Hard Truth Single Barrel Bourbon Finished with Toasted Amburana Oak Review.

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 Hard Truth Single Barrel Bourbon Finished with Toasted Amburana Oak Review.

    Hard Truth has long been one of my favorite craft distilleries to keep an eye on. Based in southern Indiana, they’ve built a strong reputation in rye whiskey but have been steadily carving out space in the bourbon world. This bottle represents a first for them, not only a single barrel bourbon, but one finished in toasted Amburana oak. Picked by Handy Spot Liquors here in Indiana, It’s a bold experiment, and one I was excited to open up with my wife before sitting down to share it here.

    The foundation is a five-year-old straight bourbon, finished for six weeks in toasted Amburana oak. That finishing choice can be polarizing, Amburana is known for strong, cinnamon-sugar, sometimes overpowering notes. 


For the full video review visit the link here: https://youtu.be/AtECT_YT7XI.

Age Statement: 5 years.

ABV: 56.65%.

Mash bill:

Area of Distillation: Nashville, Indiana.

Finishing: Toasted Amburana Oak (6 weeks).

Appearance: Warm golden hue.


On the nose:
    The Amburana is present, but not dominant. Cinnamon sugar and a faint oiliness linger, while bourbon’s core notes shine through. There’s brown sugar, grilled corn, and even a touch of tart green apple wrapped in caramel. Floral rye spice adds lift, while oak and vanilla ground the aromas. The nose is balanced, rich, and approachable, surprisingly soft for a barrel-proof bourbon.


Taste:
    Amburana comes forward more clearly here, lending a light cinnamon sugar character and a touch of sweetness. But again, it doesn’t overwhelm. Bourbon leads with oak, vanilla, caramel, and charred corn. A buttery texture develops alongside herbal rye spice, and that tart green apple note carries beautifully throughout. The whiskey coats the palate with a slightly oily mouthfeel, adding depth without becoming heavy.


Finish:
    The finish lingers with green apple draped in caramel, a gentle oak presence, and a dusting of cinnamon sugar. It’s clean, balanced, and softly sweet, without the harsher edges that Amburana sometimes brings. While I personally wished for a bigger push of Amburana character, the restraint here keeps the bourbon front and center.


Final Thoughts: 
    Hard Truth’s first single barrel Amburana-finished bourbon is a thoughtful and enjoyable release. It avoids the overpowering nature that Amburana can bring, instead using the finishing as an accent to highlight an already solid bourbon foundation. For the price I do wish for either a little more Amburana intensity or more depth from the base bourbon itself. It’s still a satisfying pour that shows the promise of what’s to come from Hard Truth’s bourbon program. I look forward to seeing how they continue to explore finishes like this in the future.


Rating: B (fairly good).

Cost: $79.99 for 750ml.

For the full video review visit the link here: https://youtu.be/AtECT_YT7XI.

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

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