CÁRN MÓR CELEBRATION OF THE CASK

Just in time for the holidays, we’re excited to unveil four very special Càrn Mòr whiskies, each featuring a unique and rare single cask expression from some of Scotland’s most esteemed distilleries. Part of the Càrn Mòr – Celebration of the Cask collection, these whiskies come exclusively from single casks, offering a limited release of remarkable quality. Now available from select retailers — follow us on Instagram to see where you can find them.

Orkney 2002 has been ageing for 22 years in an Oloroso sherry butt, that hails from an undisclosed distillery on Orkney. This whisky carries a fragrant peat that softens into gentle floral, heathery notes before deepening into a gentle funk.

Benriach 1998 is a 26-year-old whisky that stands out amongst others due to its triple distillation process. Aged in an Oloroso sherry butt, it offers layers of melted milk chocolate and rum-soaked raisins with a hint of spice. These rich, sweet notes are balanced with a dry, nuttiness from the sherry wood, reminiscent of almonds.

Glen Keith 1998 has been patiently resting in a bourbon barrel for 26 years. This rich and spicy expression reveals layers of wood spice—cinnamon and cloves—that evoke the warmth of Christmas cake, followed by vibrant, juicy red apple notes that leave you wanting more.

Dailuaine 1995 is a 29-year-old whisky that captures Dailuaine’s characteristic grassy notes, matured to perfection in a bourbon barrels for an elegant, balanced expression. Sweet, confectionary style tropical fruits on the nose – almost pineapple cubes which softens into crisp orchard fruits.

Highland Park 10 Years Old 2014 Random Barrique

This single malt was distilled on the 28th of May 2024 at the Highland Park Distillery, located near Kirkwall on the Orkney Islands. It was aged for 10 years in a single random barrique, which imparted notes of figs and candied peel, balancing the delicate, funky peat. It was bottled in October 2024 by Little Brown Dog Spirits, without chill-filtration, artificial colouring and at natural cask strength A single malt from Highland Park Distillery. It was distilled on the 28th of May, 2014, and aged for 10 years in a random barrique before bottling on the 27th of October, 2024. Bottled by Little Brown Dog Spirits at 60.1% ABV, at natural colour and no chill filtration.

£82.50

Shop now

Whisky making returns to The Cabrach after more than 170 years

Whisky production has returned to a historic Speyside community after nearly two centuries, with the first distillation at The Cabrach Distillery reviving the craft of whisky making in this unique part of Scotland.

Heralding the return of real Cabrach whisky after a long sleep of more than 170 years, the first distillation from The Cabrach Distillery has been marked with an exclusive ceremony, attended by Kate Forbes, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic.

Widely regarded as a birthplace of malt whisky, The Cabrach is a unique part of Scotland on the rugged edge of Speyside where Highland geography, rich cultural history and a distinctive community spirit intersect to create an inimitable sense of place. This is where the illicit Scotch story began, a place where three legal distilleries thrived following the dawn of legal production in 1823, and now, once again, a place where The Cabrach Distillery is reigniting these time-honoured traditions while also working to regenerate the local community.

In front of over 100 guests, including the local community and members of The Cabrach Collective, first distillation of the new spirit took place at Inverharroch Farm, within painstakingly restored 19th century stone steadings. The Cabrach Trust’s community-led regeneration plan will also see the development of a bistro and heritage centre alongside the distillery, offering hospitality to visitors.

The Cabrach Distillery is a social enterprise, the first Community Interest Company of its kind. Purpose-driven and community owned, The Cabrach Distillery aspires to meet the highest social and environmental standards, creating skilled employment alongside volunteering opportunities. All future profits generated by the distillery will be used to further progress The Cabrach Trust’s community regeneration vision.

The Cabrach Distillery’s first spirit ceremony follows a successful application by The Cabrach Trust to secure capital funding from the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund; a commitment targeted at projects in the North East and Moray which contribute towards the region’s transition to net zero.

