Early Pioneer Colonel John J. Bowman first explored Kentucky in 1775. Four years later he moved his family to Lincoln County where they were among the earliest settlers of Kentucky. He later presided over Kentucky’s first county court and was also appointed the first military commander and military governor of Kentucky County. He was the great, great uncle of Abran Smith Bowman, founder of the A. Smith Bowman Distillery. This single barrel bourbon whiskey commemorates the early pioneer John J. Bowman.