Day 18 of DB's Bourbon Trail 2024 Advent Calendar - John J. Bowman Single Barrel

Derek Burkhard
Oct 30, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Dec 18, 2024

Cheers and welcome to our 5th Annual Advent Calendar!

This month, we’re embarking on a high-end bourbon journey, reviewing 25 bourbons from award-winning distilleries across the United States. From December 1st to December 25th, we’ll explore everything from small batches to single barrels, all packed with flavor. Join us in toasting to another incredible year as we share some of our favorite bottles with you!

Our reviews are done using a Glencairn glass and neat, but remember, it’s your bourbon! Enjoy it however you like—over ice, with water, or in a cocktail. The key is to enjoy it your way and not let others influence your experience.

Enough of me rambling. Now, let’s dive into what brought us here!

Day 18 of DB’s Bourbon Trail 2024 Advent Calendar

JOHN J. BOWMAN - SINGLE BARREL

Proof:

100 Proof (50%)

Distillery:

A. Smith Bowman Distillery (Fredericksburg, VA)

Message on Bottle:

Early pioneer Colonel John J. Bowman first explored Kentucky in 1775. Four years later, he moved his family to Lincoln County where they were among the earliest settlers of Kentucky. He later presided over Kentucky's first county court and was also appointed the first military commander and military governor of Kentucky County. He was the great, great uncle of Abram Smith Bowman, founder of the A. Smith Bowman Distillery. This single barrel bourbon whiskey commemorates the early pioneer John J. Bowman.

Price Point:

At DB’s Bourbon Trail, we use BoozApp (not sponsored) to ensure fair pricing on our bourbon purchases. Nothing is worse than overpaying due to supply and demand games.
- Average MSRP:
  - $54.99
- Fair Price:
  - $87.77
- Shelf Price:
  - $59.99
- DB’s Bourbon Trail Instant Buy Price:
  - <$69.99

Nose:

Wow - now this is an incredible nose!!! It has an inviting sweetness made of caramel, vanilla, toffee and get a hint of fruit that I want to say is apple.

Palate:

The pleasantry does not stop at the nose here folks! This palate offers a sweetness, that is pretty foreign to me. I get a solid toffee, brown sugar sweetness that is paired perfectly with caramel and fruit notes. The spice shows up at the end of the palate and heads right into the finish with notes of cinnamon

Finish:

I thought this finish was incredible. It was the perfect combination of spice and sweet. Cinnamon, caramel, brown sugar that lingers.

Final Thoughts:

I really, really, really enjoyed this pour. It was such a pleasant pour from start to finish. I’m a sucker for 100 proof. I am a sucker for something that offers a perfect amount of sweetness and spice. This offered all of that and will now always be on the hunt for a bottle of this. This was the best Bowman Brother’s expression that I have had. 10/10 recommend on trying this pour if you get the chance to!

Cheers y’all! 🥃

Let's Connect!