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A. Smith Bowman Distillery was sold to Sazerac Family, not Buffalo Trace, in 2003. A. Smith Bowman also does not receive their unfinished distillate from Buffalo Trace, nor is that information publicly available.
 
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{{short description|Brand of bourbon whiskey distilled in Kentucky and re-distilled in Virginia}}
{{Infobox beverage
{{Infobox beverage
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| name = Virginia Gentleman
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'''Virginia Gentleman''' is a brand of [[bourbon whiskey]]. This bourbon is distilled in [[Kentucky]] and re-distilled in the adjoining [[U.S. state|state]] of [[Virginia]]. This beverage has had something of a [[following]] typical of some smaller-brand [[alcoholic beverage]]s.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}} The brand's motto was "The Aristocrat of Them All" (sometimes rendered as "The Aristocrats of Them All" when advertised with [[A. Smith Bowman Distillery|Smith Bowman Distilleries]]' Fairfax County Bourbon).<ref>[http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/alcohol-ads-1960s/52 Vintage Ad Browser: Alcohol Ads of the 1960s: 1964 advertisement for Virginia Gentleman Whiskey]</ref>
'''Virginia Gentleman''' is a brand of [[bourbon whiskey]] distilled in [[Kentucky]] and re-distilled in [[Virginia]]. The brand's motto was "The Aristocrat of Them All" (sometimes rendered as "The Aristocrats of Them All" when advertised with [[A. Smith Bowman Distillery|Smith Bowman Distilleries]]' Fairfax County Bourbon).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vintageadbrowser.com/alcohol-ads-1960s/52|title=Vintage Alcohol Ads of the 1960s (Page 52)|website=www.vintageadbrowser.com}}</ref>


==Products==
==Expressions and awards==
Virginia Gentleman is an 80-proof (40 percent alcohol) whiskey. The distillery also offers a 90-proof [[small batch whiskey|small batch]] version. Both are triple-distilled.
In addition to the 80-proof (40 percent alcohol) presentation, the distillery also offers a 90-proof [[small batch whiskey]]. Both are triple-distilled. The Virginia Gentleman small-batch 90-proof whiskey won Double Gold and Best American Whiskey awards at the 2008 [[San Francisco World Spirits Competition]].<ref>[http://www.internetwines.com/rws24391.html Virginia Gentleman]</ref> Although it won a double gold at the same competition in 2006, its performance in other years has been quite variable. It received silver medals in 2005 and 2009 and a bronze medal in 2007.<ref name="proof66.com">[http://www.proof66.com/whiskey/virginia-gentleman-bourbon.html Proof66.com Awards and Reviews Summary Page for Virginia Gentleman]</ref> In 2007, another [[spirit ratings]] organization—the Beverage Testing Insititute—awarded the 90-proof a middling score of 87 on its 100-point scale.<ref name="proof66.com"/>


==History==
==History==
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|title=National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
|title=National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
|year=1999
|year=1999
|format=PDF}}</ref> by Abram Smith Bowman and his sons, Smith and DeLong. It was originally based on the Bowman family's Sunset Hills Farm in [[Fairfax County, Virginia]], in what later became the planned community of [[Reston, Virginia|Reston]]. In 1988, it relocated to [[Spotsylvania County]], near [[Fredericksburg, Virginia|Fredericksburg]], into the former [[FMC Corp.]] [[cellophane]] plant. The distillery used to be ≥an independent family operation, but it has been owned since 2003 by the [[Buffalo Trace Distillery]] of [[Frankfort, Kentucky]], which provides the unfinished distillate that becomes Virginia Gentleman. (Buffalo Trace is itself a unit of [[Sazerac Company]], an international beverage corporation based in [[Metairie, Louisiana]].) The company has since expanded its production into hot sauces and barbecue sauces under the Virginia Gentleman label.
|format=PDF}}</ref> by Abram Smith Bowman and his sons, Smith and DeLong. It was originally based on the Bowman family's Sunset Hills Farm in [[Fairfax County, Virginia]], in what later became the planned community of [[Reston, Virginia|Reston]]. In 1988, it relocated to [[Spotsylvania County]], near [[Fredericksburg, Virginia|Fredericksburg]], into the former [[FMC Corp.]] [[cellophane]] plant. The distillery operated under the Bowman Family until 2003, when it was sold to [[Sazerac Company]], an international beverage corporation based in [[Metairie, Louisiana]]. The company has since expanded its production into hot sauces and barbecue sauces under the Virginia Gentleman label.


