I.W. Harper Returns

[Quintilian]

Per Chuck Cowdery's blog, I.W. Harper is coming back to the States.

Link: http://chuckcowdery.blogspot.com/2015/03/i-w-harper-bourbon-is-returning-to-usa.html

[Harry in WashDC]

I saw that, too. I note that the ABC News article by J.M. Hirsch, AP Food Editor, underlying Chuck's post says the MSRP on the 15 year 86 proof is/will be $74.99, and the 4 year 82 proof will be about half that.

Edited March 10, 2015 by Harry in WashDC
typos

[Quintilian]

I saw that, too. I note that the ABC News article by J.M. Hirsch, AP Food Editor, underlying Chuck's post says the MSRP on the 15 year 86 proof is/will be $74.99, and the 4 year 82 proof will be about half that.

I don't see myself paying 30some bucks for a four-year old 82 proof bourbon. I'll pass.

[squire]

I didn't pay $30.00 for 12 year Old Charter either so I'm not interested in paying 2 1/2 times more for a slightly older version repackaged as I.W. Harper.

[johnnybogey]

Man, this stuff is getting expensive. Thanks goodness there are still tons of great value bourbons out there.

[TunnelTiger]

More lables for the uninitated, more of the good stuff they won't be buying for us.

[squire]

Right TT, lets keep their eyes averted from the lower shelves.

[KyleCBreese]

This article states that the mashbill for the 4-year and 15-year are different. Does that seem off?

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/20-year-hiatus-iw-harper-bourbon-coming-back-29505032

[PaulO]

I guess Diageo can't re-release the bonded version if they don't want to tell us where it came from. Too bad. I was a little excited when I first saw the news. I can't see paying premium price for 82 proof NAS and unknown origin.

[mark fleetwood]

Seems weird having two different mashbills for one brand, but hey, Diageo knows what it's doing (ahem!).

[squire]

This article states that the mashbill for the 4-year and 15-year are different. Does that seem off?

According to reports Diageo has a number of different mashbills in the numerous barrels they've acquired over the years and stored at the Stitzel-Weller facility. It only makes sense to use this aged stock to create new brands or relaunch old ones as a prestige line.

[The Black Tot]

I'd love to try another 15yr offering from the rackhouses at SW...

...but at 86 proof, I.B. Notbuying I.P. Harper.

I was already arriving at the point of having enough of Diageo's 90 proof shenanigans on limiteds. Below 90 is my line in the sand.

[Richnimrod]

I'd love to try another 15yr offering from the rackhouses at SW...

...but at 86 proof, I.B. Notbuying I.P. Harper.

I was already arriving at the point of having enough of Diageo's 90 proof shenanigans on limiteds. Below 90 is my line in the sand.

Tot, ypou are so right. I'll NOT be lining up for either of these offerings at the low proofs/high prices asked.

I wouldn't mind tasting the very very low rye mashbill, at 15-years, and at about 115 proof, however. .... If that were ever to be available. Not sure what they'd ask for such an offering. I imagine waaaaaaay, too much.

[squire]

Frankly I've never much cared for the high corn/low rye mashbill shared by Charter/Harper so for me the whole thing is a yawn. 86 proof is a bit off putting as well, in the super premium category there's a lot of 100+ proof competition.

[TunnelTiger]

Normally I would think that the odds of this being a successful introduction to be pretty poor but as evidenced by the apparent success of $50 NDP pretty bottles with nice labels tells me there are a lot of gullible consumers visiting liquor stores.

[393foureyedfox]

Normally I would think that the odds of this being a successful introduction to be pretty poor but as evidenced by the apparent success of $50 NDP pretty bottles with nice labels tells me there are a lot of gullible consumers visiting liquor stores.

hipsters significantly fuel the bourbon boom, and hipsters love to look 'cool'.........

[scubadoo97]

More lables for the uninitated, more of the good stuff they won't be buying for us.

Yeah. Like that scary and totally un-hip Old Grand Dad 114

[TunnelTiger]

OGD114, turrible, turrible stuff. One should avoid at all cost!

[Quintilian]

hipsters significantly fuel the bourbon boom, and hipsters love to look 'cool'.........

And some hipsters are probably just fine with 80s-level proofs.

That ain't me. 90 and above for me, and I prefer BiB.

[Enoch]

Got my first and last bottle of this. While there is nothing inherently bad, it is a low-proof, young bourbon not worth the $35/fifth I paid. I prefer FRYL for $25/1.75. It's a shadow of the 80s stuff I've had (albeit glut era offerings).

[dcbt]

Yea I have no desire to pick this up, especially at the price point.

[Harry in WashDC]

Well, as I posted someplace else ("what'd you buy today" thread a couple of days ago, I think), I did impulsively pick up a 750 of the 4yr 82 proof along with a Green Spot and the first WT101 Rye I've seen retail. After several sips of the IWH over that couple of days, I've learned yet again that I really have to control those impulses.:shithappens:

[Hop]

Passed on this today as well is it just me or the print so small designating the proof on purpose so people won't look or what? Almost needed a magnifying glass to read it...

[chooch714]

I saw it on the shelf today at Total Wine and passed as well at the price point. I admit I was curious but not that curious. Why can't we get the same juice they are sending to Japan?

[deathevocation]

Had a glass of the 80 proof in Japan recently at about 2am after a nigt on the booze.

Still struggled to drink it. Paintstripper.