Hard Truth Distilling Co. of Nashville, Indiana tells BourbonBlog.com they are releasing three new bourbons that are produced entirely from their distillery grain to glass: Sweet Mash Bourbon, Wheated Bottled in Bond Bourbon, and Four Grain Bottled in Bond Bourbon.
In this milestone for the distillery, Hard Truth states that these three bourbons are part of a “long-term lineup,” demonstrating their dedication to craftsmanship and innovation in the American whiskey scene.
All three of these whiskeys are classified as sweet mash bourbons, a rare category with fewer than five distilleries in the USA producing such bourbons.
Further showcasing their commitment, two of the three bourbons are produced as Bottled-in-Bond
“Bottled-in-bond is proof to the world that we’re making everything, grain-to-glass on our property. We are a group of serious, hard-working whiskey distillers making honest whiskey here in Brown County. That’s why we always intended for bottled-in-bond to be part of our story,” Hard Truth master distiller and co-founder, Bryan Smith tells Bourbon expert Tom Fischer.
Overview of The New Hard Truth Distilling Co. Bourbons
Hard Truth Sweet Mash Bourbon
Proof: 90 (45% ABV)
Price: $44.99 for a 750mL bottle
Mash Bill: 73% corn, 19% rye, 8% malted barley
Primary Tasting Notes: Caramel, Toffee, Candied pecan, Stone fruit
Hard Truth Sweet Mash Wheated Bottled in Bond Bourbon
Proof: 100 (Bottled in Bond)
Price: $54.99 for a 750mL bottle
Mash Bill: 69% corn, 19% wheat, 12% malted barley
Primary Tasting Notes: Nougat, Vanilla, S’mores, Dark chocolate
Hard Truth Sweet Mash Four Grain Bottled in Bond Bourbon
Proof: 100 (Bottled in Bond)
Price: $59.99 for a 750mL bottle
Mash Bill: A balanced blend of corn, rye, wheat, and barley
Primary Tasting Notes: Butterscotch, Apple, Tobacco, Black pepper
Indiana Grains and Hard Truth’s Approach To Making Bourbon
Only around three distilleries regularly make a sweet mash Bourbon whiskey in the United States including Hard Truth, Kentucky Peerless, and Wilderness Trail.
For these particular whiskeys at Hard Truth, while aging these bourbons, Hard Truth Distillery developed a successful line of craft spirits and, in 2021, released their award-winning, fully self-produced Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey.
The distillery sources its grains locally, primarily from Indiana farmers, thus ensuring a strong connection to its Hoosier roots. Their bourbons feature unique flavors from the balanced grain percentages in their mash bills.
Other key elements include:
- Corn and Wheat: Sourced primarily from Doug Miller, a fifth-generation Indiana farmer, guaranteeing a high-quality, sustainable supply of grains.
- Rye: Predominantly grown in Southwestern Indiana by farmer Dr. Duane Kuhlenschmidt., contributing to the bourbons’ distinct flavor.
- Dedication to local craftsmanship and sustainable practices, with the entire production process, including grain selection and distillation, taking place in Indiana. This commitment to local sourcing is complemented by custom-made Vendome column stills and a partnership with the Independent Stave Company for bespoke barrels, ensuring each bourbon’s unique character.
- Emphasizing quality over quantity, Hard Truth limits production to small batches of no more than 30 barrels, showcasing their meticulous approach to bourbon-making.”
“We’ve taken a lot of pride in the process of building our distillery and working with industry leaders such as Vendome Copper & Brass Works to create a truly state-of-the-art facility. This moment, though, is particularly special because the first batch of sweet mash whiskey from our still, many years ago, was bourbon,” says Smith. “We’ve always been a bourbon company, we’ve just been waiting for the right moment to introduce ours to the world.”
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