Review: A. Smith Bowman Abraham Bowman Special Release #26

Virginia whiskey lovers, you know the drill. A. Smith Bowman is out with another Abraham Bowman Special Release. The lottery closed May 11 (womp womp), but there’s still a chance some bottles will go unclaimed at the end of the month. In the past, a few bottles have even circulated through the Virginia ABC and outside the state via distributors for Bowman’s owner, Sazerac. It’s certainly worth hunting, especially if you’re a rye whiskey fan.

A. Smith Bowman doesn’t offer a rye whiskey in its standard lineup, but they famously kicked off their Abraham Bowman limited-edition series (recently subtitled Special Release) way back in 2010 with a 9-year-old, 90 proof rye whiskey that, if my admittedly foggy memory serves me, was pretty impressive. Twenty-five Special Releases later, Bowman is once again offering a rare rye whiskey, but this time it’s clocking in at 11-years-old and bottled at a significantly higher proof. Bowman famously redistills new make whiskey produced at other Sazerac-owned distilleries, so presumably this rye was born at Buffalo Trace, but it reportedly aged in the Fredericksburg distillery’s coolest warehouse, Warehouse A. We don’t get any other specifics on the production, but imaginations are sure to run wild. Could this be the sweet spot between Thomas Handy and Sazerac 18? Or something else entirely? Let’s find out.

A. Smith Bowman Abraham Bowman Special Release #26 Review

Master Distiller David Bock reportedly wanted to avoid the pronounced spice and intensity of the classic rye profile in favor of something more balanced. I would argue that you can still have balance in a traditionally bold and peppery rye whiskey, but what Bock has delivered here is indeed exceptional in the category. The nose is soft and silky but at the same time full of dark spice and classic rye greenery. Top notes of dark caramel, Madagascar vanilla bean, and clove oil enhance a foundation of chocolate mint, freshly cut grass, and dried sage. As it opens, the aroma deepens with rich notes of butter mints and warm brownies. Alluring doesn’t really begin to describe it. I could nose this whiskey for an awkwardly long time.

The palate is full-bodied and robust, but the rye spice is perfectly dialed in. The healthy proof helps to propel layers of flavor with impressive finesse, the whole experience maintaining a gentle, peppery warmth that simmers just below the surface. It’s surprisingly fruity, kicking off with peach rings candy, cocktail cherry, and a little clove-studded orange before transitioning on the midpalate to darker, barrel-driven notes of maple syrup, vanilla pudding, and a hint of creamy peanut butter. The oak builds steadily into a piquant finish that is long and slightly drying and showcases easy tannins, cinnamon syrup, and Andes Mints. The approachability and harmony of flavor is remarkable. It’s a hard whiskey to put down.

Is this rye worthy of Sazerac’s vaunted Antique Collection? Absolutley. But let’s give Bowman and Bock their due. This stands out even among some of the better rye whiskeys out there, and it couldn’t exist without Bowman’s unique distillation and more than a decade of careful aging in the great Commonwealth that I’m proud to call home. Congratulations in advance to those lucky enough to grab this bottle. You’ll probably see it on our Top 20 Whiskeys list later this year.

110 proof.

A / $80

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