I.W. Harper Straight Bourbon

Nose: leather, pepper, orange. Palate: a bitter watery and muddled. Spicy citrus with a medium-length finish. Adding water sweetens the nose with floral notes and balances the palate out considerably. Overall: the flavors don’t flow together well. Would probably be fine as a mixer, but there are much better bourbons out there at this price point.

Classic Bourbon. Yet another I. W. Harper "jewel in the crown". Apparently I scored the last bottle from the PA ABC stores. This one shipped from Pittsburgh with the shelf price sticker code taped to the front - it's no longer listed in the system. Both the 15 year (a personal fave) and this blend, at less than half the price, are amazing bourbons. Sometimes you put something to your lips and it simply elevates you. You feel that your Life is better and you're more able to enjoy it. That kind of whiskey sippin' doesn't come along all that often, at least not for me. This Bourbon has just the right amount of burn and mist when taken neat. The sweetness on the nosing is tasted in just the right amount in the mouth. There are no funny or odd tastes anywhere along the way from scent to swallow to interfere with the enjoyment. The finish is moderately long and slowly moves into one taste after another, with strong vanilla cream always present. For me, this whiskey is filled with sweet memories of days gone by and reminds me of my first tastes as a kid when the adults would let us take tiny sips of their drinks through the little straw stirrers. Sitting up on the bar stools in the 51 Club, the Chesapeake Ranch Club, the Quonset Hut ...ahhh, youth! Where did you go? Harper bottles are always distinctive and this design itself is a standout and befitting the smooth sipping contents. When one finds this kind of Classic taste and drinking experience at this price level, one is justified in wondering just why we continue to pursue exotically priced offerings. I love this kind of whiskey and will nurse this bottle until it is empty and then place it on the whiskey pantheon shelf above the bar. No wonder the Japanese fell in love with this brand. Great to see it back in the States again. $35 in PA