Nashville, IN (September 12, 2024) – Hard Truth Distilling Co., nationally recognized for its grain-to-glass sweet mash whiskeys, announced the release of four, limited reserve whiskeys: Barrel Finish Reserve 2024 Blend, Master Distiller’s Reserve 2024 Blend, Double Oak Sweet Mash Rye, and Maple Brûlée Rye.
With a focus on the use of special barrels and meticulous blending, Smith and cooperage expert, Chris Moore, have produced four unique expressions that take advantage of the character of the distillery's current award-winning whiskeys and enhanced them by resting for the perfect amount of time in distinctively selected cooperage from around the world.
Distribution of each new whiskey will be limited and, for many fans, require a search to purchase. Smith is confident that each of these new whiskeys will be worth the hunt. “Because we only utilized a handful of barrels for this release, they’re not easy to find,”
said Smith. “But, your best shot at securing each bottle is to visit our distillery in Indiana.”
Smith and Moore worked with Independent Stave Company, Tonnellerie Baron, and Tonnellerie Moreau to determine the barrels and aging process for each whiskey.
Smith said it was equal parts science, distillers’ know-how and imagination which led to the final approach.
“However,” he noted, “for all the calculations and lessons learned we rely on, ultimately, we let the whiskeys speak to us.”
Part of the inspiration for the new reserve expressions comes from the recent awards and accolades received by Hard Truth’s whiskeys, including their new line of bourbons and previously released reserved blends.
“We make whiskey that excites us,” said Smith. “Receiving awards and recognition for our sweet mash whiskeys is great, but we know that, in order to establish Hard Truth as a true heritage American whiskey brand, we need to constantly innovate. I love it.”
New for fall 2024:
Barrel Finished Reserve Collection: Barrel Finished Reserve 2024 Blend
Last year, Hard Truth’s RW-1 mash bill Sweet Mash Rye went into rare finishing barrels: Cognac, Pedro Ximénez Sherry, Pedro Ximénez Brandy, and Sauternes. The four resulting expressions were highly rated and awarded, including best-in-category barrel-finished rye (PX Sherry) in the 2023 ASCOT Awards and a spot in the top 50 of Fred Minnick’s Top 100 American Whiskeys 2023 (Cognac).
For this year’s release, these same award-winning whiskeys have been blended and rested on toasted Jupilles French Oak.
The result is an homage to the traditional cigar blend whiskey, masterfully combining that collection of flavor profiles. The French oak adds softness and depth while marrying the elements together in a complex, cohesive whiskey worth enjoying over and over again.
● Blend composition: Cognac 31 percent, Sauternes 26 percent, PX Sherry 26 percent, and PX Brandy 17 percent.
● Bottled at cask strength at 116.8 proof (58.4 percent ABV)
● Mash bill: 94% rye, 6% malted barley
● Batch size: 11 barrels
● Aged 3 years
● Rested on: Toasted Jupilles French oak
● MSRP: $89.99
● 11 barrels were produced.
● Released Sept. 7, 2024.
Barrel Finish Reserved Collection: Double-Oak Sweet Mash Rye
Hard Truth’s award-winning Sweet Mash Rye takes on new depth in this decadent double-oak expression of the RW-1 mash bill (94 percent rye, 6 percent malted barley).
After aging for 2+ years, this whiskey was blended, then placed in a second set of new, charred, American white oak barrels to finish aging for another 3+ years. “We let the whiskey speak to us, and, ultimately, we found the perfect moment to release this,” said Moore.
This limited, cask-strength release is a must-try for fans of Hard Truth’s original Sweet Mash Rye and whiskey fans with a taste for unique expressions.
● Bottled at cask strength, 106.9 proof (53.54 percent ABV)
● Sixteen barrels produced
● Aged 5+ years
● MSRP: $69.99
● Released: Sept. 7, 2024
Master Distiller’s Reserve 2024 Blend
Each year, Hard Truth offers up a Master Distiller’s Reserve, or what Smith calls “one of our favorite things.”
Three Hard Truth mash bills come together in 2024’s release — Hard Truth’s Chocolate Malt, Caramel Malt, and Malted Rye Sweet Mash Ryes. These three mash bills were released as individual Master Distiller’s Reserve expressions in previous years, each earning double platinum ASCOT Awards for taste in 2023 and Malted Rye earning double gold in the 2023 the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, among other awards.
For 2024, those whiskeys — now with the character added by two more years in a barrel — meld seamlessly into a rich, complex expression that stands out as unique among both straight and malt rye whiskeys.
Crafted with great care and intent, it’s a celebration of the distiller’s art and a special occasion sipper worthy of being shared with the best of company.
● Blend composition: 20 percent Chocolate Malt Rye, 50 percent Caramel Malt Rye, and 30 percent Malted Rye
● Bottled at cask strength, 115 proof (57.5 percent ABV)
● Twenty barrels produced
● Aged 4+ years
● MSRP: $89.99
● Released: Sept. 7, 2024
Barrel Finish Reserve: Maple Brûlée Rye
Maple Brûlée Rye features a unique Hard Truth mash bill finished in unique barrels.
After the initial aging process — 3+ years in new, charred American white oak barrels — the whiskey spent just over a year resting in maple brûlée barrels.
The brûlée barrels, from the Tonnellerie Moreau cooperage in Quebec, are charred a second time after aging bourbon for 7-9 years and maple syrup for a year. The barrels did take the long route to Hard Truth, however. Before heading to Canada, they were aging syrup at Bissell Maple Farm in Jefferson, Ohio.
Once the whiskey had soared in the bold maple and caramelized sugar notes from those barrels, Smith and Moore added one more element to tie it all together, briefly resting Maple Brûlée Rye on toasted Jupilles French oak.
This extremely limited, eight-barrel batch will be distributed as single barrels, appearing in key markets throughout Hard Truth’s distribution area — including at the distillery property itself.
● Mash bill: 69 percent rye, 20 percent corn, 11 percent malted barley
● Rested just over one year in maple brûlée barrels, then briefly on Jupilles French Oak
● Bottled at cask strength
● Eight barrels produced
● Aged 4+ years
● MSRP: $89.99
● Release: Sept. 28, 2024
