Sips & Sites & Bites

If you’ve been following A. Smith Bowman’s journey into experimental aging, you know they’ve been on a mission to push whiskey boundaries with their Abraham Bowman Oak Series. After French Oak kicked things off in March 2024 and American Oak followed last November, the distillery is wrapping up this trilogy with something unexpected: Hungarian Oak.

This isn’t just another release, it’s the grand finale of a project that started more than 14 years ago with former Master Distiller Truman Cox. Current Head Distiller David Bock calls Hungarian Oak “one of the most well-rounded whiskeys I have tasted,” and from the sound of it, this might be the most intriguing installment yet.

So, what makes Hungarian Oak different? For starters, it’s a 12-year-old bourbon aged entirely in charred Hungarian Oak barrels and bottled at a bold 115 proof. Expect a deep brown velvet color and a flavor profile that’s all about richness without the usual spice. Instead of peppery heat, you’ll get notes of candied apricot, warm honey apples, and a surprising hit of smoky dark chocolate. The finish lingers with dried fruit and char … complex, layered, and, according to Bock, “delicious and unexpected.”

And here’s the kicker: this whiskey flips the script on what we usually expect from long-aged barrels. No sharp spice, no overpowering tannins … just a glossy, elegant balance of flavors. Sounds like Hungarian Oak might just be the quiet rebel of the Oak Series.

If you’re wondering how to score a bottle, here’s the deal: it’s lottery time. The online lottery runs August 11–18, and while anyone in the U.S. can enter, winners have to make the pilgrimage to Fredericksburg, Virginia, to purchase their bottle at the distillery gift shop. Winners will be drawn on August 20, and each 750ml bottle will retail for $79.99. Fair warning, this is a limited release, and given how quickly the French and American Oak editions disappeared, expect some serious competition.

For fans of innovation, history, and good whiskey, this feels like a fitting tribute to Abraham Bowman himself … a man who, long before founding Virginia’s oldest distillery, led troops across the colonies with a pioneering spirit. Hungarian Oak is that same spirit in a glass.