During the ceremony, the Deputy First Minister inspected the distillery stillhouse as the historic first spirit flowed through the spirit safe. Thereafter she delivered a speech in the dunnage warehouse, reflecting on the bravery of the project and the transformational economic impact The Cabrach Distillery stands to realise as the centre piece of The Cabrach Trust’s strategy.

The Cabrach Distillery will distil, mature and bottle a handcrafted single malt Scotch whisky of unparalleled provenance on a very limited in scale. Bottles of Cabrach Single Malt Whisky will be scarce and highly sought-after.

Jonathan Christie, Chief Executive Officer of The Cabrach Trust, said:

“Our first distillation represents a long-awaited, landmark milestone in our journey to revive the lost spirit of The Cabrach. This is a project that will serve as the economic lungs of our regeneration vision for this special place, attracting thousands of visitors to the area, captivated by the incredible history and timeless landscapes of The Cabrach.

“It has been a privilege to share this occasion with the Deputy First Minister, and we greatly appreciate the Scottish Government’s continued support of our mission. The wild spirit of The Cabrach will now be filled into fine casks to begin its patient maturation which, in time, will culminate in the release of The Cabrach Single Malt Scotch Whisky.”

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said:

“The Cabrach Distillery was one of the first projects to secure monies from the Just Transition Fund, a £75 million Scottish Government initiative to create jobs and support innovation across the North East and Moray.

“As a social enterprise and whisky distillery it’s a unique part of the vibrant food and drink sector which makes a valuable contribution to the national and local economies. Today’s ceremony signals the start of a new chapter for The Cabrach and its ambitions to be a leading example of community-led, rural regeneration.”

Grant Gordon OBE, Founder & Chair of The Cabrach Trust, added:

“The Cabrach is my home as well that of my ancestors, but in my lifetime, I’ve witnessed firsthand decades of abandonment and decline.

“Since The Cabrach Trust was established in 2013, we have witnessed the growing support of the community, further strengthened by an ever-increasing membership. The creation of The Cabrach Distillery sits at the heart of our regeneration aims for The Cabrach. This is a unique community asset that will celebrate an important part of The Cabrach’s cultural identity, whilst creating an extraordinary Single Malt Whisky.”

“I’m immeasurably proud today.”

To assure early success, The Cabrach Distillery has introduced The Cabrach Collective, a small community of founding champions who will join the journey to revive the long-lost craft of whisky making in The Cabrach. The unique membership programme offers much more than a special whisky package. It offers whisky lovers the chance to become part of a tale of renewal and play a vital role in restoring a proud community like few others.

The Cabrach Collective members will gain access to an exclusive range of bottlings, including the premier release of The Cabrach Single Malt Scotch Whisky, crafted with meticulous care and only available to Collective members.

Membership of The Cabrach Collective also includes The Feering series of three Speyside blended malt whiskies and access to future collective-only distillery releases offered exclusively to members for annual purchase.

Members are welcomed with a reception pack including The Cabrach nosing glass and can enjoy annual visits to Inverharroch Farm to discover the unparalleled community regeneration project firsthand.

The Cabrach Collective is limited to 1,849 members, in tribute to the old steadings, home of The Cabrach Distillery, which have stood at Inverharroch since 1849. Membership of The Cabrach Collective is available for £1,245 per person.

A registered charity formed in 2013, The Cabrach Trust was set up to preserve the cultural heritage of The Cabrach and safeguard its remote community. Founded by Grant Gordon OBE, the Trust has advanced a community-led regeneration plan that has underpinned the development of projects such as the historic distillery and heritage centre, creation of the Discovery Trails, coordination of a rural skills and wellbeing programme, creation of a Cabrach Tweed, relaunch of a lost Highland Games, and much more besides.

For further information about The Cabrach Distillery or to sign-up to The Cabrach Collective visit www.thecabrach.com.

About The Cabrach and whisky

The illicit distilling of whisky in Scotland was seen as a ‘right of man’ at the end of the 17th century and no place in Scotland did a higher concentration of illicit distilling happen than in The Cabrach. Attempts to enforce excise duty on the spirit were therefore met with resistance, ranging from riots to the adoption of ever more inventive ways of avoidance.