Virginia Gentleman's former label was a source of controversy{{citation needed|date=May 2014}} as it depicted a [[American Revolution|Revolution-era]] scene of two white men being served by a [[Negro|black]] [[footman]] (presumably a [[Slavery in the United States|slave]]), all three in [[Aristocracy (class)|aristocratic dress]], standing in front of a [[Plantation complexes in the Southeastern United States#Plantation house|plantation-style manor]].<ref>[http://vintageadstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/FullSize/00011-1953-150-069.jpg 1953 Virginia Gentleman advertisement with illustration of bottle and label]</ref> By at least the 1970s the label was redesigned somewhat, the most obvious difference being the change of the black footman to a white one.<ref>[http://www.czajkus.com/Bourbon%20Baza/V/V%20-%20Bourbon%20Baza.htm Czajkus Label Collection: Entry for Virginia Gentleman, 1970s.]</ref> Virginia Gentleman's motto, "The Aristocrat of Them All", was discontinued some time after, at least from appearing on the label. The current label (as of 2014) depicts three men in a similar arrangement, none of which are rendered as being black or being a servant.
Virginia Gentleman's former label depicted a [[American Revolution|Revolution-era]] scene of two white men being served by a [[Negro|black]] [[footman]] (presumably a [[Slavery in the United States|slave]]), all three in [[Aristocracy (class)|aristocratic dress]], standing in front of a [[Plantation complexes in the Southeastern United States#Plantation house|plantation-style manor]].<ref>[http://vintageadstock.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/FullSize/00011-1953-150-069.jpg 1953 Virginia Gentleman advertisement with illustration of bottle and label]</ref> By at least the 1970s the label was redesigned with the black footman becoming white.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.czajkus.com/Bourbon%20Baza/V/V%20-%20Bourbon%20Baza.htm|title=V - Bourbon Baza}}</ref> Virginia Gentleman's motto, "The Aristocrat of Them All", was discontinued some time after, at least from appearing on the label. The label as of 2014 depicted three men in a similar arrangement, none of which are black or a servant.


==References==
==References==
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* [http://www.asmithbowman.com/ A. Smith Bowman Distillery]
* [http://www.asmithbowman.com/ A. Smith Bowman Distillery]
* [http://www.ellenjaye.com/va_gentleman.htm American Whiskey &mdash; Yes, Virginia, there is a Gentleman]
* [http://www.ellenjaye.com/va_gentleman.htm American Whiskey &mdash; Yes, Virginia, there is a Gentleman]
* [http://www.proof66.com Proof66.com Liquor Ratings and Reviews]
* [http://www.proof66.com Proof66.com Liquor Ratings and Reviews] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605180704/http://www.proof66.com/ |date=2014-06-05 }}

{{Sazerac Company}}
{{Alcoholic drinks}}


[[Category:Bourbon whiskey]]
[[Category:Bourbon whiskey]]

Latest revision as of 18:36, 11 February 2024

Virginia Gentleman
Virginia Gentleman
TypeBourbon whiskey
ManufacturerSazerac Company
Country of origin Virginia, United States
Alcohol by volume 40.00%
Proof (US)80
Related productsBuffalo Trace

Virginia Gentleman is a brand of bourbon whiskey distilled in Kentucky and re-distilled in Virginia. The brand's motto was "The Aristocrat of Them All" (sometimes rendered as "The Aristocrats of Them All" when advertised with Smith Bowman Distilleries' Fairfax County Bourbon).[1]

Products

[edit]

Virginia Gentleman is an 80-proof (40 percent alcohol) whiskey. The distillery also offers a 90-proof small batch version. Both are triple-distilled.

History

[edit]

Virginia Gentleman's producer, A. Smith Bowman Distillery, was founded in 1934[2] by Abram Smith Bowman and his sons, Smith and DeLong. It was originally based on the Bowman family's Sunset Hills Farm in Fairfax County, Virginia, in what later became the planned community of Reston. In 1988, it relocated to Spotsylvania County, near Fredericksburg, into the former FMC Corp. cellophane plant. The distillery operated under the Bowman Family until 2003, when it was sold to Sazerac Company, an international beverage corporation based in Metairie, Louisiana. The company has since expanded its production into hot sauces and barbecue sauces under the Virginia Gentleman label.

Virginia Gentleman's former label depicted a Revolution-era scene of two white men being served by a black footman (presumably a slave), all three in aristocratic dress, standing in front of a plantation-style manor.[3] By at least the 1970s the label was redesigned with the black footman becoming white.[4] Virginia Gentleman's motto, "The Aristocrat of Them All", was discontinued some time after, at least from appearing on the label. The label as of 2014 depicted three men in a similar arrangement, none of which are black or a servant.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Vintage Alcohol Ads of the 1960s (Page 52)". www.vintageadbrowser.com.
  2. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form" (PDF). 1999.
  3. ^ 1953 Virginia Gentleman advertisement with illustration of bottle and label
  4. ^ "V - Bourbon Baza".
[edit]