The Last Call

Hard Truth has been one of the most exciting distilleries coming out of southern Indiana, not only for their quality but for their advocacy in establishing “Indiana Rye” as a recognized classification. From the first time I tried their gin, I’ve been hooked, and since then I’ve made it a point to chase down their limited releases whenever possible. This Sweet Mash Double Oaked Straight Rye immediately had my attention. A five-year age statement, bottled at barrel proof, and finished in a secondary charred cask? That is a recipe that speaks directly to everything I love about double oaked rye.      This expression starts with a 94% rye, 6% malted barley mash bill. It is produced using a sweet mash process, meaning each fermentation begins fresh rather than incorporating backset from a previous run. After initial aging, the whiskey is transferred into a second charred barrel, where it rests long enough to bring the total age to at least five years. The batch consisted of ju...

     Hard Truth Distilling has quickly become one of Indiana’s breakout names, known first for its exceptional sweet mash ryes and now steadily expanding its bourbon lineup. When I first heard about their new Double Oak release, I knew I had to track down a bottle. Thankfully, a family member visiting the distillery snagged one for me. I’ve loved what Hard Truth has done in the past, and the idea of them giving their sweet mash bourbon the double oak treatment instantly caught my attention.       True to their transparent approach, this is a barrel-proof, small-batch release, just 28 barrels total, and for now a distillery exclusive. Hard Truth employs a sweet mash process, meaning they start each fermentation fresh instead of using remnants from the previous batch like in a sour mash. The result tends to be a brighter, more vibrant flavor profile. Now up to this point their sweet mash bourbon for me has been an alright experience. Nothing that has blo...

     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. (Single barrel). ABV: 56.65%. (Cask strength). Mash bill:  73% corn 19% rye 8% malted barley. Area of Distillation: Nashville, Ind...

     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. ABV...

     Hard Truth Distilling continues to be one of Indiana’s most interesting craft producers, and this American Odd Sweet Mash Bottled in Bond Bourbon represents the final release in their four-bottle collaboration with the John Mellencamp Whiskey Company. This release leans heavily into Hard Truth’s commitment to sweet mash production and locally sourced Indiana grains. It’s a bottle I originally approached with hesitation on paper, but after finding it at the right price, curiosity won out.      What immediately stands out is the philosophy behind the bottle. From grain to glass, Hard Truth handles nearly every step in-house, and the collaboration’s tie-in with Farm Aid adds a meaningful layer to the release. Supporting local farmers and emphasizing regional grain usage gives this bourbon a sense of purpose beyond just what’s in the glass. This is a sweet mash straight bourbon made with 100% Indiana-grown grains sourced from Rushville, Indiana. For the fu...

         There’s something about  Hard Truth Distilling Co.  that always pulls me in. They are aging, distilling, and bottling their own spirits in southern Indiana, constantly proving that the state is more than just a sourcing hub. This particular bottle, a Single Barrel Straight Rye finished in a Maple Brûlée barrel, somehow got lost in my collection after I picked it up in early 2025.       What immediately stands out is the story. I’ve always believed the journey behind a whiskey matters just as much as what’s in the glass, and this one has a journey worth telling. It was first aged in new charred American oak for over three years before being transferred into a truly unique finishing barrel.      Those finishing barrels began as ex-bourbon casks that held bourbon for 7 to 9 years. After being dumped, they were shipped to Quebec and used to age maple syrup for a year. From there, they traveled to Bristol Map...

 Hard Truth Distilling Sweet Mash Chocolate Malt Rye Whiskey Review.      I received this spirit as a review sample from the Hard Truth Distillery,  linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Hard Truth Distilling is based out of Nashville, Indiana. Their major focus of recent time is releasing rye whiskey sweet mash style vs sour mash. They also had a hand in bringing the classification of Indiana Rye to the State. This release stands out a bit different than Hard Truth's typical Sweet Mash Rye. The RW-3 Chocolate Malt is part of the Master Distillers Reserve and is the second year of this release. While on the surface you might see the word Chocolate Malt and believe this is flavored, but this is actually using Chocolate Malted barley in the mash bill.  For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/Q8Fv8tULcR0 . Age Statement: +2 years old. ABV:   57.4% (Cas...

Hard Truth Farmer's Reserve French Oak Rye Whiskey Review.      I received this spirit as a review sample from Hard Truth Distilling, linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Hard Truth Distilling has been carving out a serious name for itself in the Indiana whiskey scene. Based in southern Indiana, they’ve been a driving force behind the Indiana Rye classification, highlighting just how important the state is to rye whiskey production. Tonight’s pour is their French Oak Farmer’s Rye Sweet Mash Rye. This is part of a four-bottle collaboration with the John Mellencamp Whiskey Company in support of Farm Aid, a program dedicated to helping American farmers in times of need. It’s an admirable mission, and one that gives this release an extra layer of purpose.      Because of this cause, the  whiskey is using 100% locally sourced grains along with being a "small batch release of 36 bar...