A Little Background

Abraham Bowman Rum Finished Bourbon is the 21st bottling of the rare whiskey typically released at the distillery located in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This years release started with Bowman’s traditional recipe for bourbon and distilled to 144 proof off the still. It was then aged in white oak barrels for over 9 years before being transferred over to freshly emptied rum barrels. The bourbon was then aged for an additional 6 years giving this whiskey a 15 year age statement. Abraham Bowman Rum Finished Bourbon has an unprecedented 76.2% angels share leaving only 120 bottles total for this years release.

Manufacturer: Abraham Bowman Distillery
Mashbill: Unknown
Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Proof / ABV: 100 / 50%
Retail Price: 69.99

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Deep Amber

Nose

Vanilla with almonds and oak with a tinge of citrus and cinnamon spice.

Palate

Creamy rich vanilla icing with oak and a nice sweet cream and rum cake.

Finish

Spiced vanilla, toffee, and oak with a hint of clove.

In closing

Abraham Bowman Rum Finished Bourbon is an amazing expression from the limited line. The nose is subtle but becomes rich with aromas after the first sip. Vanilla and almonds fill the nostrils with wonderful oak and citrus following with just a tinge of cinnamon spice without a hint of ethanol. The palate is rich and creamy flooding the entire palate with vanilla icing however the lower proof dulls the sweetness to the perfect point. Right at mid palate, the vanilla drops off leaving a sweet cream mixed with rum that can only be described as rum cake. This flavor continues to the finish where spiced vanilla, toffee, and oak really blend with the palate well. The hint of clove is just enough to round off the finish and palate with a drier note. Aromas of citrus and spice come back in between sips with just a gentle Kentucky hug.

For the price, you really are buying an amazing whiskey that at 15 years old one would think it could be over-oaked. What you are getting is a masterful blend that gives all the greatness of a well aged whiskey and rum without any of the bad. Would I buy again? Absolutely, however sadly with such a low bottle yield this will be almost impossible to find at retail.