A. Smith Bowman master distiller retiring

Joe Dangler

FREDERICKSBURG, VA -- Joe Dangler, a longtime fixture at A. Smith Bowman Distillery, will retire as master distiller on Saturday.

Dangler has spent 33 years at A. Smith Bowman, starting as bottling plant superintendent in 1978 then being promoted to assistant plant superintendent and next plant superintendent. The board of directors then elected Dangler vice president, production, where he remained until assuming the role of master distiller in 2003.

Under Dangler, Virginia Gentleman Bourbon won a double gold and was named "Best American Whiskey" at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2003.

A. Smith Bowman's distilling roots to before Prohibition. The original distillery was located on Sunset Hills Farm, the Bowman family homestead in Fairfax County. It was moved in 1988 and is now located in Spotsylvania County, 60 miles from the original location.

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