
Isaac Bowman Port Barrel Finished Bourbon
Isaac Bowman · A. Smith Bowman Distillery
Isaac Bowman delivers a bourbon that plays two hands simultaneously — fruit-driven and barrel-intensive. The port finish adds genuine depth rather than gimmickry, and the price makes it an exceptional value for what's in the glass.
Nose
Ripe cherry and butterscotch lead, followed by a wave of dark cocoa and dried raisins. Beneath that sits a quiet charred oak note that grows as the glass opens.
Palate
Rich and full-bodied. The port cask influence brings a berry-forward sweetness that competes with toasted vanilla and brown spice. A leathery mid-palate emerges halfway through, grounding the fruit.
Finish
Long and warming with lingering cherry, charred oak, and a faint tobacco exhale that stays well after the sip.
- Mash Bill
- Undisclosed
- Barrel Type
- New charred American oak, finished in port barrels
- Bottled in Bond
- No
- Single Barrel
- No
- Wheated
- No
Cocktail Suggestion
Port Authority Old Fashioned — 2 oz Isaac Bowman Port Barrel Finished · 0.25 oz demerara syrup · 3 dashes Angostura bitters · Stir over a large ice cube, garnish with a brandied cherry.
Food Pairing
Dark chocolate torte with raspberry coulis
Crafted at A. Smith Bowman Distillery in Fredericksburg, Virginia — a facility originally built as a dairy farm in the 1930s and now one of the smallest distilleries on the East Coast — Isaac Bowman is finished in port barrels sourced from the distillery's own wine connections.
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