The Cabrach’s inhabitants showed extraordinary ingenuity in this clandestine activity, creating an unparalleled network of stills and smuggling routes to evade revenue officers. Spirits travelled far and wide, across the border into England, to Scotland’s North Sea ports and beyond, lending solidarity to the struggles of the Jacobites – and making many fortunes in the process.

However, legal production in The Cabrach also emerged for a short but crucial period in Scotland’s malt whisky story. By the time spirit once again flows from licensed Cabrach stills, over 170 years will have passed since legal distilling in the area came to an end. In 1823, a significant change in legislation succeeded in encouraging three Cabrach families to establish distilleries on their farms – Blackmiddens, Lesmurdie, and Tomnaven. For more than 30 years, these distilleries flourished and Cabrach whisky continued to be held in the highest regard. However, one by one they closed, as they were hard to reach and not economically viable.

The Cabrach Trust’s development of The Cabrach Distillery is well underway. This transformational project is designed to breathe new life into the area; famed for its role in the birth of malt whisky. The Distillery will showcase the craft and alchemy of making Scotland’s national drink and tell the story of the historic region.

Once complete, The Cabrach Distillery, wholly owned by The Cabrach Trust, will be unique in quality, purpose, and limited scale. Producing 100,000 litres of spirit each year, with barley sourced from the fields adjacent to the distillery and nearby farms, the project will maintain an overarching commitment to environmental sustainability. Importantly, Cabrach Distillery is a social enterprise, with future revenues set to support the Trust’s community regeneration mission.

Pennsylvania Rye Distillery Stoll & Wolfe Debuts 4-Year-Old Version Of Its Heritage Rosen Rye

The launch of the four-year-old single barrel version of Stoll & Wolfe Straight Rosen Rye draws from whiskey distilled from a rare rye grain type grown on an associated family farm a few miles from this Pennsylvania distillery.

Lititz, Pennsylvania – November 2024

Stoll & Wolfe, a Pennsylvania distillery founded on the ideals of reviving the exceptional art of Pennsylvania whiskey distilling, is proud to present the latest offering in its rare Rosen Rye expression, distilled from a rare heritage grain almost lost to time.

Rosen Rye, a type of winter rye first developed in mid-1910, was known to be a favorite of American distillers at the time. Sadly, the grain was eventually “forgotten” because of cross-contamination by more common varieties.

A revival of Rosen in 2015 led to the involvement of the distillery team at Stoll & Wolfe, including Erik Wolfe and former legendary Historic Pennsylvania Michter’s Distillery master distiller Dick Stoll, to bring this grain back to whiskey making. Stoll, in particular, was directly associated with this rye, having been the last distiller to produce a run of the whiskey before the Pennsylvania-based distillery was shuttered.

Unfortunately, Stoll, who distilled the first Rosen Rye in nearly 50 years in 2019, passed away before the final whiskey was released.

“Dick’s legacy is part of the founding story of Stoll & Wolfe,” said Wolfe. “This Rosen Rye whiskey we are releasing at four years of age reflects his vision in how we produce this heritage grain expression.”

A unique thing to note with this whiskey’s release is its ties to the family story of Stoll & Wolfe. The Rosen Rye grown for it comes from the Kline Family Farm, just two miles from the Lititz, PA-based distillery. The farm has a family connection with the distillery, as their shared 7x great grandfather William Kline started the farm in 1741, with it remaining in the family.

“I’m proud of my family’s direction connection to the whiskey in these bottles,” noted Wolfe. “It makes this particular release all the more special.”

The Stoll & Wolfe 4-Year Single Barrel Rosen Rye, bottled at 106.5 proof, is non-chill filtered and limited to just 220 750 ml bottles priced at $120 each. It is available now in Pennsylvania and nationwide online. For more information on how to get a bottle, visit HERE 

ABOUT STOLL & WOLFE STRAIGHT ROSEN RYE 4-YEAR

4-Year Single Barrel Kline Farm Rosen Rye. 106.5 Proof (53.25 ABV). Non Chill Filtered. Distilled in PA. 220 bottles at $120 each.

