A. Smith Bowman marks 80th year with new still

Sazerac’s A.Smith Bowman distillery is celebrating its 80^th anniversary with the installation of a new experimental still.

The Virginia distillery, said to be the oldest in the state, has installed George, a 500-gallon hybrid pot still designed to create experimental whiskey as well as other spirits.

Brian Prewitt, master distiller at A. Smith Bowman, said: “We celebrate our history and the pioneering spirit that founded this Distillery 80 years ago. We’re excited to see what the future brings for the distillery and what new expressions we will be able to create using George.”

The still’s official ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place this evening, attended by local officials, tourism representatives and friends of the distillery.

The first distillate produced by the still, using A. Smith Bowman’s original Bourbon recipe, will be barreled and signed by all in attendance before resting for 20 years. It will be opened on the distillery’s 100^th anniversary.

A. Smith Bowman distillery was founded in 1927 by its namesake in Fairfax County, Virginia, but moved to its current location in Spotsylvania County near Fredericksburg in 1988.

The distillery produces a range of whiskeys named after its founding family, including Bowman Brothers, George Bowman and Abraham Bowman.

Watch a time-lapse video of the construction of George below.