An amazing experience with a really knowledgeable tour guide (on a free tour!) Would definitely recommend!

I was looking up things to do while we were in town for a wedding and found this distillery with a free tour! I reserved our spots online and checked us in when we arrived. We had a bit of time to browse the store before the tour started. The tour was about an hour and included a free tasting. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and led us through the history of Virginia's oldest distillery. He was a bit hard to understand and talked VERY fast, which made it tough to absorb much of the info. However, for a free activity I enjoyed it. The best part of course was the tasting at the end. We were led through how to taste the spirits and given water and crackers as palate cleansers. We tried one of their gins, two bourbons, and the caramel bourbon cream liqueur. The bourbon cream was delicious and so smooth! I really liked the gin as well. We all ended up buying at least one bottle, so I'd say it was a success. read more

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Visited Bowman Distillery and overall had a really enjoyable experience. The tour itself was a little on the longer side, but the guide was very knowledgeable and clearly passionate about the process. He took the time to explain everything in detail, which gave a great appreciation for how much goes into making their bourbon. After the tour, we had the opportunity to taste several of their bourbons, which was definitely a highlight. Each one had its own unique flavor profile, and it was a fun and engaging experience to compare them. Overall, a great stop if you enjoy bourbon and want to learn more about the craft. Just be prepared for a slightly longer tour, but it is worth it for the knowledge and tasting experience. read more

A Smith Bowman Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

We made a trip up to A Smith Bowman Distillery in Fredericksburg Virginia just outside of Spotsylvania. It's a beautiful drive up there, and I imagine that it's much more so when the leaves change colors in the Fall. The staff is friendly and very knowledgeable about the products as well as the overall production process. There is a lot that goes into this magical elixir, and the people who produce it love to share their knowledge! read more

A Smith Bowman Distillery - Outside signage - Distilleries Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

Had an absolutely amazing experience at Bowman distillery. Were took the tour where we were walked through the entire bourbon making process. We got to see the rickhouse where the bourbon was being aged and got a tasting afterwards. Did I mention it was all free? The gift shop also had a lot of great stuff and we were lucky enough to grab a john j bowman single barrel bottle while there. read more

A Smith Bowman Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

A beautiful distillery in Fredericksburg. We stopped in for a tasting on a day when they were finishing an event. The first person we encountered was very welcoming however, the person at the register seemed irritated that we were there. I'm sure they were tired from a long event day. The woman who gave us the tasting was delightful and provided great information about each of the bourbons. It didn't appear that they had a lot of area to lounge around and have a cocktail, but I don't know if that is because they had had an event that day. I would like to stop by again on a day where they are not having an event to see if the feel of the venue is different. read more

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This was an AMAZING distillery tour, located in Fredericksburg, VA. Tours can be scheduled via their website and are completely FREE. This a guided tour by a staff member who will walk you through the facility and give you information on the process of how they make their liquor. After the tour, you get to taste three of their products. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour and tasting. It was extremely informative and loved being able to try the products before purchasing a handful of bottles to take home with us! read more

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Over the Holidays travelled from Dallas, TX to Fredericksburg, VA to see families New Home and spend time there. I ran into this gem never having had this Bourbon before as a Bourbon Lover. Went on the Tour and had a great guide and experience! Particularly enjoyed the Isaac aged in Port Barrels! Looking forward to returning when in the area! read more

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We did a free tour and tasting here and had a great time! The tour guide was very knowledgeable and engaging. We couldn't believe the tasting after the tour was free! Beautiful facility and great bourbon. Especially liked the port barrel, and also brought home a bottle of the caramel bourbon cream, which is so good you could drink it straight or add it to things like ice cream, hot cocoa, French toast... the list is endless! read more