Nose: Ginger and brown sugar open on the nose, along with spice cake, cream soda, vanilla, candied citrus, and a touch of dark cherry.

Palate: The palate bursts its way open with rye spice, nutmeg and apricot, dark chocolate, and toasted oak.

Finish: A long-lasting finish then takes a sweet and rich turn, with toffee and crème brûlée, a hint of black pepper, and lingering rye spice on the tongue.

ABOUT STOLL & WOLFE

Stoll & Wolfe, opened in 2016 in Lititz, Pennsylvania, is a testament to its unwavering dedication to the revival of Pennsylvania rye whiskey. Founded by Erik and Avianna Wolfe, the team worked tirelessly with former Michter’s (Pennsylvania) master distiller Dick Stoll to lead the charge, particularly with the rebirth of the Rosen Rye grain type. Their timeless approach to the production of spirits, employing open cypress tank fermentation and a column still with a thumper/doubler, followed by maturation in a range of unique settings, is a reflection of their commitment to developing the core flavors of Pennsylvania rye whiskey lovers have come to expect.

LONGROW 18

NOSE

This year’s Longrow 18 kicks off with notes of blackberry jam, walnuts, liquorice and a subtle smokiness on the nose.

PALATE

The peat smoke continues on the palate and notes of black forest gateaux, maraschino cherries, dates and dark chocolate ganache are introduced.

FINISH

A long, gentle finish, there are notes

of coffee beans, sea salt and peat smoke.

UK RRP £110 – £120

Whatever you’re expecting, this isn’t it! Gastronomic Fusion is a peated single grain whisky. But, even if you’re a regular grain whisky drinker, this one is different. First and most importantly, it comes from 100 per cent malted barley distilled in a column still. Secondly, there’s the fact that 40 per cent of this whisky was distilled from peated malt. Last but certainly not least, this whisky was matured entirely in bourbon casks.

Age: 8 years

Cask: First Fill Bourbon Barrels & Second Fill Bourbon Hogsheads

In regards to taste, this intriguing whisky offers a decadent foodie mix of aromas and flavours that are hard to resist. But don’t just take our word for it, you know it’s good when someone on the Tasting Panel let’s the word “stonker!” slip while writing their notes.

READ THE STORY

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Johnnie Walker unveils world’s lightest whisky glass bottle

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra is the result of five years of experimenting and pushes the boundaries of luxury, craft and innovation

The world’s lightest 70cl Scotch whisky glass bottle was unveiled at London Design Festival, where Johnnie Walker Blue Label is a Major Partner

Johnnie Walker, the world’s number one Scotch whisky¹ has today unveiled a limited edition first-of-its kind, boundary-breaking innovation. Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra is the brand’s lightest 70cl Scotch whisky glass bottle to date and to the best of the brand’s knowledge and research, the world’s lightest 70cl Scotch whisky glass bottle² . The design takes bold strides and dares to experiment with a recognised paradigm of luxury.

Five years ago, Johnnie Walker set out with a specific ambition; to move the spirits industry forward. Having noticed that many luxury categories were heading in a new direction – ‘delicate’, rather than ‘heavy’ – the brand sought to experiment with one of its most luxury whiskies. Aiming to push the boundaries of lightweighting glass, all in the name of progress.

At just 180g without the closure, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra bottle has been created by adopting a test-and-learn model, designing and exploring without limitation and imagining what the future of lightweight luxury packaging could bring. Along with external glass makers, the brand rethought all aspects of how the bottle is designed, made and transported: from hand-blowing the glass, to using a teardrop shape which, for the first time ever, meant reforming the iconic Johnnie Walker square bottle.

