Distilled three times on a pot still like an Irish whiskey, Bowman Distillery in Virginia has been quietly churning out elegant bourbon whiskey for years. Purchased by Sazerac in 2003, the operation has slowly been revamped to accommodate the drinking desires of the entire country, which is why we're finally seeing some Bowman whiskey here on the West Coast. The small batch release is a 90-proof expression that offers plenty of charred wood character but is decidedly lighter and more elegant than the standard distilled Kentucky cousins. The Bowman is ultimately less sweet and more focused on the grain. This unique whiskey is fermented and distilled twice in Kentucky before being shipped to Virginia as new make for a third distillation in pot stills. It's then aged on site at Sazerac Co.'s experimental craft distillery in Spotsylvania County, VA. 90 points, Tim McCurdy of VinePair: "Virginia's Sazerac-owned A. Smith Bowman Distillery offers up a truly unique offering with this small-batch bourbon. The intriguing journey begins with a nose that offers candied fruits, brown sugar, and cinnamon. The palate kicks in fresh fruit, a rich, oily mouthfeel, and potpourri on the finish. The relatively low proof never risks feeling weak or thin, instead only amplifying the bourbon's flavors. This is an outlier — and a damn good one." (02-2021)