I.W. Harper Cabernet Cask Reserve is an ultra premium, wine finished expression from one of American whiskey’s most historic names, a Kentucky straight bourbon perfected in luxury California Cabernet Sauvignon casks. The I.W. Harper brand dates to 1872, when Isaac Wolfe Bernheim, a German immigrant who arrived in America with just a few dollars in his pocket, and his brother Bernard founded their own liquor company in Louisville and began bottling bourbon under the I.W. Harper name. Today the brand is bottled at the historic Stitzel-Weller Distillery just outside Louisville. For this release, the bourbon is first aged four years in new charred American oak barrels, then given a second maturation in Cabernet Sauvignon casks sourced from California vineyards, which lend the whiskey the subtle sweetness and dark fruit character of fine red wine. Bottled at 90 proof and presented in a striking faceted, decanter style bottle, it pours a rich, deep gold and opens with an enticing nose of caramel, dark cherry, sweet raisin, black raspberry, vanilla, and crème brûlée. The palate is smooth and lightly smoky, with a delightful interplay of dark cherry and black raspberry alongside caramel chews, vanilla, graham cracker, and rich oak, while the finish is clean, lingering, and velvety. Approachable yet complex, it is a refined modern bourbon that makes an excellent introduction to wine cask finishes, delicious neat, over ice, or in a sophisticated cocktail.
ABV / Proof
| Brand | I.W. Harper |
| Distillery | I.W. Harper Distilling Company; bottled at Stitzel-Weller, Louisville, Kentucky (Diageo) |
| Category | Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Cabernet Sauvignon cask finished) |
| Expression | Cabernet Cask Reserve |
| Age Statement | Aged 4 years in new charred American oak, then finished in Cabernet casks |
| Maturation | 4 years in new charred American oak, finished in California Cabernet Sauvignon casks |
| ABV | 45% |
| Proof | 90 |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Country | United States |
| Region | Kentucky |
Tasting Notes
Color: Rich, deep gold.
Nose: Caramel, dark cherry, sweet raisin, black raspberry, vanilla, and crème brûlée.
Palate: Dark cherry and black raspberry with caramel chews, vanilla, graham cracker, and rich oak; smooth and lightly smoky.
Finish: Clean, lingering, and velvety, with dark fruit sweetness.
FAQ
How is it finished? The Kentucky straight bourbon is aged four years in new charred American oak, then given a second maturation in California Cabernet Sauvignon wine casks.
What proof is it? 90 proof, or 45 percent ABV.
Where is it made? It is a Kentucky straight bourbon, bottled at the historic Stitzel-Weller Distillery near Louisville for the I.W. Harper brand.
What does the Cabernet finish add? Subtle sweetness and dark fruit notes such as cherry, raspberry, and raisin, layered over the bourbon’s classic caramel and vanilla.
How should I drink it? Neat, over ice, or in a cocktail.
Where can I buy I.W. Harper Cabernet Cask Reserve online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
