If you've ever felt like the American whiskey map is overly obsessed with a few familiar zip codes (almost always from Kentucky, Indiana or Tennessee), A. Smith Bowman Distillery is one of the more interesting counterpoints. It is a smaller Virginia operation owned by Sazerac Company, and it sits in Spotsylvania County, Virginia state. The distillery is popularly described as Buffalo Trace Distillery's sister distillery.

The distillery has just rolled out its fifth batch of its annual cask strength series. The new A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength Bourbon Batch #5 is bottled at 137.6 proof (68.8% ABV), uncut and non-chill filtered, with a minimum age statement of 10 years and an MSRP of US$99.99 plus applicable local taxes and fees.

It bears noting that while A. Smith Bowman distils on site, Bowman’s production set-up has long involved Sazerac’s habit of moving distillate from another distillery for re-distillation atA. Smith Bowman before it becomes “Bowman” in bottle. For this particular Batch #5, reporting indicates the whiskey was first distilled at another Sazerac distillery, shipped to Virginia, then distilled twice more before ageing.

Multiple distillations plus local ageing are often pointed to as part of why the cask strength series lands at such elevated barrel proofs. According to Master Distiller Brian Prewitt, Virginia’s hot, humid summers and comparatively mild winters drive proof upwards as barrels age, with water loss outpacing alcohol loss in the “angel’s share”. The cask strength releases have ranged from 135.1 proof (Batch #3) to 144.5 proof (Batch #2).

The appeal of this line is as much about quality as it is about the scarcity. Batch #4 took Best Bourbon and Best American Whiskey at the 2025 International Whisky Competition, judged in Louisville, Kentucky.

Official tasting notes suggest aromas of candied apples and a hint of smoke on the nose, followed by notes of ripe plums, cherries and sweet florals on the palate, with a warm and lingering finish.

"Each edition of Cask Strength refined our understanding of what bourbon lovers expect from this release – high-proof intensity paired with remarkable drinkability. Achieving this requires patience and precision in selecting barrels that deliver the perfect balance. We are confident Cask Strength #5 carries forward this reputation with unmatched flavor."

– A. Smith Bowman Distiller David Bock

While some A. Smith Bowman expressions are available year-round, the cask strength series is a limited, annual offering distributed primarily via the online lottery system. To get your hands on this Batch #5, Bowman is keeping the familiar playbook: an online lottery window, then in-person collection. Visit the official website to enter the lottery - note that the entry period runs from February 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM to February 23, 2026 at 12:00 PM EST, with winners notified by February 25, 2026.

Winners have until March 15, 2026 to collect the bottles. A strict one bottle-per-person rule applies and lottery winners are to collect in person at the distillery gift shop.

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team