I was helping to clean my dad's work room at his new house and came across his old stash of Fairfax County Bourbon he stockpiled before they went out of business. Does anyone ever remember drinking Fairfax County Bourbon? I think they're distillery was actually in Loudon or I could be wrong.

You know...one might consider posting a pic of the bottle and label...

My go-to bourbon in the 1980s was Jim Beam. I would drink Fairfax County Bourbon (made right here in Reston, Virginia) now and then because it was cheaper.

Then Jim Beam had a warehouse fire, and they upped their prices several dollars a bottle. So my new go-to bourbon was Evan Williams (Green).

Now I usually stick to beer.

Yeah, our go to Whiskey in the 80's was also Jim Beam. Did get ahold of a few (6) sealed bottles of FFX county bourbon while cleaning out a garage back on a contruction job in around 1985. It was ok, nothing extra special or outstanding. Wish I'd saved a sealed bottle cause there can't be much FFX county bourbon left out there.

Virginia Gentlemen Bourbon was distilled in Reston Virginia until at least the 1980s. I believe they subsequently relocated to the Fredricksburg area.

Virginia Gentleman and Fairfax County bourbon were both made by the A Smith Bowman distillery in Reston.

I could be wrong, but wasn't Fairfax County the 100 proof version of Virginia Gentleman?

Fairfax Conservative Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So my new
> go-to bourbon was Evan Williams (Green).

Ah, I think I see your problem...

My go to bourbon is Pappy Van Winkle.

Fairfax Conservative Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My go-to bourbon in the 1980s was Jim Beam. I
> would drink Fairfax County Bourbon (made right
> here in Reston, Virginia) now and then because it
> was cheaper.

It wasn't Reston to start out. The making of Fairfax County Bourbon started the day Prohibition ended utilizing the old town hall and post office for the late 19th century Town of Wiehle. The town and its town hall were the brainchild of the wealthy Dr. Carl Wiehle who envisioned and planned a town of some 800 homes for healthy living just an hour from DC via the W&OD. He beat Robert Simon to the punch by some 75 years! The number of actual homes built in the town ultimately fell 794 short of Wiehle's goal however, and Wiehle himself died of pneunmonia in 1901. His name lived on in the road past his house, but the area went on to become Sunset Hills until the 1960's and the dawn of actual Reston. The distilling went on over at the Wiehle town hall into the 1980's however. You can still see it. It's at 1875 Old Reston Avenue. It once had a steeple and a belfry on top, but locals soon objected to a distillery that looked like a church, so those were taken down.

And Yes the Bowman Business relocated to Fredericksburg off Rt 2 by the Rapahannock River.

For many years they were the only legal whisky maker in Va, but I think thats changed today with all these new "Legal Moonshines" in the ABC stores. Now dont get me to talking about a fellow I worked with 40 years back, a WWII vet who fought during the Battle of the Bulge, and slogged thru Germany as a GI, then after the war went home to Franklin Co Va and made shine before coming to Fairfax and working for the School Board many years back.Hes been gone many years but I still remember the stories he told about his "outfit"! The still, the thumper,the worm, the sugar, the corn, the still beer.

Fairfax.Liberal Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Fairfax Conservative Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > So my new
> > go-to bourbon was Evan Williams (Green).
>
> Ah, I think I see your problem...
>
> My go to bourbon is Pappy Van Winkle.

I have never seen a post on here that would make me hate a liberal more than the above. Never.

Yeah, anyone who rembers when Virginia was part of The South and cares about history. Cool that Fairfax County had its own official brand. Thanks for posting the photo too!

Yes, Fairfax County is the 100 proof Bourbon of A. Bowman Smith.

Sunset Hills was the name of the Smith Family dairy farm, it was a stop on the W&OD "Milk Run".

Smith never got along with Reston so his bottles never said Reston on them.. they all said that they were made in Sunset Hills, Fairfax County, VA.

The Wiehle Town Charter is still valid. Fairfax County sees tax $$$ flying away whenever someone mentiones reactivating the charter and incorporating Reston.

very cool...anybody have any trying to sell?

