Virginia Gentleman Bourbon – Review

Virginia Gentlemen BourbonVirginia Gentleman Straight Bourbon Whiskey

80 Proof

Price Point: $10 – $20 for 750 ML (1.75 L shown in picture)

Distiller: A. Smith Bowman Distillery

 

Background

As you may or may not have noticed, I review a lot of premium whiskeys.  Probably because I like to drink premium whiskeys – go figure!  But once in a while, you need a well-whiskey to fill in the gap between the “complex nosing whiskey” and the “only touch this stuff if you’re mixing it with Coke”.  I wouldn’t call Virginia Gentleman a bad bourbon, just not one I find myself drinking out of a snifter.

Many of you will ask “why is this considered a bourbon if it is from Virginia?”  Well, if you recall my introduction to bourbon, there is nothing in the regulations about location of distillation, although the vast majority of bourbons are distilled in Kentucky.  To be fair though, Virginia Gentleman is distilled in Kentucky at the Buffalo Trace Distillery, and then shipped off to the A. Smith Bowman Distillery in Virginia where it is distilled again and then aged.

 

Review

The nose on this stuff is less than remarkable.  It’s very sweet, but not necessarily in a good way.  In a word, it smells cheap.

The taste is a little better, with some notes of oak coming through despite its youthful age.

The finish is brief, and not very exciting.

 

Rating & Recommendations

Virginia Gentleman is a step or two above a well whiskey, but not much more than that.  I rate it a 65 out of 100.

Enjoy this stuff with some Coke or Ginger Ale.  Don’t waste your time treating this like it’s worth drinking neat.

This stuff serves its purpose, and is certainly not representative of the whiskey portfolio of the A. Smith Bowman Distillery.  In the coming months, I’ll be reviewing their three main craft expressions, which all rank much higher than Virginia Gentleman.

 

-Ryan

15 comments

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    • Daniel G. O'Colgan on September 9, 2012 at 5:54 pm
    • Reply

    “To be fair though, Virginia Gentleman is distilled in Kentucky at the Buffalo Trace Distillery, and then shipped off to the A. Smith Bowman Distillery in Virginia where it is distilled again and then aged.”

    Actually, to be fair Virginia has as much legitimate claim to bourbon whiskey (if not more) than even Kentucky does. Elijah Craig: Virginian. The Boehm family (Beams): Virginian.

    Brush up on your history and you’ll find that most all “Kentucky Bourbons” were made while Kentucky was nothing more than a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

      • Ryan on September 15, 2012 at 11:10 am
        Author
      • Reply

      Daniel-

      Right above the sentence that you quoted was a link to a blog post a wrote about bourbon. I’m linking it below again in case you missed it.

      http://whiskey-reviews.com/2011/11/what-is-bourbon/

      I never claimed that all bourbon was made in Kentucky. Simply that this product is called “VIRGINIA Gentleman”, yet its roots are in Kentucky.

      Thanks for the comment.

      -Ryan

    • David Collins on December 4, 2013 at 11:11 pm
    • Reply

    Virginia Gentleman Bourbon-How do I buy some, online?

      • Ryan on December 11, 2013 at 6:16 pm
        Author
      • Reply

      I’m not sure, David. It really depends where you live, I suppose.

      -Ryan

  1. I wish to buy Virginia Gentleman bourbon…..The stores that had it near here no longer have it………BOB’S liquors and wines Knoxville,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Topside Wine and Spirits, Alcoa, TN………..KINDLY HELP ME.
    Don E.Matthews

    1. Your site indicates I might buy “VIRGINIA GENTLEMAN BOURBAN” on line…………please respond at mattmgmt1@gmail,com………….PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don E.Matthews

      1. Don-

        This is just a blog post reviewing the whiskey; I am not the distiller or the retailer.

        -Ryan

  2. Virginia Gentleman Bourbon

    • Gary Parks on June 27, 2016 at 7:35 pm
    • Reply

    Please let me know where I can find Virginia Gentleman Bourbon Whiskey in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
    I live near Scranton PA, Tunkhannock PA, Dallas PA .
    Thanks Gary

      • Jason Norton on July 10, 2017 at 11:09 pm
      • Reply

      This may come as late to the folks in PA that we’re looking for Virginia Gentlemen. I live in the shenedoah valley near winchester va and you can find it no issue in the ABC stores in VA. Runs about 27.95 for a 1.75L. I did however become first familiar with this bourbon in Manhattan oddly enough as I was on assignment for 8 weeks and I was homesick. The name caught my eye. I was able to purchase Virginia gentlemen at multiple outlets in NYC.

    • nate on December 19, 2017 at 4:30 pm
    • Reply

    I disagree, it is a very nice bourbon, enjoy it neat…not particularly interesting but a very nice flavor profile with a bit of dried fruit and a quick, sweet finish.

    • C Bobb on May 1, 2019 at 12:21 pm
    • Reply

    I live in SouthCentral PA. can I order Virginia Gentleman by mail?

    • Vernon Donald Duce on October 1, 2019 at 9:51 am
    • Reply

    I have one bottle of fairfax county bourbon 1978 i think not sure i was told this was the last year they made the fairfax bourbon at the a.smith bowman distillery in reston VA sunset hills fairfax county. I also have a bottle of virginia Gentleman that was produced the first year that they went to virginia gentleman label also made in the a.smith bowman distillery in fairfax county sunset hills fairfax VA Reston.

    • Mike H. on March 1, 2020 at 11:28 pm
    • Reply

    I know this is a really old thread, but Virginia Gentleman bourbon was originally totally made in Virginia, using corn grown on Mr. Bowman’s farm. Below is a link to an article from when Mr. Bowman passed away, with some great info. on VG’s history. My point is, it may be made from Kentucky stock now, but Virginia Gentleman’s ROOTS are squarely in Virginia, not Kentucky. My first taste of VG was back in the ’70s, when it was still made in Virginia and it was a very good whiskey, I’d guess much better than the current product.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1981/05/08/a-smith-bowman-maker-of-virginia-gentleman-bourbon-dies/5806eaf3-90c0-49b8-a41b-bc4d1d9ac373/

    • Scott Loy on July 6, 2021 at 7:04 pm
    • Reply

    I have had the pleasure to try a bottle dated 1964, and it’s aged 4 years before bottling. I haven’t tried any more recent than that, but the one I have tried, it rates a lot higher than 65 out of 100. The aroma was great, the flavor was excellent and there just a hint lingering after the swallow, which I might add was so smooth I had to check to see if it was in fact 90 proof.

  1. […] is coming to life right in front of you.  Thousands of barrels are warehoused in this room, mostly Virginia Gentleman but also the rest of the A. Smith Bowman […]

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