I remember my first pour of Hard Truth during a whiskey festival at a local liquor store here in Illinois a few years ago. Over the ear-ringing buzz of a packed store (rightly so, with over 50 pours available for a low ticket price of $10), I remembered hearing someone say Hard Truth was out of Nashville. "Okay," I thought. "Tennessee whiskey. Right on. I'm down." It wasn't until later, when I returned home with a bottle of their single barrel, that I realized the Nashville where Hard Truth operated was in a state making whiskey that was not Tennessee. It was Indiana. And yes, it is important to note when whiskey is from Tennessee. Additionally, my knowledge of Indiana whiskey reached as far as MGP and a tiny bit of Starlight. My experience with sweet mash rye whiskey was not the most robust either, so needless to say, I was curious to learn more about Hard Truth.
Why the long-winded intro? Well, I'm a published author; in case you didn't know, writing stories is my norm. Also, there is a moral to this story: always fact-check where your whiskey comes from. This can be quite the detective work, depending on which distillery you dive into, but it is worth the effort regardless.
On Hard Truth's website, they provide details about their origin story, which is summarized below:
Hard Truth Distilling Co. began distilling in 2015 in the small upper rooms of Big Woods Pizza Co. in downtown Nashville, Indiana. The tiny craft distillery quickly grew, and, by 2017, construction had begun on a new facility set on a rolling, wooded, 325-acre property about a mile away from Hard Truth’s original home.That property became the gorgeous Hard Truth campus, with the Hard Truth Tours & Tastings Center being the first building to open its doors to guests at the very end of 2017. The following summer, the Restaurant at Hard Truth opened to hungry guests. And, in the fall of 2018, Hard Truth Distilling Co. made the move to its brand new, state-of-the-art, sweet mash distillery, where it’s been producing Hard Truth spirits ever since.
I have tried several expressions from Hard Truth over the years and am happy to spend time crafting a proper write-up on a now-familiar brand. This French Oak Harvest Rye is a release in collaboration with Mellencamp Whiskey, a brand brought to us by musician John Mellencamp (or Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, or John Cougar Mellencamp, depending on the year), who is also responsible for the label art. A big thank you to Hard Truth for providing this bottle and giving me the opportunity to review this release per the editorial policy. Let's dive in and explore this Nashville, Indiana, sweet mash rye whiskey.
Company on Label: Hard Truth Distilling Co.
Whiskey Type: Straight rye whiskey finished in toasted French oak
Mash Bill Percentages: 78% Indiana rye, 28% Indiana corn
Proof: 104°
Age: over 3 years
Further identification: This is the third release in a limited four-part collectible series with Mellencamp Whiskey for an MSRP of $69.99
Nose: Gentle whiffs of Madagascar vanilla welcome me as I lift the glass to the nose. There's a distinct bread dough quality here, a common thread I find in most expressions of Hard Truth, and sometimes in an overly yeast-forward way. This one is toasted and sweet, reminding me of bread strips found on fruit cobblers, the best dessert to make while camping, according to my fellow whiskey reviewer. Actually, this nose would do well outside near a firepit as a nice nightcap while staring up at the stars. A few swirls bring out caramel popcorn and flambéed peaches. There's a slightly sweet and sour note happening here, like someone left a slice of cheesecake on the kitchen counter overnight. I'm ready for a sip.
Returning to the glass after a few sips, I find baking spices, mint leaf, and a hint of bubble gum. There's also toasted rye bread with an overly acidic apricot jam. Vanilla is the most dominant characteristic throughout, and it leans toward natural varieties rather than confectioner-sugared ones. Deep inhales bring out the slightest hint of black pepper. The lower the liquid, the more I notice a metallic note, perhaps due to younger whiskeys needing an earlier bedtime. I'm certainly yawning. The empty glass smells of rose petals and fried carnival dough.
Palate: Like the nose, the flavors start off quiet, which is surprising for a rye. After a few moments of swishing, the fog lifts slightly, and earth notes come into focus: damp grass in the morning and a breakfast bowl of peaches and cream. It's so gentle, almost too sleepy, but oh wait. Okay, cinnamon sticks and clove are waking up my taste buds now. Kind of. My second sip is a bit more dynamic. Bubble gum and cotton candy are present with vanilla and caramelized peaches. The finish is vanilla-sweet with a good amount of peach and cherry. The linger is where the rye spice has been hiding with a tip of tongue and gum tingle. Later in the glass, there's sweet iced tea and a tiny crack of black pepper. I find it to be a bit uninspired, though, like eating an Ego waffle off my son's plate hours after he's left for school. With my final sip, the flavors have grown tired and quiet again. The linger is still leans into the rye spice. The final sip is but a memory of vanilla, peach, and warm spices.
TL;DR: expect sleepy flavors in this fruit-forward rye
Rating: 3/5
While I wish the flavors had maintained some level of dynamic quality to them, I will say this is my most favored offering from Hard Truth to date. It can be challenging to maintain an unbiased opinion when the buzz for certain distilleries and/or bottles is constant. Previous experience with the distillery you're tasting and a well-calibrated palate go a long way toward keeping the whiskey tinnitus at bay, allowing for a fair rating at the end of the day. How would you rate this whiskey?
In an effort to better understand ourselves as reviewers and you, our readers, the Amongst the Whiskey team is trying out a new feature. If you've tasted Hard Truth (or even if you haven't, but the buzz has you here reading), we would like your honest and unbiased feedback below.
How would you honestly rate Hard Truth whiskey against the ATW rating scale? Note: this is an anonymous poll.
5 - Pinnacle whiskey. A true rarity in quality.
4.5 - Absolutely delicious. Enthusiast grade pour.
4 - Really good. I want one of these on my shelf.
3.5 - Good enough. There's something to enjoy here.
As always, we thank you for supporting independent whiskey review sites.
Comments