A. Smith Bowman John J. Bowman Pioneer Spirit

On the day after Prohibition – this is 1934 – the A Smith Bowman distillery was founded on the Bowman Sunset Hill Farms. We are in Virginia. But in February 1988 the brand was taken over by drinks giant Sazerac who put a brand new distillery in a new building in Fredericksburg. Today, Bowman is run as a micro distillery and the bourbon is triple distilled in a copper pot still! It is bottled at 100 Proof which equals 50% ABV.

The honeysweet nose transports me to an old attic. Dusty is the key word here. Also a truckload of caramel and fresh figs. Polished leather. Praliné chocolate. A green note as if from a broken branch. Quite inviting.

It is oily, almost creamy, on the palate. Very spicy on cloves, chili peppers, cinnamon and again a green note that I cannot quite pinpoint. The chocolate returns, the caramel is loud (but not too loud) and evolves towards toffee. Not a trace of the figs, though. Although… I am reminder of that purple candy. Violets, let’s keep it at that.

It remains sweet and spicy in the long finish, with the emphasis on the chocolate and green garden herbs.

Fairly herbal bourbon, but quite nice. Thanks for the sample, Jan!