GeezerDude Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Wiehle Town Charter is still valid. Fairfax
> County sees tax $$$ flying away whenever someone
> mentiones reactivating the charter and
> incorporating Reston.

Exactly. Simon thought about picking up the Wiehle charter, but after realizing that he'd need to come up with the money for his own sewer hookups, he kind of had a change of heart and decided to stay with the county. It's not easy being a town anymore...

Yes, I am.
I have, looks like vintage sealed unopened bottles of,
100 proof Fairfax County Bourbon.
Selling, make offer.
Attachments:

virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control prohibits selling alcoholic beverages without a license.

Back in the early 70's, the job to get was working the distillery. It was very smooth before it was cut with the water.

Don't offer to sell any hooch on this site. You'll get a visit from the Fairfax Swat Team. The only thing they like to do better than raiding gambling dens, is raiding "bootleggers".

Any idea what year it was bottled? Or better yet, when did the distillery shut down? I find it fascinating.

Historian Is right On Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And Yes the Bowman Business relocated to
> Fredericksburg off Rt 2 by the Rapahannock River.
>
> For many years they were the only legal whisky
> maker in Va, but I think thats changed today with
> all these new "Legal Moonshines" in the ABC
> stores. Now dont get me to talking about a fellow
> I worked with 40 years back, a WWII vet who fought
> during the Battle of the Bulge, and slogged thru
> Germany as a GI, then after the war went home to
> Franklin Co Va and made shine before coming to
> Fairfax and working for the School Board many
> years back.Hes been gone many years but I still
> remember the stories he told about his "outfit"!
> The still, the thumper,the worm, the sugar, the
> corn, the still beer.


There's also been a licensed distillery in Sperryville for several years. Copper Fox is its name; coming from Fairfax, you make a left shortly before where the Sperryville Emporium used to be and then follow the signs. They make the Wasmund's whisky you may have seen in the ABC stores. We took the distillery tour last month when we were in the area. Interesting to visit. The tour was free but there was a charge for tasting. The whiskies were not quite the style I prefer, but it was interesting to see the place. I had previously toured the Glenora Distillery on Cape Breton Island and the whisky museum in Edinburgh, so it's interesting to see how different places do things.

I believe there is another licensed distillery down in Bedford County either under construction or open but not yet selling whisky distilled on the premises.

The ABC laws have apparently loosened quite a bit. When Copper Fox got started it appeared they might not be able to make a go of it due to draconian per-cask taxes and a prohibition on selling their products at the distillery or even offering on-site tastings!

GxCHC Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Don't offer to sell any hooch on this site. You'll
> get a visit from the Fairfax Swat Team. The only
> thing they like to do better than raiding gambling
> dens, is raiding "bootleggers".


Don't forget we also like shooting unarmed citizens who have their hands up. Regardless of race for that matter also.

In effect in VA?

Joe Barbieri Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes, I am.
> I have, looks like vintage sealed unopened bottles
> of,
> 100 proof Fairfax County Bourbon.
> Selling, make offer.


Now, you may be able to sell something simple as a very expensive bottle of coke and give away a free bottle of fc bourbon away with it. Though I won't swear to the legality of it

If you have a bottle I'll buy it - it used to be my favorite. Let me know

I would also like to buy one! Let us know!

Historian Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It wasn't Reston to start out. The making of
> Fairfax County Bourbon started the day Prohibition
> ended utilizing the old town hall and post office
> for the late 19th century Town of Wiehle.

The Town of Wiehle is was where the Reston Town Center now stands. The distillery was right off the tracks of the W&OD railway (Trail now). You can still buy Bowman products at VA ABC stores today.

If any part of that liquor was made outside the state of Kentucky...it isn't and can't by law be called bourbon. I don't care what the label says.

> If any part of that liquor was made outside the state of Kentucky...it isn't and can't by law be called bourbon. I don't care what the label says.

Bullshit. Bourbon can be made anywhere in the US and can be called bourbon. Our trade laws say bourbon cannot be imported into the US.