A. Smith Bowman Distillery: Reston, Virginia
Updated: 14 hours ago
The A. Smith Bowman Distillery began on the Bowman family's 7,200 acre Sunset Hills Farm in Fairfax County, Virginia, in what later became the planned community of Reston.
In this guide
Summarise this guide with AI
A. Smith Bowman at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Producer / distillery | A. Smith Bowman |
Location | Virginia, United States |
Ownership | Sazerac Company |
History / origin | Abram Smith Bowman and his sons Abram Smith Jr. and DeLong founded it in 1934, the day after Prohibition ended. Until the 1950s it was the only legal whiskey distillery in Virginia. Its main brands… |
Whisky characteristics | Historic Virginia brand now produced at a relocated facility |
Visiting | Consult current official visitor information; not every distillery is open to tours. |
Join the A. Smith Bowman whisky community poll
Which whiskies have you tried? What should Whisky Clan review next? Open the highlighted poll below, answer four quick questions and share your preferences with the community.
TAKE THE A. SMITH BOWMAN COMMUNITY POLL · 4 QUICK QUESTIONS
Answer four quick questions to see real reader percentages. No account or email is required.
History
Abram Smith Bowman and his sons Abram Smith Jr. and DeLong founded it in 1934, the day after Prohibition ended. Until the 1950s it was the only legal whiskey distillery in Virginia. Its main brands were Virginia Gentleman and Fairfax County bourbon.
In February 1988 it moved to Spotsylvania County, near Fredericksburg, into a former FMC Corp. cellophane plant at One Bowman Drive. It runs there as a microdistillery owned by the Sazerac Company.
Sources and image credit
Sources: Wikipedia, A. Smith Bowman Distillery article (en.wikipedia.org), read on 20 October 2026.
2026 whisky awards, releases and international availability
The 2026 International Whisky Competition named A. Smith Bowman Distillery its Distillery of the Year. Its Cask Strength Batch #5 scored 94.60 points and placed first among American and bourbon whiskeys in the competition. Other recorded 2026 entries include John J. Bowman Single Barrel and Isaac Bowman Port Barrel Finished; those are different expressions with different distribution.
What makes A. Smith Bowman distinctive?
Historic Virginia brand now produced at a relocated facility
A. Smith Bowman whisky bottles and expression comparison
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
John J. Bowman Single Barrel Bourbon | NAS / edition varies | Check label | Historic Virginia brand now produced at a relocated facility |
Bowman Brothers Small Batch Bourbon | NAS / edition varies | Check label | Historic Virginia brand now produced at a relocated facility |
Isaac Bowman Port Finished Bourbon | NAS / edition varies | Check label | Historic Virginia brand now produced at a relocated facility |
Named expressions include historic or limited releases and do not guarantee current availability, strength or specifications. Check the producer's labels.
Explore related distillery guides
Frequently asked questions about A. Smith Bowman
Where is A. Smith Bowman located?
Virginia, United States.
Who owns or operates A. Smith Bowman?
Sazerac Company.
What is distinctive about A. Smith Bowman?
Historic Virginia brand now produced at a relocated facility
What whisky is associated with A. Smith Bowman?
John J. Bowman Single Barrel Bourbon, Bowman Brothers Small Batch Bourbon, Isaac Bowman Port Finished Bourbon. Current availability must be checked.
Can you tour A. Smith Bowman?
Please check the producer's current visitor information; not all locations welcome visitors.
Sources and editorial checks
Existing history and sources are retained above. Ownership, operating status, bottlings and tours may change.
Help us improve this distillery guide
Know something we should add or correct about A. Smith Bowman Distillery? Share verified facts, bottle releases, awards or useful sources using the form below. Newsletter subscription is optional.
If the embedded form does not display, Open the contribution form in a new tab.
About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
Comments