The result is an industry-first that, as well as achieving exquisite beauty, showcases what luxury, lighter-weight, lower-carbon bottles of the future could look like. As part of the Diageo Spirit of Progress action plan, Johnnie Walker aims to reduce the weight of glass used in its packaging; an ambition that is aimed at reducing the amount of carbon emissions associated with packaging.³

Whilst the technology is not yet available to launch bottles of this weight at scale, permanently, the knowledge Johnnie Walker has garnered is already being applied to lightweighting projects across the Diageo portfolio. In the course of its five years of research, the brand has been granted a UK patent⁴ and to encourage further progress in the industry – and in a first for Diageo – a license to the patent will be offered on a royalty-free basis to anyone in the world who wishes to share in these discoveries.

A new Johnnie Walker Blue Label expression was blended for this exquisite bottle by Dr. Emma Walker, the Johnnie Walker Master Blender. For this release, Dr. Emma Walker sought out liquids from distilleries such as Oban, Brora and Royal Lochnagar, as well as a variety of ‘ghost whiskies’, first made in distilleries that have since closed.

In celebration of this technological breakthrough only 888 bottles will be ever produced. A limited number of these limited-edition bottles will be released for sale in 2025 in selected markets worldwide (RRP £1000).

The bottle will be unveiled at London Design Festival on Saturday 14^th September. Johnnie Walker is a Major Partner of the festival and has partnered with designers Marshmallow Laser Feast to create a Landmark Project installation at the Old Selfridges Hotel in Marylebone, celebrating the design elements of Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra.

Johnnie Walker Global Brand Director, Jennifer English said, “Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra is a truly progressive stride forward for Johnnie Walker, Diageo and the industry. We didn’t know what we were going to be able to achieve when we set out to push the boundaries of luxury, and the result is something that many said would not be possible.

This new, lightweight bottle is a thing of exquisite beauty; but more importantly, it demonstrates what is possible when it comes to lightweighting glass. We will continue applying these learnings across our range, taking more progressive strides as we look to the future of Scotch.”

Global Design Director at Diageo, Jeremy Lindley who led the design project, said, “Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra was born out of an ideation session looking at the future of luxury. With other categories moving towards lightweight – such as eyewear and high-performance cycling – we questioned whether luxury spirits could follow suit.

“We took our vision to a team of expert glassmakers and throughout a five year test-and-learn process slowly discovered how to create elegant, lightweight glass. The technical challenges that lightweighting presents led us to incorporate various design and production specifications that we could not have envisaged at the start of our journey; from the requirement of a tear drop shape which we have moulded to still mimic the iconic square form of Johnnie Walker bottles, to the addition of a protective cage to allow for a round base, and the hand-making and filling of each individual bottle to avoid damages in production.

“Rather than hold this new knowledge close to our chest, we’re excited to be offering a royalty-free licence to our granted UK patent to the world. We hope that our discoveries will have a positive impact within the wider industry and help discover new possibilities for lighter, lower carbon packaging alternatives.”

¹IWSR 2023.

²To verify and obtain more information, please contact us at press@diageo.com. The previously claimed ‘lightest weight Scotch whisky bottle’ was launched by a UK retailer and weighed around 298 grams.

³Actual savings would be project and product dependent, but in general, independent studies show that, all else equal, for every gramme of glass reduced that means over half a gramme less carbon emissions in production.
– Source: British Glass UK glass manufacturing sector decarbonisation roadmap to 2050 page 6.

⁴Diageo has submitted filings to have its granted UK Patent No. GB2616831 B endorsed as licensable of right on the UKIPO patent register, and interested parties are invited to request a standard royalty free, non-exclusive licence from Diageo.

About Johnnie Walker: 
Johnnie Walker is the world’s number 1 Scotch Whisky brand* (IWSR 2023) & the world’s number one International Spirits Brand* (IWSR 2023 Relative Market Share), enjoyed by people in over 180 countries around the world. Since the time of its founder, John Walker, those who blend its whiskies have pursued flavour and quality above all else.

Today’s range of award-winning whiskies includes Johnnie Walker Red Label, Blonde, Black Label, Double Black, Green Label, Gold Label Reserve, Aged 18 Years, and Blue Label. Together they account for over 22 million cases sold annually (IWSR, 2023). Johnnie Walker is also the number one best-selling Scotch and number one trending Scotch (Drinks International, 2024).