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A decent distillery located in Fredericksburg, this is a wonderful place to take a tour and get some good liquor! The first time I came here was with my family, we went right before my oldest son joined the army. So now that he's getting ready to graduate from OCS, of course he wants a bottle from the first distillery he's ever been to. Ah, the nostalgia! Bear in mind, this trip is a little over two hours for me. But I got here shortly after 4, with some time to spare! The lovely ladies at the front are nice and helpful. Of course it was to my benefit that I knew exactly what I wanted. I looked at some of the clothing and other cool merchandise and managed to spend more than I should have! But for less than $150, I got two bottles of gin, two bottles of bourbon cream, a shirt and a nice surprise present for my boy! read more

A Smith Bowman Distillery - Front entrance - Distilleries Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

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A great place to visit friendly staff and cool tour. The A smith Bowman distillery is a great tour and they have a good amount of items in their store to purchase. The tour takes you through the history and all the steps to their bourbon reaching. Give you a lot of information on their stills and their storage. The interior is a mix of old and new which adds to the historical vs today theme of the tour. Overall worth a stop. read more

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We had an excellent guide who showed us all around and educated us on how it's all made as well as the history of its founders and subsequent generations. It ended with a good tasting and the atmosphere was relaxed and friendly. read more

The tour and tasting are free, and I definitely recommend you buy some whiskey and/or gin from the gift shop before you leave! One of the best distillery tours I've ever been on! Sarah was an amazing tour guide. She was so bubbly and did a great job making the tour informative and interactive. She was really knowledgeable - I've been on several different distillery tours, and I still learned a lot from her. I was also really impressed not only with the information on the distilling process but also the history of the company. It was really cool to be in an active distillery while they were distilling to see it all actually in process. My husband loves whiskey, but I'm not a huge fan. Even if you're not, you're sure to enjoy the experience like I did. We were able to sample some gin during the tasting, and the caramel bourbon cream is also a favorite that you're sure to like even if you don't love whiskey. If you're from the area or just passing through, be sure to make some time to visit A. Smith Bowman! read more

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Simpl the best. They offer you a great tour of everything by the fermentation. They educate and give you an experience. Then they give you a 'meal'. Yum. I loved their citrus gin. Their rum is palatable for this guy who doesn't drink rum. They sampled their port bourbon and it's dependable. I like the fruitiness. Definitely one I want to drink again and again. Thanks Bowman!! (Aka Sazerac) read more

We had a blast! Our guide did a great job of detailing the process of producing the bourbon whiskey. The Distillery also produces Rum, Gin and Vodka. The tour finishes with a tasting if You prefer...wouldn't have missed it! They have an entire section of gifts for your bar or the budding bartender. They also sell the barrels with tops as furniture. Would definitely look cool in the right room or patio. They sell the liquor as well. You can't ship out of Virginia, unfortunately. We purchased anyway. Bubblewap worked to get the bourbon back in out suitcases. My brother and sisterinlaw took us her. We bought them a thank you bottle. They had two different bourbons from this same facility. Went back home and the five of us did a tasting of our own! Worth a trip if You are in the area. read more

A Smith Bowman Distillery - J Smith Bowman Distillery in Fredericksburg - Distilleries Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

Very smart distillery with a good variety of drinks for bourbon gin , vodka, rum and cream liquor The tour with Johanna was great everything to detail Do recommend if you are in Fredericksburg Well done guys keep it up read more

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Wifey and I were in Fredericksburg again and were looking for something to do. Did a quick search and found the A Smith Bowman Distillery did tastings and tours-how could I say no?!! Unfortunately, we weren't able to get in on a tour, but we went anyway and were able to enjoy a tasting. The bartender was great and the tastings were excellent (we tried one gin, their rum, a port barrel finished bourbon and a small batch bourbon). We liked what we tasted so much we walked out with five bottles of goodness - their rum, one of their gins, the port finished bourbon, single barrel straight bourbon and the Bowman Brother's small batch. Can't wait to sit on the patio and enjoy... read more

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We didn't even know about this distillery and luckily it was open til 5 pm. First, Kristen in the taste room is the B O M B! Friendly, fun and informative. She made it a great experience. A quick tasting of the bourbon and the gin left us satisfied with the quality. Give it a visit read more

A Smith Bowman Distillery - a glass of pink wine - Distilleries Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

