Abraham Bowman #13-Touriga and Merlot wine finished Bourbon

[VAGentleman]

The new Abraham Bowman was just released today at the distillery.  It is a blend of wine barrel finished bourbons.  The wine finishes were Touriga and Merlot.  This is a non-chill filtered 100 proof bourbon that was aged for a total of 11 years (9years three months in the original barrel and 1 year 9 months in the wine barrels that originally held Bowman bourbon).  This is being released exclusively in 375 ml bottles.  There are approximately 2100 bottles available.  They should be in VA ABC stores in a week or two and will be shipped to other states as well.

 

My first impression is that I’m pretty impressed with this edition.  It’s a nice dark amber color.  The nose has some rye spice, some vanilla and a hint of sweetness to it.  The taste starts with some nice dark fruit flavors giving way to some vanilla and a nice rye kick at the end.  The finish lingers some with the dark fruits coming back.  Nice mouthfeel, and definitely not too sweet like some of the port finished bourbons can be.  Will have to spend some more time with this one but so far I like it a lot

[meadeweber]

Thanks for the update VAGentleman.  I'll look out for it.

[VAGentleman]

By the way it's $39.99

[meadeweber]

9 minutes ago, VAGentleman said:

By the way it's $39.99

Thanks.  I was wondering about that.  That price sounds reasonable.

[JoeTerp]

thanks.  Very much look forward to trying this.

[Harry in WashDC]

RATS!  We were in F'burg this afternoon but I decided to skip a visit to the distillery as my shelves have plenty of the previous ASBs.  If' I'd known about this, I would have stopped by.

Thank you for the notice; I, too, will actively seek it.

[tanstaafl2]

17 hours ago, VAGentleman said:

By the way it's $39.99

 

11 hours ago, Harry in WashDC said:

RATS!  We were in F'burg this afternoon but I decided to skip a visit to the distillery as my shelves have plenty of the previous ASBs.  If' I'd known about this, I would have stopped by.

Thank you for the notice; I, too, will actively seek it.

Hmm, recent going price I suppose. Reasonable I am not so sure about! Last few releases have been unremarkable to me. At least being offered at 100 proof. If I can find it I suppose I will get "self-suckered" into buying at least one.  I suppose a 375ml is better than a 750 if I find I don't care for it. Of course if it turns out to be decent I will probably regret not getting more and then won't be able to find it again!

Certainly plenty of things to compare it to currently from the NDP side of the industry.

 

[Hop]

$39.99 for a 375 takes the price about $10 higher than the 750's of the "Double Barrel" version released last year

[tanstaafl2]

10 minutes ago, Hop said:

$39.99 for a 375 takes the price about $10 higher than the 750's of the "Double Barrel" version released last year

All that extra glass is darned pricey...

If my math is right (which is always questionable!) that is about 4 barrels worth of whiskey for $80,000+ or about $20,000 a barrel (I presume the barrels were filled pretty full when finished and didn't lose that much in 27 months or so they were finished).

Seems like a pretty good return when you consider that a barrel of a Four Roses private selection is what, probably less than half that in cost?

[JoeTerp]

it's now up on the ABC website as Abraham Bowman Wine Finish Bourbon

[VAGentleman]

18 hours ago, tanstaafl2 said:

All that extra glass is darned pricey...

If my math is right (which is always questionable!) that is about 4 barrels worth of whiskey for $80,000+ or about $20,000 a barrel (I presume the barrels were filled pretty full when finished and didn't lose that much in 27 months or so they were finished).

Seems like a pretty good return when you consider that a barrel of a Four Roses private selection is what, probably less than half that in cost?

FWIW there were 6 barrels

[meadeweber]

Let me defend this release against some of the previous comments.  Why am I doing this?  I don't know.  I haven't been to the distillery (but plan to go).  I think I just like what they are doing in general and how they experiment with their AB.

So, first, yes it is NDP but we know this is BT liquid.  The fact that we know what it is is a plus.  The fact that it is BT is another plus for me.

Now about the price, I do think it's reasonable and here are a couple reason why.  It's a limited release and right or wrong, limited releases command a premium.  It's aged 11 years.  That's VERY respectable. Lastly, there is their added cost of acquiring the wine barrels.

Now if I can just find a bottle to try and hopefully, the TASTE, will be worth the price.

[tanstaafl2]

Nothing really to defend from me. Just my usual gloom and doom!  

This has more going for it for me at least on paper than some of the recent ones and of course most of us know the source of this distillery. If I get a chance I will likely buy one or more.

Edited January 22, 2016 by tanstaafl2

[JoeTerp]

looks like this should be hitting Northern Virginia next week

[The Black Tot]

I'm glad you took the doom and gloom position for me this time, Bruce. $39.99 is about right for a 750ml.

Weller 12 is still $29 for a 750, also BT, and a year older. You can say you can't get it, but it'll be easier to get than these Bowmans.

[Harry in WashDC]

On 1/31/2016, 12:21:39, JoeTerp said:

looks like this should be hitting Northern Virginia next week

I did special order two bottles (only in 375s, remember) at my favorite VA ABC store.  Store did order two but could only find one when I showed up last week.  At $40 per 375 (or $80 per 750mls of spirit in the aggregate, obviously) it is priced about what the Abe Bowmans usually sell for in the 750ml size.  Considering they are LEs and apparently regionally constrained, that's not so bad for those of us in the Mid-Atlantic.  ALSO, the A.Smith Bowman offerings (their own whiskeys and gin and their NDP rum) all are sold in fancy, heavy glass bottles with a distinctive shape.  The 375s are the same shape, and are thick glass, in miniature form.  So, yeah, some of the cost is in glass.

My overall impression is: it is a little more finish-flavored than, say, the 1792 port finish or the Abe Bowman port finish from several releases ago.  BUT, it is not, IMO, as finish-forward as a just-prior-to-acquisition Angel's Envy my wife likes a lot and I liked enough to buy a second bottle of for cocktail use.  AND, it is not as finish-forward as the Abe Bowman coffee barrel release has become the longer it sits in the bottle.  Or, is that just my imagination?

[MDBourbon]

On January 22, 2016 at 2:01:33 PM, meadeweber said:

Let me defend this release against some of the previous comments.  Why am I doing this?  I don't know.  I haven't been to the distillery (but plan to go).  I think I just like what they are doing in general and how they experiment with their AB.

So, first, yes it is NDP but we know this is BT liquid.  The fact that we know what it is is a plus.  The fact that it is BT is another plus for me.

Now about the price, I do think it's reasonable and here are a couple reason why.  It's a limited release and right or wrong, limited releases command a premium.  It's aged 11 years.  That's VERY respectable. Lastly, there is their added cost of acquiring the wine barrels.

Now if I can just find a bottle to try and hopefully, the TASTE, will be worth the price.

I agree Meadweber, I am not much for this type of finish but this is one place I always give the benefit of the doubt and I have no problem with the price, especially when you factor in their costs.