*By RSV 2023

About Diageo:
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

EDEN MILL RELEASE RARE PEDRO XIMÉNEZ SINGLE CASK BOTTLING

Independent Scottish distiller Eden Mill has released an ex-Pedro Ximénez single cask bottling, representing the first in a series of rare single cask bottlings from the St Andrews-based brand.

After almost nine years ageing inside a PX cask, the spirit has taken on a beautiful deep, dark brown sherry colour – bursting with rich flavours of fig and raisin with an underlying hint of oak and red berries. The finish is sweet and woody, with a pleasant dry note coming from the European Oak.

The new release is bottled at cask strength 58.3% ABV and is limited to just 252 bottles. Whisky fans can get their hands on this limited release from Thursday November 21st. 

Commenting on the release, Scott Ferguson, Head Distiller at Eden Mill, said: “The entire team was blown away by the quality of this single malt. It’s got a very deep, rich colour thanks to the Pedro Ximénez cask. Exclusive maturation in this cask type creates a truly special whisky. It is the dream dram for those who love heavily sherried whiskies – sticky, sweet and warming – ideally enjoyed round a fire on a cold night this festive season.”

The release is only available on Eden Mill’s website, with a small quantity in their St Andrews-based shop on 96 Market Street, priced at £110.  Visit edenmill.com/products/px-single-cask

Eden Mill’s new distillery is located just seven minutes from St Andrews and will commence distillation early 2025 before opening its doors to the public in spring.

Eden Mill Pedro Ximénez Single Cask

• Cask strength, 58.3% ABV
• Exclusively matured in an ex-Pedro Ximenez cask
• Filled 4th January 2016, bottled 23rd October 2024
• Outturn of just 252 bottles
• Exclusive to edenmill.com and Eden Mill’s St Andrews shop
• £110

Eden Mill

Eden Mill distillery, established in 2012 on the banks of the Eden Estuary in St Andrews, was the first distillery to make spirits in the region in over 150 years. Today, Eden Mill has a unique selection of limited release Single Malts, and an extensive gin portfolio crafted from the finest botanicals, many sourced from in and around Fife..

Eden Mill has an ambition to create the finest gins and Scotch Whiskies with minimal environmental impact combining traditional distilling techniques with innovation. Eden Mill is building a stunning new distillery at the mouth of the river Eden, overlooking the iconic, historic town of St Andrews. The new distillery sits at the heart of the University of St Andrews Eden Campus, a unique site dedicated to sustainable businesses and research.

DECADENT DRAMS TEANINICH – 13 YEAR OLD

A single, 1st fill hogshead of Teaninich 2011. This is rich, robust, full-bodied, modern highland malt whisky, but with a slightly old school, waxy character at its heart. In that sense it’s a whisky with multiple personalities, rather like Ozark the Drambot, who adorns the lovely retro scifi label for this bottling. A hugely satisfying and drinkable dram and a good price.

This is simultaneously both a modern and an old school whisky. It is delicious but discombobulating. You will probably find yourself, much like our label cover star, Ozark the Drambot, confounded and existentially torn between the incompatible dualities of his existence. However, we would appreciate it if you didn’t focus too much on that outcome and still purchased bottles like a dutiful consumer.

£87.95 incVAT

A. SMITH BOWMAN DISTILLERY RELEASES OAK SERIES: AMERICAN OAK, SECOND IN ITS EXPERIMENTAL SERIES EXPLORING OAK VARIETALS

This 12-year-old limited-edition bourbon whiskey will be available to order via an online lottery November 25 – December 2, 2024

FREDERICKSBURG, VA (November 13, 2024) – A. Smith Bowman Distillery today announces the release of Abraham Bowman Oak Series: American Oak, the second experimental whiskey to debut from its Abraham Bowman Oak Series. Following the March 2024 inaugural series release featuring French Oak, the Abraham Bowman Oak Series explores cask maturation in different oak varietals from around the world, as well as the effect charring has on the flavor of whiskey. For its second release, A. Smith Bowman Distillery introduces the classic American White Oak to the Abraham Bowman Oak Series.

