I. W. Harper

I.W. Harper’s story begins in 1848 when our founder, I.W. Bernheim, came to America with $4 and a dream. A century later, his bourbon whiskey empire remains.

The Bernheim Bros. distillery opened its doors in 1870 and thrived through Prohibition. The I.W. Harper namesake was born by 1872 and began producing a whiskey that would win Gold Medals throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s.

By 1955, I.W. Harper was a household name and international sensation. The iconic bourbon graced pages of popular men’s magazines, inspired a clothing line, debuted in blockbuster films and cruised around the world as an ocean liner favorite. By 1966, I.W. Harper was enjoyed in 110 countries.

After thirty years overseas, I.W. Harper returned home in 2015. The brand has reconnected with its style roots by building strong relationships with niche retailers, style collectives, and fashion figures.

We tipped our hat to our style icon—the timeless bowing man—with Goorin Bros. In November 2016, the legendary hat shop released The Harper, a limited edition, premium felt fedora.