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The history here is very interesting. The tour was led by "Chris" and she was amazing. Full of energy and information. Made for a fun experience for everyone in our group. And the tour is free, which includes a tasting! Please remember to tip your guides!!! read more

We visited A. Smith Bowman Distillery recently on a Saturday afternoon. It was a cold and rainy day, with threats of snow and freezing rain in the forecast - which did not materialize. We walked in and our senses were immediately confronted with the wonderful bouquet of wood soaked whiskey! Yummm! We inquired about purchasing a used Bourbon barrel for a beer we are making. After selecting the barrel we wanted, we paid for it, then secured it in my truck, then came back in for a whiskey tasting. I tasted three of their Bourbons, plus their Caramel Bourbon Cream liqueur. All were very good. My friend Aaron opted to taste three of the whiskeys - plus their gin. We swapped tastes on the Bourbon Cream and the gin. The gin had a pleasant, unexpected citrus bite to it that was very pleasant. Next time - I hope to stay longer and take the tour! Service was good! #ASmithBowmanDistillery read more

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Always a great time checking out where my bourbon comes from! I've been to A Bowman Distillery three times over the past couple of years, and each visit has been fun and informative. The decor is cozy and makes you forget that you're in a warehouse. Staff is super knowledgeable and friendly. During my last trip I was fortunate enough to be part of a barrel pick team - a rare offering from the distillery. It included an in-depth behind the scenes tour of where the magic happens and a tiny taste of something special in the works. I've been part of a tasting before, but this was my first on-site one. The experience was one for the books! read more

A Smith Bowman Distillery - a woman standing between barrels - Distilleries Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

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Delicious well thought of recipes. Can't wait to mix these or drink on their own. Worth the trip!! read more

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Great tour guide Linda. She knew a ton of history, answered our left field questions, and was super friendly. She started the tour with 3 of us and as more people rolled in she just added them to the group and caught them up. That was really nice of her as the tour was about an hour long. It was a great hour. I like how they distill their own mash, ferment their own stuff, and then age it themselves. Their product is very tasty and very smooth. They make bourbon, whiskey, gin, vodka (how they got famous in europe), bourbon creme, and experimentals. During our time their experimental was apple brandy. If you like the apple brandy, cooper fox distillery finishes their single malt in apple brandy casks as an experiment too. Great place to stop by from williamsburg on the way to the marine museum. Or is worth the trip just by itself! Linda was also super nice to bubble wrap our bottles we bought for our luggage. read more

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My friend and I had a lovely experience at A Smith Bowman distillery. World-prize winning bourbon, as well as gin and vodka. Definitely worth a drive down from DC, and not too far, even with some traffic. I went on a Sunday, around midday. There were about 12 other people there-- definitely felt covid safe, and everyone was distanced safely. Not too crowded, but also busy enough to know that there was some really good product to be tried here! I went in knowing almost nothing about bourbon, and came out with a lot of facts and respect for the process! - Pros: - Complimentary Tour: Upon walking in, you can join a 30-40 minute complimentary tour of the brewery that comes along with a tasting of 4 different spirits at the end. The tour is really interesting-- first you learn a bit about the history of the Bowman family. You also and learn about the operation of and chemistry behind the two stills used, named George and Mary. Additionally, you see the laboratory, the barrel dumping room, and the massive barrel storage and maturation area. When I went, we did not see the bottling line, however this was mentioned as a usual part of the tour as well. Overall a very fun and informative experience. It was fascinating to learn more about the precise and creative process involved In making a very high quality bourbon, as well as how the brand has evolved over time. - Friendly Staff: The staff is so friendly! They will take time to provide additional context around any question that you have in a way that doesn't make you feel stupid. Special shoutout to Mikah, who led my tour, and who was extremely knowledgable and funny! - Delicious samples: After the tour, you get to try 4 samples. All the samples are lined up for you, and tie back to spirits described on the tour. The tasting menu changes each day, so if you come a different day, you will likely get a different lineup than you had before. As you try the samples The samples are enough to get a taste of each flavor, but definitely not overwhelming-- even if you are a rookie and struggle to put back such high proof spirits, if is definitely doable. There are crackers and water provided. If you need, there is also a vending machine by the entrance with sodas, juices, and teas-- if you really struggle with taking mini-shots you can always buy a chaser there! - Beautiful Gift shop - The gift shop here is really beautiful and offers some amazing gifts. You can buy many different types of spirits here for reasonable prices- 30-40$ for a reasonably large bottle. You can also buy lots of other branded merchandise-- hats, t-shirts, glasses, flasks, shot glasses, mixers! If you book this excursion via Airbnb, which is what my friend and I did, you will get a voucher for $25 per person to use in the gift store on anything except alcohol. We loaded up on gifts and goodies and also purchased some bourbon separate of the voucher. - Brownie points: During the Covid pandemic, when sanitizers were hard to come by, the distillery used its resources to create their own hand sanitizer, and distributed it for free to their community. A really kind gesture in a tough time! - Cons: - No cons-- this experience exceeded my expectations. When you head out, make sure to take, and get a stamp on, your Virginia spirits passport! This distillery participates in a passport program that allows you to get a free T-shirt if you visit a certain amount of distilleries (10, I believe?) in the Virginia area! read more

