I.W. Harper Cabernet Cask Reserve is a 90-proof bourbon aged four years in new charred American oak barrels, then finished in California Cabernet Sauvignon casks. Bottled at Stitzel-Weller Distillery, it is priced at around $50 for a 750ml bottle.
That kind of fruity sweetness, touched with black pepper here, wouldn’t be out of place in some standard bourbons (think Baker’s), but here it does feel amped up, at least a bit. Bright and clean and wholly exuberant, the berry notes are just a layer of spice atop an otherwise solid whiskey that feels far more versatile and immediately approachable than one would expect.
You'll find a bit of sweetness on the tongue on subsequent tastes and there's again just the faintest bit of fruit from the wine barrels. But if you're looking for lots of wine influence here, you'll be disappointed.
I.W. Harper Cabernet Cask Reserve is immediately likable, offering a pleasant but modest integration of cabernet-driven flavors integrated nicely with its traditional bourbon base.
