A. Smith Bowman Distillery, nestled in Fredericksburg, Virginia, has wrapped up its bold Abraham Bowman Oak Series with a final release that’s turning heads: Hungarian Oak. This 12-year-old bourbon, bottled at a robust 115 proof, marks the end of a 14-year experiment that’s been pushing the boundaries of whiskey-making since it kicked off under former Master Distiller Truman Cox. The series, which started with French Oak in March 2024 and followed with American Oak in November 2024, is all about exploring how different types of oak barrels can transform a whiskey’s flavor. Hungarian Oak, the third and final chapter, delivers a taste that’s as unexpected as it is unforgettable.
The Abraham Bowman Oak Series is rooted in a simple but daring idea: the wood matters just as much as the whiskey. By aging their bourbon in barrels made from different oaks—French, American, and now Hungarian—the distillery has been digging into how each wood shapes the spirit’s character. Head Distiller David Bock, who’s been steering the ship for this series, says Hungarian Oak stands out for defying what you’d expect from a whiskey aged this long. “It’s the opposite of what we usually get from our extended-aged whiskeys,” Bock explains. Instead of the sharp pepper or spice notes that often come with a decade-plus in the barrel, Hungarian Oak offers a smooth, rich profile that’s heavy on fruit and chocolate with a smoky edge.
This bourbon pours a deep brown velvet, catching the light with a warm, inviting glow. Take a sniff, and you’re hit with candied apricot, like a summer dessert fresh from the oven. On the palate, it unfolds with layers of honey-dipped apples and a bold hit of smoky dark chocolate. The finish sticks around, lingering on the sides of your tongue with dried fruit and a touch of charred oak. Bock calls it one of the most well-rounded whiskeys he’s ever tasted, and it’s easy to see why. The Hungarian oak barrels, charred to bring out their unique character, swap out the usual spice for a glossy, full-bodied flavor that feels both familiar and fresh.
The Abraham Bowman Oak Series is part of a broader tradition at A. Smith Bowman, a distillery with roots stretching back to 1927. Founded by Abram Smith Bowman on a sprawling 7,200-acre farm in Fairfax County, Virginia, the operation started as a way to use up excess grain from the family’s dairy and grain business. By 1934, Bowman and his two sons had fired up a distillery on the property, churning out the first batch of Virginia Gentleman Whiskey. Today, the distillery calls Fredericksburg home, but it’s still a small, family-run outfit that sticks to its craft-driven ethos. Their lineup, from Bowman Brothers Small Batch Bourbon to Mary Hite Bowman Caramel Bourbon Cream, has racked up awards, including gold medals for their Cask Strength Bourbon at competitions like the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2023.
The Hungarian Oak release carries forward the legacy of the Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Collection, which began in 2010 with a rye whiskey and has since become a playground for experimentation. Named after Abraham Bowman, a Revolutionary War colonel who led Virginia’s 8th Regiment, the collection honors his adventurous spirit with whiskeys that tinker with mash bills, proofs, and aging techniques. Over the years, Master Distillers like Brian Prewitt, the late Truman Cox, and now David Bock have used the series to test the limits of what whiskey can be. Hungarian Oak, with its 12 years in charred Hungarian oak barrels, is a fitting capstone to this chapter of the distillery’s story.
Getting your hands on a bottle, though, isn’t easy. Like the French and American Oak releases before it, Hungarian Oak is only available through an online lottery running from August 11 to August 18. Anyone in the U.S. can enter, but winners have to make the trek to the A. Smith Bowman gift shop in Fredericksburg to pick up their bottle in person within three weeks. Each 750ml bottle goes for $79.99, plus taxes and fees, and there’s a strict one-entry-per-person rule to keep things fair. Winners get notified on August 20, so mark your calendar and head to asmithbowman.com/spirits for the entry form.
What makes Hungarian Oak special isn’t just the flavor—it’s the story behind it. This release closes out a 14-year journey that started with Truman Cox, whose vision for the Oak Series set the stage for these bold experiments. Bock, who’s been with the distillery through its recent chapters, says Cox would be proud of how Hungarian Oak turned out. It’s a whiskey that doesn’t just sit in the glass; it tells a story of craftsmanship, patience, and a willingness to take risks. For those lucky enough to snag a bottle, it’s a chance to taste the result of a distillery that’s not afraid to rewrite the rules of whiskey.
