Isaac Bowman Pioneer Spirit Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Barrels

Isaac Bowman Pioneer Spirit Port Barrel Finished Bourbon excels at delivering the allure of port wine without overshadowing the bourbon base. It’s sweet and plush, with jammy cherry and raisin tones, caramel warmth, and a rounded spice edge. Elegant enough for sipping neat, yet intriguing for creative cocktails (a standout Manhattan, perhaps).

Overview & Production

• Distillery & Lineage
  Produced by A. Smith Bowman Distillery (now part of Sazerac/Buffalo Trace), this bourbon follows in the footsteps of their award-winning Abraham Bowman Port-Finished Bourbon—which was named World’s Best Bourbon in 2016. The Isaac Bowman version brings that cherished port finish into their permanent core lineup.
  

• Aging & Finish

  • Begins as a traditional bourbon aged in new, charred American white oak barrels for approximately 4.5–5.5 years.
    

  • Then finished for 3–6 months in port barrels sourced from both Virginia wineries and Portugal, crafted from American and French Limousin oak.
    

  • Bottled at 92 proof (46% ABV).
    

Awards & Recognition

This bourbon has garnered multiple accolades including:

• Gold Medal at the Los Angeles International Spirits Competition (2019)—Best of Category, Unique Finish

• Gold Medals at the American Whiskey Masters (2019), New York World Wine & Spirits (2019), World Whiskies Awards (2019)

• Excellent / Highly Recommended from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge (2020)

• Silver Medals from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2020) and several other competitions
  

Tasting Notes

Nose (Aroma)

• Rich scents of ripe red fruits and jam-like tones, complemented by caramel, cocoa, and subtle vanilla-tea aromatics.
  

Palate (Taste)

• Stone fruit sweetness kicks in first—cherry juice, raisins, orange, rounded by molasses, dark honey, and nutty chocolate elements. There’s play between the port's fruitiness and the bourbon’s oak spices: candied nuts, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and a hint of pepper.
  

Finish

• Long and layered: tart cherry, brown sugar, spiced oak, finishing with lingering nutmeg, ginger, and barrel char.
  

Community Impressions

• BourbonBanter review:

  Nose: Red wine, vanilla, tea
  Taste: Grapes, tea, vanilla, a touch of spice
  Finish: Short and gentle, with port and tea notes lingering
  

• r/bourbon highlight:

  “Strong port influence of cherries, raspberries, vanilla… red fruits in vanilla crème, port influence… swell of more red fruits, vanilla… followed by leather, faint baking spices, and mildly sweet oak.”
  

• r/bourbon user review:

  “Port barrels add a fruity sweetness… berry jam, grape, strawberry; finish is rich and warm with melted caramel.”
  

Summary Table