🥃🥃 Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Deep smoky amber with rich mahogany and copper highlights, displaying impressive concentration after 10 years of maturation.
Aroma:
Powerful yet surprisingly inviting for the proof, opening with candied apple, caramelized sugar and rich vanilla. Dark cherry and berry fruit emerge alongside brown sugar, molasses, sweet oak and warm baking spice. With time in the glass, deeper notes of leather, chocolate and toasted wood begin to develop.
Palate:
Massive, concentrated and intensely flavorful:
Ripe plum creates a rich dark-fruit opening
Cherry adds concentrated fruit sweetness
Candied apple provides brightness
Toffee delivers dense caramelized richness
Caramel and brown sugar reinforce the bourbon's sweeter character
Chocolate sauce adds a darker confectionary layer
Vanilla provides balance against the high proof
Cinnamon sugar develops through the mid-palate
Baking spice creates additional warmth
Seasoned oak reflects the whiskey's 10-year maturation
Dark spice becomes increasingly prominent toward the finish
137.6 Proof delivers enormous concentration and mouth-coating texture
A small amount of water unlocks additional fruit, caramel and chocolate while softening the alcohol intensity
Finish:
Exceptionally long, powerful and warming, with lingering dark spice, cola, chocolate, caramelized sugar, cherry, cinnamon and mature oak. The intense cask-strength warmth persists while darker fruit and confectionary sweetness gradually transition toward seasoned oak and spice.
With its 10-year age statement, enormous 137.6 Proof, uncut and non-chill filtered presentation, and highly limited Batch #5 designation, A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength Bourbon represents exactly what serious barrel-proof enthusiasts seek: mature bourbon presented with virtually nothing standing between the barrel and the glass.
For collectors of A. Smith Bowman, high-proof bourbon, limited annual releases and mature cask-strength American whiskey, Batch #5 is a standout 2026 release with the proof, age and scarcity to make it a particularly compelling addition to a serious bourbon collection.
Description
A. Smith Bowman Straight Bourbon Cask Strength 10 Year Batch #5 (750mL) — 137.6 Proof | Uncut & Non-Chill Filtered Limited Release
Experience one of Virginia's most sought-after high-proof bourbons with A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength Bourbon Batch #5, an extremely limited 10-year-old Straight Bourbon Whiskey bottled at a massive 137.6 Proof (68.8% ABV).
Released in 2026, Batch #5 continues A. Smith Bowman's acclaimed Cask Strength series, a collection built around mature barrels selected specifically for their ability to deliver tremendous intensity without sacrificing balance and drinkability.
After aging for a minimum of 10 years, the selected whiskey is bottled uncut and non-chill filtered, preserving the extraordinary concentration developed during maturation. At nearly 69% alcohol by volume, this is serious cask-strength bourbon, yet Batch #5 displays remarkable fruit and sweetness beneath its formidable proof.
Candied apple, dark cherry, ripe plum, caramelized sugar and vanilla lead into dense layers of toffee, chocolate, cinnamon, seasoned oak and dark baking spice. The result is an intensely concentrated bourbon that rewards slow sipping—and transforms dramatically with a few carefully added drops of water.
Produced at A. Smith Bowman Distillery in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Batch #5 is an exceptionally limited annual release and a highly desirable bottle among collectors of mature, high-proof American whiskey.
🥃 Product Details
Type: Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Producer: A. Smith Bowman Distillery
Expression: Cask Strength Bourbon
Batch: Batch #5
Release Year: 2026
Distillery: A. Smith Bowman Distillery
Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Bottle Size: 750mL
Age: 10 Years
ABV: 68.8%
Proof: 137.6 Proof
Bottling: Cask Strength / Uncut
Filtration: Non-Chill Filtered
Mash Bill: Undisclosed
Release: Extremely Limited Annual Release
Character: Candied Apple, Cherry, Plum, Caramel, Toffee, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Dark Spice & Mature Oak
🍽️ How to Enjoy
At 137.6 Proof, Batch #5 is an outstanding bourbon for exploring both neat and with gradual dilution:
- Pour a small amount into a Glencairn or tulip-shaped whiskey glass
- Allow 15–20 minutes for the bourbon to open before tasting
- Take a small first sip neat to experience its full cask-strength intensity
- Add several drops of water to reveal additional fruit and sweetness
- Continue adding water gradually to find your preferred proof
- Try over one large cube for a slower evolution in the glass
- Pair with dark chocolate or chocolate truffles
- Excellent alongside roasted pecans or walnuts
- Pair with smoked brisket or other rich barbecue
- Try with cherry cobbler or apple pie
- Excellent alongside crème brûlée or caramel desserts
- A compelling bottle for side-by-side tastings with previous Bowman Cask Strength batches
⭐ Why You'll Love It
- Highly allocated 2026 Batch #5 release
- Matured for a minimum of 10 years
- Bottled at an extraordinary 137.6 Proof
- Full 68.8% ABV cask-strength presentation
- Bottled uncut for maximum flavor concentration
- Non-chill filtered to preserve texture and character
- Produced by A. Smith Bowman Distillery in Fredericksburg, Virginia
- Exceptional combination of extreme proof and mature bourbon character
- Candied apple provides vibrant fruit sweetness
- Ripe plum and cherry add concentrated dark-fruit character
- Caramelized sugar and toffee create decadent richness
- Chocolate provides additional depth
- Cinnamon and dark spice balance the sweeter flavors
- Mature oak reflects a full decade of barrel aging
- Limited annual production creates significant collector appeal
- Excellent addition to a complete Bowman Cask Strength collection
- Particularly attractive to enthusiasts of mature, barrel-proof American bourbon
Do you ship to all states?
- We do NOT currently ship to the following states: Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Mississippi (MS), South Carolina (SC), Tennessee (TN), Montana (MT), Alabama (AL), Arkansas (AR) and Utah (UT). Please check your state’s laws before placing an order.
Do you ship on weekends or holidays?
- Orders placed on Saturday, Sunday, or holidays will be processed starting the following Monday.
Do you offer expedited shipping?
- Yes, expedited shipping options are available at checkout for faster delivery.
Can I have my order shipped to a P.O. Box or APO/FPO address?
- We cannot ship to P.O. Boxes or APO/FPO addresses. Please provide a physical address for delivery.
Yes, a signature is required for all alcohol deliveries to verify that the recipient is of legal drinking age.
Since alcohol deliveries require an adult signature, we recommend shipping to a business address to ensure the package is received without delays.
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