IW Harper

IW Harper is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey brand with roots stretching back to 1872, founded by Isaac Wolfe Bernheim and originally produced in Louisville before later production moved under the Diageo portfolio. The brand built its early reputation on Bottled-in-Bond expressions, meaning spirit distilled in a single season, aged a minimum of four years, and bottled at 100 proof under federal regulation, as represented by the 1955, 1964, 1973, and 1974 vintage Bottled-in-Bond releases. The Gold Medal name references the international exhibition awards the brand accumulated in the late nineteenth century. Contemporary releases include the IW Harper 15 Year Old Bourbon and the Cabernet Cask Reserve Bourbon, a finished whiskey aged in red wine barrels. The 15 Year stands as the most age-forward modern expression, while the Gold Medal represents the accessible end of the historical range.
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    IW Harper Gold Medal Straight Bourbon 1970s - Flask Fine Wine & Whisky

    IW Harper Gold Medal Straight Bourbon Vintage 1970s

    $499.97 $700.00
    IW Harper 15 Year Old Bourbon - Flask Fine Wine & Whisky

    IW Harper 15 Year Old Bourbon

    $119.99
    IW Harper 1953 Bottled 1958 Bottled in Bond Kentucky Bourbon Decanter - Flask Fine Wine & Whisky

    IW Harper Bottled in Bond Kentucky Bourbon Decanter Distilled 1953

    $1,899.97
    Old I.W. Harper Decanter Bottle - Flask Fine Wine & Whisky

    Old I.W. Harper Decanter Bottle

    $2,999.97
    IW Harper Bottled-In-Bond Medallion Decanter Bourbon 1955 4/5 Quart - Flask Fine Wine & Whisky

    IW Harper Bottled-In-Bond Medallion Decanter Bourbon 1955 4/5 Quart

    $1,899.97
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    IW Harper Gold Medal Bourbon 86pf 1970s 4/5qt - Flask Fine Wine & Whisky

    IW Harper Gold Medal Bourbon 86pf 1970s 4/5qt

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    IW Harper 1937 / 1943 Bottled in Bond Bourbon - Flask Fine Wine & Whisky

    IW Harper 1937 Bottled in Bond Bourbon

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    I.W. Harper 1965 Bourbon Bottled in Bond 100 Proof Silver Cap 1 Pint - Flask Fine Wine & Whisky

    I.W. Harper 1965 Bourbon Bottled in Bond 100 Proof Silver Cap 1 Pint

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    I.W. Harper Gold Medal Straight Bourbon 6 year 86 Proof Bottled 1960s 4/5 Quart - Flask Fine Wine & Whisky

    I.W. Harper Gold Medal Straight Bourbon 6 year 86 Proof Bottled 1960s 4/5 Quart

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    I.W. Harper Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey 100 Proof 1974 - Flask Fine Wine & Whisky

    I.W. Harper Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey 100 Proof 1974

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    IW Harper Cabernet Cask Reserve Bourbon - Flask Fine Wine & Whisky

    IW Harper Cabernet Cask Reserve Bourbon

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    I.W. Harper Bottled in Bond Bourbon 100 Proof 1964 - 1969 - Flask Fine Wine & Whisky

    I.W. Harper Bottled in Bond Bourbon 100 Proof 1964 - 1969

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    Frequently asked questions

    What is I.W. Harper bourbon?

    I.W. Harper is one of bourbon's great heritage brands, founded in the 1870s by Isaac Wolfe Bernheim, a German immigrant who built it into a gold-medal-winning icon of pre-Prohibition American whiskey. The brand survived Prohibition as medicinal whiskey and became a byword for elegant, refined bourbon through the mid-twentieth century.

    Why did I.W. Harper disappear from American shelves?

    From the 1990s until 2015, I.W. Harper was sold almost exclusively in export markets, where it became a phenomenon in Japan. For two decades Americans effectively couldn't buy it at home, which is why vintage US bottlings and Japanese-market releases from that era are so collectible today. The brand returned to the US market in 2015.

    Why collect vintage I.W. Harper bottlings?

    Dusty I.W. Harper from the 1950s through 1980s captures old Bernheim distillate celebrated for its soft, polished, gold-medal style, and the brand's mid-century decanters are among the most handsome in bourbon. Export-era bottles add another collecting dimension. These are affordable entry points into serious dusty bourbon compared with the famous unicorn labels.

    Are the I.W. Harper gold medal decanters drinkable or just display pieces?

    Both. Sealed decanters with good fill levels contain perfectly preserved bourbon, since whiskey doesn't deteriorate in glass, and the vessels themselves are beautiful barware. Condition varies more with decanters than standard bottles, so we photograph closures and fills carefully and describe each piece honestly before listing.

    How can I date an old I.W. Harper bottle?

    Tax strips, label design, stated proof, and volume markings all narrow the era, and decanter styles are well documented by year. Every vintage I.W. Harper we list includes its approximate period and condition notes, and we're happy to walk you through the details of any bottle before you buy.