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The whiskeys of A. Smith Bowman don’t get as a lot consideration because the rock stars of the bourbon world, however this Virginia distiller has an extended pedigree courting again practically 100 years, and its Virginia Gentleman label as soon as vied for whiskey management within the state. The Bowmans, an outdated Virginia household, owned the distillery till 2003, when it was acquired by Sazerac. These days the main focus is on limited-edition bourbons with massive, candy taste profiles, made by grasp distiller David Bock with the participation of Sazerac’s Buffalo Hint Distillery staff, and its whiskeys are quietly within the ranks of a few of Buffalo Hint’s finest.
This previous March, A. Smith Bowman launched the Abraham Bowman Oak Sequence, which showcases various kinds of oak. That inaugural launch targeted on French oak, and was aged in a mixture of charred and uncharred French oak barrels—the uncharred portion making it technically not a bourbon. The newest version within the sequence is centered on American oak. Like its predecessor, this one is 12 years outdated, distilled from an undisclosed mashbill. In a considerably uncommon methodology, preliminary distillation is completed by Sazerac, and the liquid is then transferred to A. Smith Bowman for its closing distilling course of.
American Oak was aged totally in No.-3 char American oak barrels from Missouri-based World Cooperage. The whiskey’s pure proof was someplace round 70% ABV, however Bock made the choice to chop it right down to 67% as he felt the flavors labored higher at that stage. That’s a reasonably sizable bounce from French Oak, which was bottled at 50% ABV. Tasting blind as all the time, our panelists discovered Abraham Bowman American Oak to be a flavor-packed whiskey full of sweetness, balanced oak, vanilla, and spice.
Availability is, sadly, fairly restricted. Like French Oak, Abraham Bowman American Oak is being bought solely by a lottery that can kick off on November twenty fifth and conclude on December 2nd. An entry kind might be crammed out on the distillery web site. Winners might be randomly chosen on December 4th, and notified by e-mail. The lottery is open to clients across the nation, however the winners should have the ability to choose up their bottles in-person on the distillery reward store in Virginia earlier than 5:00 p.m. on December twenty second.
Abraham Bowman American Oak Bourbon, Reviewed
Rating: 93
ABV: 67%
SRP: $80
Plentiful aromas of toffee, vanilla, honeyed cereal, cherry cheesecake, and flavorful oak that doesn’t overwhelm. Water brings out vanilla custard, saltwater taffy, and fudge, plus candy, sweet and bakery store aromas. The palate has oak underpinnings however can also be candy and flavorful, with maraschino cherries, blueberry, chocolate, café crème, and peppery spice. Water brings beautiful cinnamon spice notes, espresso cake, extra café crème, French toast, and espresso beans. The warmth is effectively restrained on an extended end, with flavors accented by gentle barrel char. Water or ice is beneficial, however it’s easily textured and thick with flavors.
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