I W Harper Gold Medal Bottled 1940s - Bernheim Distilling Company 94.6cl / 50%

A 94.6cl bottle of I W Harper Gold Medal Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey. This was produced by Bernheim Distilling Company Inc. and bottled in bond, we estimate in the 1940s.

This bottle has a Wisconsin state stamp.

Isaac Wolfe Bernheim was born in Germany in 1848 and his family emigrated to the US in 1867. He began work as a travelling salesman in Pennsylvania, travelling on horseback selling household goods. Following the death of his horse, Bernheim moved to Kentucky and began working for wholesale liquor company Loeb, Bloom, & Co. Along with his brother, Bernheim purchased Pleasure Ridge Park Distillery in Louisville and began operations as Bernheim Distillery. The I W Harper premium bourbon brand was established in the 1870s and takes its name from the founder (the 'Harper' surname was chosen over 'Bernheim' to improve marketability). During Prohibition, Bernheim Distillery was one of only 10 distilleries allowed to continue producing bourbon for 'medicinal purposes'.

This I W Harper Gold Medal sold at our online auction for £600