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Bowman Distillery offers a great free tour (with tasting). It's fun both for whiskey enthusiasts and light drinking newcomers looking to see something new. The tour is informative. You see a lot. They don't overwhelm you with details, but the tours are led by people who work there in other capacities, know what they're talking about, and can answer questions from anyone thirsty for distilling knowledge. I've visited a number of distilleries and this might've been the best tour I've had. It's very worth a visit. read more

Finally made time to stop by this gem. Erin (sp?) was Our tour guide. She was witty and informative. Small group due to both a Monday federal Holiday in February and COVID. Erin answered all our questions. The tasting was Of 3 bourbons and the gin because they were out of the caramel cream (pout). Well worth a stop. Bought a bottle Of the single barrel And J bowman. Prices were better than VABC. read more

A Smith Bowman Distillery - Barrels - Distilleries Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

This place is pretty cool. I've been here a half a dozen times, but ironically never for a tour. They have a fairly large ballroom that they host events with. I've tried a few different bourbons here and they are pretty good. Strong. I'll come back one day and do the tour. read more

A Smith Bowman Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

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Enjoyed the tour with Joann. She was very knowledgeable and put up with all my crazy questions throughout. Thanks!

Short tour and only have bourbon. But interesting. Be ready to climb stairs and stand for a while. Have to stand for the testing of the bourbon also. But it is a free tour so can't expect much. read more

I have been to easily 30 distillery tours and definitely consider myself knowledgeable in spirits. As the size as well as how it's laid out is nice set up.I found ,as did another individual on tour ,the tour guide EXTREMELY unknowledgeable with many questions and used phrases " I'll let u dwell on that" or " something for u too think about ".Absolutely HORRIBLE responses to give as a tour guide at any tour group.Also informed her as we were going through operational distillery to speak louder or turn up speaker for us older people who's hearing isn't as great as it once was..this even after saying "oh yes,of course " couldn't be done or done as well as answering some extremely basic questions..the one opportunity I had talking and getting my questions answered from lady running lab(VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE) Was quickly ended because I wasn't in group less than 20 ft from us..ridiculous and extremely poor tour,may have just been because of guide but first distillery I didn't buy ANY spirits from . read more

A Smith Bowman Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

I've been a fan of their bourbons since I had my first dram of it about a year ago. Even though I pass through Fredericksburg often, I'd yet to visit the distillery. Glad I finally did. Their small batch whiskeys are truly the best Virginia Made Whiskey on the market. It's tasty as hell, and for the price the quality is top notch. Great value for what you are buying. The tour, while short and sweet, is informative. It was cool hearing the history of the Bowman Family and learning some neat facts along the way about their distilling heritage. Highly recommend a visit! read more

