Isaac Bowman Port Barrel Finished Bourbon Whiskey
Isaac Bowman Port Barrel Finished Bourbon Whiskey is a 750mL Virginia straight bourbon bottled at 92 proof (46% ABV) at the A. Smith Bowman Distillery in Fredericksburg, finished for three to six months in a variety of port barrels from wineries in Virginia and Portugal before the finished barrels are married together. The port casks — American oak and French Limousin oak — layer stewed fruit and wine richness over the bourbon's caramel and vanilla, and it is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 46% (92 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: No age statement; port-barrel finish of 3–6 months
- Finish: Port barrels from Virginia and Portugal — American oak and French Limousin oak
- Distillery: A. Smith Bowman, Fredericksburg (Sazerac portfolio)
- Origin: Virginia, USA
Virginia Bourbon, Finished in Port Wood
A. Smith Bowman named this bourbon for Isaac Bowman, brother of Colonel Abraham Bowman — the frontier family the Fredericksburg distillery honours across its range. The whiskey itself is the distillery's straight bourbon given a second life in port barrels sourced from both sides of the Atlantic, Virginian and Portuguese, and married when the fruit and the oak balance. The port's stewed fruit, rancio and sultana character is a natural complement to warm caramel and vanilla bourbon. Isaac, launched in late 2017 as the permanent port-finished Bowman, has since taken Gold at the World Whiskies Awards 2019 and Best of Category for a unique finish, with Gold, at the 2019 LA International Spirits Competition — the earlier "World's Best Bourbon 2016" honour sometimes attached to it belongs to the limited Abraham Bowman Port Finished, not this bottle. Browse the distillery on the A. Smith Bowman vendor page, or explore our bourbon whiskey collection.
Tasting Notes
Per the brand: sweet vanilla and caramel on the nose with jammy fruit — plum, fig and cherry; a velvety palate of port wine, fruit jam, vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate and spice; and a long, warm finish of oak, dried fruit, port sweetness and subtle spice.
How to Enjoy
Pour it neat or with a large cube — the port fruit reads best at full strength — or use it in a Manhattan, where the finish deepens the drink's dark-fruit notes. More finished bourbons are in our bourbon whiskey collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Isaac Bowman finished in port barrels?
Between three and six months, depending on flavour, in port barrels from Virginia and Portugal made from American oak and French Limousin oak; the finished barrels are then married together.
Who was Isaac Bowman?
The brother of Colonel Abraham Bowman, of the Virginia frontier family the A. Smith Bowman Distillery is named for — this port-finished bourbon carries his name.
Does Isaac Bowman have an age statement?
No — it is a no-age-statement bourbon; the verified ageing detail is the three-to-six-month port-barrel finish.
Port wood over Virginia bourbon — order Isaac Bowman online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA, and taste the finish for yourself.