS (But thought to be between 6-7 years)
- Distillery: A. Smith Bowman Distillery, owned by Sazerac Company
- Recommendation: Neat
