Abram Smith Bowman

A Pioneer of Virginia Bourbon.  Nestled in the heart of Spotsylvania County, Virginia, the A. Smith Bowman distillery carries a legacy as deep and refined as the bourbons it crafts.  While many associate the great American whiskey story with Kentucky, this distillery has quietly carved out a unique and influential chapter—anchored in post-prohibition resilience, family legacy, and experimental spirit.

Little-known fact:

The original “Virginia Gentleman” bottle was adorned with illustrations of colonial men in powdered wigs. That branding stuck for decades and became a subtle nod to Virginia’s deep colonial heritage—long before craft branding was a trend.

A strategic relocation: The move to Fredericksburg.  By the 1980s, urban sprawl in Northern Virginia made farm-based operations less viable. In 1988, the distillery moved to a new home in Spotsylvania County, just outside Fredericksburg, a town soaked in Revolutionary and Civil War history. This move not only preserved the legacy but also gave the distillery a chance to reimagine its production on larger, more modern grounds.

Innovation behind tradition: The Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Series.  Although A. Smith Bowman preserves traditional copper pot distillation and barrel aging, it has become quietly respected in bourbon circles for its Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Collection — a playground for experimentation.

Examples of their innovation include:

·      High-proof, long-aged single barrels (some up to 17 years)

·      Finishes in unusual barrels like port, toasted oak, and even apple brandy casks

·      Unconventional mash bills, occasionally including wheat or oats

Little-known fact:

Some of the mash for their bourbon comes from Buffalo Trace in Kentucky, but it is re-distilled in-house using a custom-built copper pot still named “Mary.”  This double-distillation process allows Bowman to create a flavor profile that’s uniquely Virginian — even if the grain's origin is Kentucky.

The Sazerac Chapter: A heritage brand reinvigorated.  In 2003, Sazerac Company — a major player in the spirits world and owner of brands like Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, and Pappy Van Winkle — acquired A. Smith Bowman. Instead of folding it into its corporate mold, Sazerac allowed the distillery to retain its autonomy and regional focus.  Since then, Bowman Brothers Small Batch and John J. Bowman Single Barrel have become cult favorites among bourbon aficionados, often praised for their smoothness, structure, and surprising complexity.

Little-known fact:

John J. Bowman, honored in the single barrel bottling, was the first member of the Bowman family to settle in Kentucky in 1775.  That makes the Bowman family one of the earliest connections between Virginia and the future heartland of bourbon.

Awards, Accolades, and Quiet Excellence.  Despite its lower profile, A. Smith Bowman has regularly outperformed big names in international spirits competitions. In 2016 and 2017, John J. Bowman Single Barrel won World’s Best Bourbon at the World Whiskies Awards—beating out major Kentucky titans.

Little-known fact:

In some tasting competitions, Bowman bourbons have been mistakenly thought to be Kentucky-made due to their deep oak notes and bold structure—a testament to their craftsmanship.

Why A. Smith Bowman matters in the bourbon landscape.  A. Smith Bowman distillery tells the "east coast" story of bourbon—one rooted not in limestone-rich Kentucky, but in Virginia's colonial fields, post-prohibition grit, and innovation driven by heritage.  It operates as a quiet yet steady force in the world of American whiskey: experimental, historical, and uncompromising in quality.

Abram Smith Bowman passed away on June 27, 1952, in Fairfax County, Virginia, at the age of 84. He was laid to rest in Lexington, Kentucky. Bowman’s legacy still lives on 90 years later in the rich sweetness and quiet, consistent quality of the whiskey that he founded.

Contributed by: Bill & Vicki Gallagher, Columbia, Maryland