Visiting the A. Smith Bowman Distillery is more than just a tour; it’s a journey through Virginia’s rich bourbon history. From its humble beginnings on a Fairfax County farm to its current state-of-the-art facility in Fredericksburg, the distillery carries a legacy that’s palpable in every corner. Capturing the essence of this heritage through A Smith Bowman Distillery Photos allows us to appreciate the blend of tradition and innovation that defines A. Smith Bowman.
The story of A. Smith Bowman Distillery began at Sunset Hills Farm in Fairfax County, Virginia. Like many farmers post-Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman sought to utilize excess grain, establishing a distillery shortly after the ban was lifted. Initially producing Virginia Gentlemen, Sunset Hills Bourbon, and Fairfax County Bourbon, the distillery quickly became a local fixture. A painting titled “A. Smith Bowman Distillery Old Reston Avenue” by Doris Kidder, displayed in Leesburg, VA, serves as a poignant reminder of the distillery’s original location in Reston, before the area transformed into the planned community we know today. This artwork, and indeed a smith bowman distillery photos from any era, offer glimpses into the distillery’s evolution.
In 1958, a significant portion of the Bowman farm was sold to Robert E. Simon, the visionary behind Reston. While Reston grew around it, the distillery continued to operate until 1988. Facing increasing real estate taxes, the Bowman family made the pivotal decision to relocate to Fredericksburg, Virginia, repurposing a former cellophane factory into their new distillery. The narrative took another turn in 2003 when Sazerac acquired the distillery, transitioning it to a micro-distillery model in 2009. This history, often visualized through a smith bowman distillery photos, highlights the distillery’s resilience and adaptability.
Embarking on a tour of the A. Smith Bowman Distillery in Fredericksburg is an immersive experience. Led by knowledgeable guides like Ralph Falvo, the tour provides an intimate look at the bourbon-making process. Ralph, our guide, expertly navigated our small group through the distillery, starting with the captivating history of the Bowman family and their distilling endeavors. While he touched upon family details, the primary focus was on the distillery’s origins and growth. A display case featured a bottle of Sunset Hills Bourbon from the 1930s, a tangible link to the distillery’s early production, and a perfect subject for a smith bowman distillery photos documenting bourbon history.
Moving beyond history, the tour delved into the essential ingredients of bourbon and the crucial role of barrels. This segment proved to be particularly engaging, thanks to Ralph’s insightful commentary and visual aids. He presented a used bourbon barrel, ingeniously cut open to reveal the charred interior. This hands-on demonstration provided a clear understanding of the char level and its impact on the aging process. Learning that A. Smith Bowman sources oak from Missouri, specifically from trees aged sixty to eighty years and utilizing the bottom third of the trunk, underscored their commitment to quality. The distillery’s preference for #4 char was also highlighted. Barrel staves from Abraham Bowman Millennial Limited Release 14-year-old bourbon further illustrated the aging process, with visible lines indicating bourbon penetration into the wood. One stave even showed complete saturation. These details, often best captured in a smith bowman distillery photos, reveal the meticulous barrel selection process.
Close-up photo of a cut-open bourbon barrel showing the char
The tour then proceeded to the still room, housing two distinct stills. “Mary,” the older still with a long-standing presence, and “George,” a newer still installed in January 2015 and owned by Sazerac. Ralph explained that George is primarily used for gin, vodka, and bourbon experimentation. He detailed the gin distilling process, offering a glimpse into the distillery’s diverse spirit production. For bourbon, A. Smith Bowman relies on the older still. Uniquely, they source their mash from Buffalo Trace, also under the Sazerac umbrella. The mash undergoes initial cooking and distillation at Buffalo Trace before being shipped to A. Smith Bowman for a second distillation, barreling, and aging. Visual documentation, like a smith bowman distillery photos of these stills, would effectively showcase the distillery’s equipment.
The barrel aging room exuded a captivatingly sweet bourbon aroma. A distinctive practice at A. Smith Bowman, as highlighted by Ralph, is upright barrel aging. This method, he explained, minimizes loss from barrel turning and maximizes barrel utilization as bourbon expands and contracts with temperature fluctuations. Barrels are stacked four levels high, ensuring minimal temperature variation and contributing to a consistent flavor profile across barrels. The rows of barrels, especially when captured in a smith bowman distillery photos, exemplify the scale and care involved in aging.
Barrels aging upright in the A. Smith Bowman Distillery rickhouse
A. Smith Bowman’s bourbon portfolio includes Bowman Brothers Small Batch, John Bowman Single Barrel, and the annual Abraham Bowman Limited Edition. The Small Batch is aged for seven years, comprising eight carefully selected barrels to maintain flavor consistency. The Single Barrel matures for ten years. While Virginia Gentlemen remains part of their production, it wasn’t prominently featured on the tour or website. Interestingly, while the Bowman bourbons are bottled in Fredericksburg, Virginia Gentlemen is aged there but bottled in Baltimore, MD. A smith bowman distillery photos of these bottles would showcase the product range and branding.
The tour concluded with a tasting session. Virginia’s control state regulations limit distilleries to sampling four products daily, pre-selected by the ABC. Samples must be consumed entirely by the recipient, with no sharing permitted – any unfinished samples must be disposed of. On our tour, the tasting lineup featured Bowman Brothers Small Batch Bourbon, John Bowman Single Barrel Bourbon, Sunset Hills Gin, and Caramel Bourbon Cream. The Sunset Hills Gin stood out, even to a non-gin enthusiast. Having previously tasted both the Small Batch and Single Barrel bourbons, their quality was reaffirmed. While Bowman products are readily available in Virginia, they are reportedly scarce elsewhere. The Caramel Bourbon Cream, presented in a bottle reminiscent of Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream, was also a noteworthy sample. A smith bowman distillery photos from the tasting room could capture the ambiance and product presentation.
The hour-long tour culminated in the gift shop, offering a wide array of A. Smith Bowman merchandise, along with their bourbons, rum, gin, and vodka. Following some shopping, we had the opportunity for further conversation with Ralph, enriching our understanding of the distillery.
A recent accolade for A. Smith Bowman Distillery is the Abraham Bowman Port Finished Bourbon Limited Edition winning “World’s Best Bourbon” at the North America Whiskies & Spirits Conference in New York. We had previously sampled this bourbon, alongside the Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Wine Finish Bourbon, at WhiskyFest DC in early March. While both were exceptional, the Wine Finish edged out the Port Finish in our preference. Ralph confirmed the limited availability of these releases, hinting at an upcoming limited edition. The secret release turned out to be the Abraham Bowman Limited Release Wheat Bourbon, launched on Wednesday, May 16th. This nine-year-old, 94 proof wheated bourbon, distinct from the Weller mashbill, quickly sold out at the distillery gift shop. The Virginia ABC planned a lottery for their allocation. A smith bowman distillery photos of these award-winning bottles would be highly valuable for bourbon enthusiasts.
A visit to A. Smith Bowman Distillery in Fredericksburg, VA, is unequivocally worthwhile. The tour offers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of Virginia bourbon, making it a must-visit destination.