“We know American White Oak as today’s trusted wood for aging whiskey, but this experiment is about testing numerous oak varietals in pursuit of making the best whiskey possible” said A. Smith Bowman Distillery’s Head Distiller David Bock. “American Oak, as the tried-and-true oak for whiskey making, is a vital part of this experiment as we compare numerous experimental oak options.” 

Abraham Bowman Oak Series: American Oak is made from a blend of liquids aged in charred American White Oak barrels. Though American White Oak is the industry standard, most bourbons typically age in these barrels anywhere from four to six years. American Oak, however, is aged for 12 years and brings an exciting new dynamic in the Distillery’s pursuit of making the best whiskey possible. With its smooth flavor and beautiful color, this bourbon exemplifies the richness and quality resulting from aging in American White Oak barrels.

Bottled at 135 proof, Abraham Bowman Oak Series: American Oak has a vibrant red color indicative of prolonged maturation. On the nose it has a sweet aroma of tart apple and dried berries. The pallet features a balance of complex flavors, with an immediate taste of raspberry jam followed by hints of a smokey undertone. The finish is exceptionally smooth with persistent sweetness lingering throughout.

“Immediately, what stood out to me was how different American Oak was in comparison to our John J. Single Barrel Bourbon, which is aged for about 9.5-10 years,” said Bock. “A whiskey that has sat for 12+ years has the potential be too oak forward, but I am very pleased that American Oak has a delicious balance of flavor components. When blending American Oak, we landed at 135 proof to showcase the tart apple paired with hints of pepper notes, which makes a really enjoyable spirit that I think our fans will love.”

The Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Collection of whiskeys began in 2010 to celebrate the legacy of Abraham Bowman, the great-grandfather of the Distillery’s founder, Abram Smith Bowman. Each edition of the Abraham Bowman Collection reflects innovation and creativity coming from our previous Master Distillers Joe Dangler, the late Truman Cox, Brian Prewitt and current Head Distiller David Bock. Previous releases in the Abraham Bowman Collection have explored different mash bills, aging techniques, proofs, finishes and more.

Abraham Bowman Oak Series: American Oak is exclusively available for purchase through an online lottery. The lottery runs November 25 – December 2. Consumers nationwide are invited to enter the lottery, however winners MUST pick-up their bottle in-person at the A. Smith Bowman Gift Shop when purchasing. Limit one entry per person. To enter, please submit a form here. Winners will be randomly selected on December 4 and notified via email immediately following the selection. Those selected must pick up their bottles before 5:00pm on December 22. Each bottle will be sold at the suggested retail price of $79.99, excluding state taxes and fees.

For more information about the Abraham Bowman Collection, visit asmithbowman.com/spirits.

About A. Smith Bowman Distillery

As Virginia’s oldest distillery, A. Smith Bowman Distillery’s rich history dates back to 1927, when Abram Smith Bowman purchased 7,200-acres in Fairfax County, Virginia. Named Sunset Hills Farm, the Bowman Family were grain and dairy farmers until the fields became so abundant that Bowman needed a use for the excess grain. In 1934, he built a groundbreaking distillery on the farmland and, with the help of his two sons, produced the first-ever batch of Virginia Gentleman Whiskey.

Today, the historic distillery has relocated 60 miles away to Fredericksburg, where it operates as a small, family-owned company continuing the time-honored traditions on which it was founded, producing premium handcrafted spirits in small batches and experimental editions that embody innovation at its core. Award-winning products produced at A. Smith Bowman Distillery include Bowman Brothers Small Batch Bourbon, John J. Bowman Single Barrel Bourbon, A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength Bourbon, the Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Collection, Deep Run Vodka, Sunset Hills Gin, George Bowman Caribbean Rum and Mary Hite Bowman Caramel Bourbon Cream, among others. In 2023, Cask Strength won Gold medals at multiple competitions including the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition, San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the American Whiskey Masters.

For more information on A. Smith Bowman Distillery, visit asmithbowman.com.