A little background

I.W. Harper 15 year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the oldest age-stated whiskey coming from I.W. Harper Distilling Company in Tullahoma, TN. The distillery first opened its doors as the Bernheim Bro’s Distiller in 1870 and was operational during the Prohibition era. The distillery’s named changed to what we know it as today in 1872. Not too long after, it made a very successful world-tour to 110 countries. When it finally returned home in 2015, it became a well-known name amongst bourbon enthusiasts. This specific expression was distilled at New Bernheim Distillery, aged in Stitzel-Weller Distillery warehouses, and bottled in Tullahoma, TN. It is bottled at 86 proof, and is sold at $75 MSRP.

(Tasted neat from a Halo Glass)

Color

Orange Rust

Nose

Strong notes of vanilla extract dominate upon the first sniff. A nutty sweetness follows this, reminiscent of the smell of walnuts that are freshly-baked into Christmas sugar cookies. Citrus notes of orange and lemon are faintly present, somewhat being masked by the intense sweetness of the previous notes. A bitter dark chocolate and cherry scent is present upon a heavier nosing. The nose definitely reflects the proof: it is sweet and full of aromas that do not burn the nose, nor does it contain a powerful ethanol scent that masks the flavors of the whiskey. This is a whiskey I do not want to stop nosing.

Palate

The palate is unfortunately not nearly as pleasing as the nose. Cinnamon comes in at the front of the palate in a very strong manner. The first thing I noticed was the mouthfeel felt incredibly thin and dry, almost like drinking green tea. At the mid and back palate, an off-putting rubbing alcohol flavor takes over and masks much of what could have been great flavor. Thankfully, notes of light honey, apricot, and orange come in to slightly cut the edge of the predominant flavor.

Finish

The finish is not very pleasant. The rubbing alcohol flavor transitions into a wood note that only stays on the tongue for a few seconds. On top of this, as the flavor dissipates, a very strong presence of tannins come in to create an acrid taste.

In conclusion

This 15 year old whiskey certainly has a nose that lives up to its age statement. I could have sniffed it for hours, especially during the winter time after coming in from skiing or messing around in the snow. That being said, the palate just reinforces the point that just because a whiskey has a high age statement, it doesn’t mean that it has great flavor. I wish the palate would have been a little more complex, and would not have left such unpleasant flavors on the finish. I do not believe that I would go out of my way to try and find this bourbon, and I know that I can definitely find better for the price point.