Hard Truth Toasted Mizunara Finished Rye Whiskey Review.

-

       Hard Truth Toasted Mizunara Oak Finished Rye Whiskey Review.


    Hard Truth has been making waves in the rye whiskey scene, and tonight I’m diving into something bold and unusual from their lineup: a straight rye whiskey finished with toasted Mizunara oak, bottled at cask strength. Based in southern Indiana, Hard Truth has built a reputation around their sweet mash process, where fermentation tanks are completely cleaned between batches,labor-intensive, but it creates a uniquely clean and vibrant flavor profile.

    Mizunara oak itself is special. Harvested only after trees reach at least 200 years of age in Japan, it imparts flavors unlike typical American or European oak. It’s a notoriously expensive wood to use, so most distilleries work with staves instead of full barrels. Seeing Hard Truth experiment with this finish had me eager to see if their craft touch could bring something truly memorable.


For the full video review visit the link here: https://youtu.be/wZc56E_YPxo.

Age Statement: 2+ years old (as per the TTB).

ABV: 62.35%. (Cask Strength).

Mash bill: 94% rye and 6% malted barley.

Finishing: Toasted Mizunara Oak.

Area of Distillation: Nashville, Indiana.

Appearance: Rich espresso.


On the nose:
    Dense, rich, and complex. A heavy base of dark sweetness paired with spice right out of the gate, gingersnap cookies, cinnamon stick, clove, and orchard fruit. The Mizunara oak influence shows itself with sandalwood and cedar undertones. A subtle cherry note rounds things out, mixing with a touch of nutty sweetness and a suggestion of homemade caramel. For a barrel-proof rye, it’s warm but not hot, showing no youthful sharpness.


Taste:
    Cherry dominates, like cherry-flavored coffee or Michigan-style cherry roast. That fruitiness is layered with dark homemade caramel, hints of cinnamon, and a dash of peppery rye spice. Herbal touches and a whisper of rye bread float in the background. The sandalwood and cedar notes from Mizunara appear on the mid-palate and linger into the finish. The texture is thick, oily, and robust, with warmth that is powerful yet balanced.


Finish:
    Long and satisfying. The cherry continues into the aftertaste, joined by a bit of spice and the beginnings of tobacco. The sandalwood lingers in a gentle, almost incense-like way. As it sits, it moves from sweet and fruity toward darker, more contemplative notes, like a preview of what extra aging could unlock.


Final Thoughts: 
    Hard Truth nailed this experiment. Considering the Mizunara influence and the bold, beautifully structured rye character, it’s well worth the price. This is one of the best examples of Mizunara finishing I’ve tasted outside of Japanese whisky, and it proves Hard Truth isn’t afraid to push boundaries while staying true to their craft.

   The only thing holding it back is its age, an older version of this rye could bring out even more depth and complexity. But as it stands, it’s a poster child for what American craft distilling can achieve. Highly recommended, and one to back up if you see it.


Rating: A (Amazing).

Cost: $79.99 for 750ml.

For the full video review visit the link here: https://youtu.be/wZc56E_YPxo.

Social platforms to follow me: https://linktr.ee/thelastcallyt

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dovetail Distillery Cut Throat Oat Whiskey Review.

-
Image
Dovetail Distillery Cut Throat Oat Whiskey Review.      I received this spirit as a review sample from Dovetail Distillery, linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.           Dovetail Distillery, currently the smallest craft distillery based in Nevada. Currently the distillery is doing quite a bit with unique grains and one of those grains is Oats. Oats can be a fun grain your craft distilleries can play around with and add a unique profile to their spirits. Their Cutthroat Oat Whiskey is no exception, bringing three unique grains to the mix. After being double distilled it is aged for two years in custom char/toast American white oak 15-gallon barrels. This barrel size can be tricky, it does take a keen eye and palate to make sure this size of barrel doesn't take over.       Given my fascination with oat-based spirits, I was eager to dive into this bottle and see how Dovetai...
Read more

Old 55 Distillery Single Barrel Cask Strength Sweet Corn Bourbon Whiskey Review.

-
Image
Old 55 Distillery Single Barrel Cask Strength Sweet Corn Bourbon Whiskey Review.           Old 55 Distillery is a small craft operation tucked away in Newtown, Indiana, just south of Lafayette, and they’ve built a name for themselves by doing something very few dare to try, making bourbon with 100% sweet corn. I’ve crossed paths with a few of their spirits before and have always respected the level of care they bring to the table: all distilling, aging, and bottling is done in-house, with a heavy emphasis on local grains. Their Bottled-in-Bond Sweet Corn Bourbon is the bottle most people around here know, but this release, a single barrel, cask strength version, was something I’d only ever seen at the Market District in Carmel, Indiana.       Sweet corn isn’t just a novelty for Old 55, it’s an expensive, labor-intensive choice. A bushel of the common yellow dent corn runs about $4 (2020 prices), but the sweet corn they use costs over $1,...
Read more

Abduction Whiskey Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review.

-
Image
   Abduction Whiskey Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review.      I received this spirit as a review sample from Abduction Whiskey, linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.     Abduction Whiskey is based out of Pacifica California. Where the bottling itself is only about six months old, but the amount of passion behind the brand stems much longer.  Ryan Murray, a chiller mechanic, he took a leap of faith to turn his love for whiskey into something tangible, a move that resonates with many dreamers in the whiskey world. With an alien-themed aesthetic that ties into the idea of “abducting” barrels to create something uniquely their own. The bourbon is sourced from MGP and blended in-house to develop a their profile. While many bottlings opt for a three-grain combination, going with four should bring an extra layer of complexity that can enhance both texture and flavor.  For the full video review visit th...
Read more