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Bourbon Review: I.W. Harper 15 Year Old Bourbon

We review I.W. Harper 15 Year Old Bourbon, a decade and a half old bourbon returned to U.S. distribution after years of export-only sales.

OVERALL RATING

  • Carin Moonin is a Portland-based whiskey enthusiast and writer.
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Tasting Notes

About:

Appearance:
The square bottle looks like a prop stolen from the set of Mad Men. I could easily see Don Draper knocking back a couple shots of this stuff. Barring that, rich characters on the soap operas I used to watch back in the ‘80s when I faked being sick so I could avoid other kids. The actual whiskey itself? Golden oak, a warm pumpkin.
Nose:
Provolone! Lots and lots of provolone! Blindingly cheesy. On second sniff, it brings to mind this tiny cheese shop I visited once in Edinburgh, Scotland. The shop (a shoppe, really) was about the size of a coat closet, should you be lucky enough to have one in an urban environment. It reminded me of that cheese shoppe—if everyone in it had been barefoot. However, I will admit that after sitting a little while, the nose also brought forth spiced apples and fresh sawn wood.
Palate:
Whey hey! There’s that cheese again! It’s almost like they were going for earthiness, umami, slight chewiness. Striving toward savory. This didn’t work for me. It clings to the roof of my mouth and feels uncomfortably weighted. The finish? chlorine. The feeling of getting pool water up your nose. This is like a bourbon belly flop. Conclusion: Often, I tend to enjoy whiskey while having cheese. The sharp burn of liquor provides a good balance to its creaminess. But I don’t want them to actually mix in my mouth, from the same product. It tastes like the inside of your mouth after a good night’s sleep during which you’ve drooled on the pillow only a little. In my opinion, it is so not worth the $75 you’d have to shell out for it. FINAL SCORE: 75/100
Finish:
Comments:

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Carin Moonin

Carin Moonin swapped a 5th-floor walkup in Hoboken, NJ, for a house in SE Portland a decade ago and hasn't looked back. She appreciates Portland's vibrant whiskey scene, finding it complements both the weather and her mood. Carin enjoys exploring the diverse world of brown liquor and its many facets. Her writing has been featured in publications such as Salon.com, DailyDot.com, Willamette Week, Portland Monthly, and others. When she's not indulging in whiskey or writing about it, you can find Carin running, reading, or on the hunt for free samples in grocery stores.

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