Hard Truth Distilling Co. Unites Nation’s Top Pitmasters for Inaugural 2025 Bourbon & BBQ Festival
Nashville, IN — On Saturday, July 26, 2025, Hard Truth Distilling Co. will host its first-ever Bourbon & BBQ Festival, bringing together top pitmasters, live music, whiskey tastings, and interactive culinary experiences on the distillery’s 325-acre campus in Brown County, Indiana.
This inaugural event will feature a nationally sanctioned BBQ competition presented in partnership with Great White Smoke and sanctioned by Kentuckiana BBQ Pitmasters. A total of 31 competitive BBQ teams from across the country will compete for top honors in both official judged categories and the highly anticipated People’s Choice Tasting.
Teams include: Deep South Smokers, Dangerous Dave’s BBQ, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot BBQ, No Rulz BBQ, Fire Pig Barbeque, Boot Scootin’ BBQ, Diddy’s Delectable 3BQ, Clark’s Que, Backdraft BBQ, Ridge Bros BBQ, Sugar Creek Smokers, and more than 20 additional award-winning teams.
Guests will have the opportunity to sample an array of regional BBQ styles and cast their votes for the People’s Choice winner. Official judging will be overseen by certified BBQ professionals to ensure fairness and competitive integrity. Bryan Smith, Co-Founder and Master Distiller of Hard Truth Distilling Co., will join regional culinary personalities in leading select tastings and public judging segments.
“At Hard Truth, we’ve always believed that great spirits pair best with great food and great people,” said Bryan Smith, Co-Founder and Master Distiller of Hard Truth Distilling Co. “This first-ever Bourbon & BBQ Festival is more than just an event—it’s about bringing communities together, honoring craft, and creating an experience that guests will remember long after the last bite or sip.”
The festival will also feature Chef James “BBQ” Grubbs, reigning World Sausage Champion and fan favorite from Netflix’s The Great American BBQ. Grubbs will lead live-fire cooking demonstrations throughout the day, engaging guests with interactive sessions and sharing his expertise on pitmaster techniques.
“It’s a real honor to host something this special at a place like Hard Truth,” said Dave White, pitmaster and founder of Great White Smoke. “Their team, the property, the whiskey—it’s all world-class. But honestly, you don’t fully grasp how incredible this experience is until you’re out here, boots on the ground, soaking it all in. We’ve got James ‘BBQ’ Grubbs in the building, the reigning world sausage champion, throwing down live-fire demos, and we’re celebrating an epic Mizunara Finished Sweet Mash Rye release you won’t find anywhere else. Add in the bands, the food, the energy—this one’s going to be unforgettable. I’m just grateful to be a small part of something this big.”
The day-long festival will run from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM, with live music in the outdoor amphitheater featuring Arianna & The Bourbon Britches, Eric Hamblen Band, Nick Dittmeier & the Sawdusters, and Justin Wells. Guests can enjoy additional outdoor activities including axe throwing, a competitive cornhole tournament with a $300 prize, and full access to the Hard Truth Bourbon & BBQ Marketplace.
A highlight of the festival will be the exclusive release of Hard Truth’s Mizunara Finished Sweet Mash Rye, a limited-edition spirit aged in rare Japanese Mizunara oak barrels—available for purchase only at the event.
Tickets are available now, with two options: Bourbon & BBQ Tasting Pass and People’s Choice Pass.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: https://bourbon-and-bbq-rqp3u.tripleseattickets.com/
About Hard Truth Distilling Co.
Founded in 2015, Hard Truth Distilling Co. produces premium, handcrafted spirits from its destination distillery in Brown County, Indiana. Known for its bold rye whiskies, flavored spirits, and immersive guest experiences, Hard Truth has become one of the fastest-growing craft distilleries in the Midwest.
