I.W. Harper

I.W. Harper is a Kentucky straight bourbon established in 1872 by Isaac Wolfe Bernheim — one of the great 19th-century American whiskey brands, revived and relaunched for the US market in 2015 after decades as an export-only expression. The lineup includes the Straight Bourbon (caramel, vanilla, velvety spice), the prestigious 15 Year Old (oak, raisin, caramel, and a long finish from extended aging), and the innovative Cabernet Cask Reserve (finished in Cabernet Sauvignon casks for dark fruit and oak complexity).

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the history of I.W. Harper Bourbon?

Established in 1872 by Isaac Wolfe Bernheim in Louisville, Kentucky — a German-Jewish immigrant whose family also founded the Bernheim Arboretum in Louisville. Harper became one of the great 19th-century American bourbon brands, winning medals at international expositions. The brand was eventually discontinued in the US market and sold exclusively as a Japanese export for decades, before being relaunched for the domestic US market in 2015.

Why was I.W. Harper only available in Japan for so long?

After Schenley Industries (Harper’s owner) was acquired and the brand consolidated, I.W. Harper was effectively withdrawn from US retail and repositioned as a premium Japanese export — where it built a loyal following during Japan’s American whiskey boom of the 1980s and 1990s. The 2015 US relaunch brought it home after roughly 20 years of domestic absence.