Kentucky and Tennessee are typically the first states that come to mind when you think of states known for American whiskey. However, more and more states are boasting distilleries that are making “juice” that can stand toe-to-toe with their more well-known counterparts.
In Virginia, A. Smith Bowman Distillery is among them. The Spotsylvania County-based distiller recently announced the latest release in its Abraham Bowman line of experimental whiskey, the Abraham Bowman Sweet XVI Bourbon.
This limited release explores how barrel entry proof affects bourbon flavor profile over long aging periods. The bourbon was allowed to age for sixteen years prior to bottling. This release is comprised of a bourbon recipe that was distilled to a typical distillation proof. It was then barreled in new charred American white oak barrels at four different entry proofs. The four entry proofs chosen for this experiment were 125, 114, 105, and 90 proof. Each of the barrel proofs were evaluated individually over the course of sixteen years before marrying the barrels together.
According to Master Distiller Brian Prewitt, the end result features tasting notes that include “sweet caramel, dried figs and cherry in the nose” and a taste that is “wonderfully sweet with flavors of cinnamon, vanilla, and other brown spice in a pleasant and remarkable long finish.”
The Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Sweet XVI Bourbon is part of a series of limited edition whiskies, named after Abraham Bowman, the commander of the 8th Virginia Regiment in the American Revolutionary War. Each edition of the Abraham line is a different expression and a new release is offered a few times a year. This is the 17th release in the Abraham line.
The Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Sweet XVI Series Bourbon, which retails for $69.99, is currently only available in Virginia, however limited amounts will be available in other states this summer. The Abraham Bowman series aims to release new and different expressions of innovative whiskey for each release, so it is unlikely this exact bourbon will be repeated — making them one of a kind.
