A Smith Bowman expansion

[VAGentleman]

A Smith Bowman is in the middle of their expansion. In January they have a new Vendome 500 gallon still with accompanying 25 foot high column arriving. They have expanded into a huge new area for more barrel storage and will have stainless steel fermentation tanks coming soon as well. The plan is to do lots of experimental Whiskey, Gin, Rum etc on the new still while they will still get new make from Buffalo Trace to redistill in their existing still. Pretty exciting times for them

[bmajazz]

This is really exciting. Being from Virginia myself, I am really behind them. They are putting out a really great product at a pretty reasonable price point, especially given their size. Plus, I'm a sucker for their VA Gentleman bourbon, pedestrian though it may be.

Their small batch is reminiscent of the Fox. Same juice? Have not had their more esoteric stuff, a little rich for my blood

[B.B. Babington]

...Their small batch is reminiscent of the Fox...

[ccleve23]

I was really surprised that they only had 7 employees that work there when I did the tour.

I have a bottle of their J.J. Bowman and I love the stuff. I can't wait to see what they start coming out with next in the future.

[jaycamm]

I picked up a liter of VG for 12 dollars. I never read about it on here. Do they even make it anymore?

[Harry in WashDC]

I picked up a liter of VG for 12 dollars. I never read about it on here. Do they even make it anymore?

Oh, yeah, they do still make VG. My first taste of it was circa 1971. The day I toured (sometime last Summer), Jimmy had just dumped his 68th barrel for the day, and it was just after Noon.

RE: The Fox - I asked about it (liked the squat bottle w/the hunting scene) when I was there and was told the Bowman Brothers' Small Batch @ 90 proof is its successor.

Thanks, VaG, for the update. I was wondering how the expansion was going. Also, thanks for the notes on the Vanilla finish on the other thread.

[squire]

Wish they would reinstate the hunt scene label though, it was outstanding.

[dmarkle]

Wish they would reinstate the hunt scene label though, it was outstanding.

Heh, better that than the old racist label they used to have!

Speaking of old racist labels, I wish I had an old bottle (even an empty) of Fairfax County whiskey, which looked to me to be a 100 proof VG. Having grown up in Fairfax County, it would have been a great conversation piece, though it might have caused me to get punched in the mouth when my black friends come over. Mmmm... On second thought, I think I like the Bowman Single Barrel better...

[squire]

We chose Fairfax County over Virginia Gentleman when the two were both available but that was mostly due to the higher proof. I would like to see it reissued as a Bottled in Bond.

[mbroo5880i]

A Smith Bowman is in the middle of their expansion. In January they have a new Vendome 500 gallon still with accompanying 25 foot high column arriving. They have expanded into a huge new area for more barrel storage and will have stainless steel fermentation tanks coming soon as well. The plan is to do lots of experimental Whiskey, Gin, Rum etc on the new still while they will still get new make from Buffalo Trace to redistill in their existing still. Pretty exciting times for them

This is good to hear. We just recently started getting their product in Indy. I have only seen it at one store. I like JJB even though it is a little expensive. I would like to try the SmB sometime.

[VAGentleman]

http://whiskyadvocate.com/whisky/2014/12/22/big-little-changes-at-bowman/

Nice little article with pictures of the new still

[Harry in WashDC]

Thanks for the update, VaG. I'd penciled in a visit for mid-January. I may still go even though I already picked up some AB vanilla fusion. Which I like, BTW.