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What a fun road trip this was! Easy trip from Richmond (despite a few knuckleheads on I-95). Free tour and tasting. Our guide was Erin, who spend about an hour with us, telling us the story of the company, of bourbon, the distilling, aging and bottling process, and what makes their two small batch bourbons so great. They also make a gin! At the end of a very entertaining hour, we got to taste the two bourbons and their signature cocktail of the day. On our visit, it was a mix of their caramel cream liqueur and root beer. Sounds weird, but it was delicious. DH and I treated ourselves to several bottles as well as some of the barrel char to mix in the charcoal for the next time we make barbeque. Bourbon smoked brisket sounds like a great idea to me! read more

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Excellent distillery and free tour with tasting. We received a first rate tour from Art. He is very knowledgeable about the facility, processes and their products. We also met Brian the master distiller and he showed us around and also spent time explaining the distilling process. The tours were followed by a free tasting. Awesome place! You won't be disappointed! read more

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After having visited a number of local distilleries, I'm happy to say that A Smith Bowman is my favorite. Out off all the spirits I've sampled - gin, rum, whiskey, brandy, rye, vodka, tequila - I've concluded I'm a bourbon lover. U-S-A, U-S-A! Out of a selection of 6 liquors (including a gin, vodka, cream, rum, and 2 bourbons), you are allowed to sample 4 of them, followed by an optional tour. Both the tastings and tour are free. Did I mention free? Free bourbon? Yes, free. Gosh how I love the pairing of those two words. I opted for the Caramel Cream (a Baileys-like drink with an extra dose of caramel), a dark Caribbean rum, a single barrel bourbon, and a small batch bourbon. I bought the Cream, and would have loved to buy the John J. Bowman single barrel but wasn't ready to splurge $50. The rum and small batch bourbon were good as well. While distilleries are popping up all over the place, A Smith Bowman is by far the most established in the area. Great drinks and a great visit. read more

Date of visit: February 27, 2021 Wow! Wow! Earlier in the week, I was looking for things to do on the weekend and came upon A. Smith Bowman. They take reservations for their tour. I was able to secure 3 spots for my hubby, daughter and me. It was noted as a free 30 minute tour. The entrance is so pretty...beautiful red massive doors. As soon as you enter you see a beautiful Thin Blue Line wooden flag behind the desk. We are a TBL family and so that meant a lot to us. It is so pretty inside. There were so many photo ops. After we all had temps taken and questions asked due to Covid, we began the tour. The tour was very informative and lasted probably closer to an hour! We went into many rooms with the bourbon barrels and then did a tasting of one rum and 3 bourbons. All were smooth and delicious. We were all separated during the tastings and had our own barrel to stand at. We felt very comfortable there. We are fairly new to the area and cannot wait to return with friends! read more

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Excellent tour, interesting and historic business, the barrel warehouse smells like heaven! read more

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This is a great tour of a great spirit. Very knowledgable tour guide , fun to understand the process. While I'm not a fan of strong spirits (give me a beer/ale any day) it was fun to see the production and facilities and taste four samples. One of them was a gin, it was amazing. I ding even like gin. The other favorite, and one I bought to take home with me -the caramel cream bourbon. Move over Baileys (or any other maker of cream whiskers)- this stuff is the bomb. I'm not sure it will make its way home ! A great place for visit if you're in the area! read more

A Smith Bowman Distillery - Distilleries Near Me - Fredericksburg, Virginia

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Great tour, very informative. There was a tasting at the end, so I remember nothing. They can do weddings, better yet, funerals. I wouldn't mind being preserved in a barrel of fine bourbon. read more

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the bourbon is solid but unexceptional - superior for mixed drinks, but just alright for sipping neat. love the Sunset Hills gin. love the Mary Hite Bowman Caramel Bourbon Cream - great liqueur. entertaining tour and they have events a few times a year that always bring a great crew of local artisans. well worth the visit. read more

Amazing tour. Fantastic tasting. All free. This is a world class operation. You learn a lot - it's fun, and ends with a great free tasting. Incredible that the tour and tasting are free. In Kentucky on the Bourbon Trail - you would need to make advance reservations and pay for a tour and tasting of this world class quality. read more