Gentleman's relish
Lynn Seldon charts the history and success of a bourbon made beyond Kentucky:
Virginia Gentleman
Those who think Kentucky has a monopoly on bourbon whiskey in the United States havenât talked to the descendants of Abram Smith Bowman â or tried his bourbon. Founded in 1935 by Bowman and his two sons, Smith and DeLong, A. Smith Bowman Distillery is the oldest familyowned bourbon distillery in the United States.
âThough they may not know A. Smith Bowman, everyone in this region knows Virginia Gentleman,â says John âJayâ B. Adams, Jr., the companyâs president and CEO (and Delong Bowmanâs son-in-law).
âMany men in Virginia and neighbouring states will only drink our bourbon.â
The Bowmans began producing bourbon on their farm in northern Virginiaâs Fairfax County at the end of Prohibition, and the fabled Virginia
Gentleman became the regionâs hallmark bourbon for decades. Originally created as a âsmall batchâ bourbon, the distillery was originally
located on Sunset Hills Farm, the Bowman family property in what would eventually become the bustling city of Reston.
Produced today as it was then, Virginia Gentleman became the Bowman Distilleryâs hallmark brand. Made from the finest corn, rye, and malted barley, it is aged for at least four years in new charred oak barrels.
The 80-proof bourbon was rated four out of five stars (100 per cent recommended) by the website Epinion.com, and has garnered good comments in Whisky Magazine for its consistent flavour.
The sweetish Virginia Gentleman 80 has a big body and tends to be higher in malt and lowe.....
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By Lynn Seldon
Section : American Whiskey
Page number : 32
