A. Smith Bowman Abraham Bowman Oak Series: American Oak

The year isn’t even over, but we’re getting yet another Abraham Bowman limited release for 2024. American Oak is the second in the brand’s newly launched Oak Series, a line that highlights the impact of different oak types and charring on whiskey. The inaugural release was an unusual and impressive 12-year-old whiskey aged in a mix of charred and uncharred French oak, but for the sequel, Bowman is delivering something a little more straightforward.

American Oak also carries a 12-year age statement, but it has been aged in traditional white oak like all other bourbons in the standard Bowman lineup. Where it stands apart is the age – reportedly 2+ years longer in barrel than the John J. Single Barrel and Cask Strength offerings – and proof, which is just shy of batch strength. As a small release (French Oak was reportedly only 2,000 bottles), we can presume cask selection is a distinguishing factor here, as well. Like French Oak, it was available only via an online lottery (now closed), so it won’t be an easy find. Let’s see if it’s worth the hunt.

The nose is bold and rich, beginning with dark fruits – blackberry jam, currants, and even a bit of grape must – before transitioning as it opens to brighter notes of candy apple and chocolate mint. The oak builds with time to breathe, offering up notes of vanilla extract, damp tobacco, toffee, and furniture polish, but things remain well-balanced and approachable for the proof, never presenting as too burly or astringent. A rich buttercream sweetness ties it all together. The oak is a bit more muscular on the palate, kicking things off with a smack of licorice and mint that shifts to baking spice across the sip, freshly grated and warming. The spice and oak recede somewhat on the midpalate, exposing brighter notes of stewed Granny Smith apple and orange zest, before returning to dark caramel, barrel char, and Andes mints on a long, peppery finish. While it’s not nearly as unique as the inaugural Oak Series release, this sequel is still a rare and enjoyable glimpse at older Bowman bourbon.