Nashville, IN (March 25, 2024) – Hard Truth Distilling Co., an award-winning craft distillery located in Brown County, Indiana announced the introduction of Farmer’s Reserve — the second in a series of four collectible whiskeys in collaboration with Mellencamp Whiskey Company.

Farmer’s Reserve will be officially introduced on Saturday, April 6 at the Hard Truth distillery campus, starting with a bottle signing by the makers at 10 a.m. that day — part of a full weekend of live music and events leading up to a party celebrating the Monday, April 8 total solar eclipse.

Like Harvest Rye before it, and each of the four collector’s series whiskeys from Hard Truth and Mellencamp Whiskey, Farmer’s Reserve features a unique whiskey expression created by Hard Truth’s Master Distiller Bryan Smith with Hud Mellencamp and Levi Collison, the co-founders of Mellencamp Whiskey Co.

Each bottle’s label in the series features original artwork by John Mellencamp. Farmer’s Reserve showcases a 1991 painting called American Boy And Girl. The two figures in the oil-on-canvas are a nod to the composition of Farmer's Reserve, which brings two very different whiskeys together in one bottle.

According to Smith, the new Mellencamp Whiskey Co. expression is a perfect marriage of Hard Truth’s Chocolate Malt Rye and Sweet Mash Bourbon, which has then been rested on toasted Amburana, a Brazilian wood that has seen recent popularity in finished whiskeys.

“Farmer’s Reserve builds beautifully on our mission to produce great whiskeys in collaboration with Hard Truth and the local farmers that will produce the highest quality regional flavor profiles,” said Hud Mellencamp.

Farmer’s Reserve will be available at the Hard Truth distillery campus starting Saturday, April 6, and out in the greater market over the weeks following. It is 106 proof (53% ABV) with a suggested retail price of $69.99.

As for Harvest Rye, the first collaboration whiskey from Hard Truth and Mellencamp Whiskey, it’s all been shipped out, though a limited quantity of bottles are still available for stores to reorder through distributors. Collison said once it’s gone, it’s gone for good, although he admitted keeping a few in his collection that will be “sipped slowly.”

“The success of Harvest Rye has us energized for our second release and the amazing whiskey that’s coming next,” said Collison. “Farmer’s Reserve is an exceptional new whiskey, and fans of the first release will love this one.”

About Mellencamp Whiskey Co.
Mellencamp Whiskey Co. has partnered with Hard Truth Distilling Co. to release a limited series of collectible sweet mash whiskeys in support and celebration of America’s heartland farmers. This collaboration is founded on the deep friendship between the founders of Mellencamp Whiskey Company, Hud Mellencamp and Levi Collison, and Hard Truth Distilling Co. Master Distiller, Bryan Smith.

Hud's connection to farming communities runs deep as he is the son of one of the founders of Farm Aid, a charity that assists farmers across America. In alignment with this is Hard Truth’s Grounded in Truth initiative, which supports local farmers in collaboration with partner organizations like Farm Aid, its current giving partner. This commitment to supporting local farmers and sourcing top-notch ingredients perfectly aligns with their values.

Together, the two companies are producing whiskeys that are crafted with the finest locally sourced ingredients, a testament to their shared values and dedication to their beloved home state. They look forward to sharing this unique collaboration with whiskey enthusiasts worldwide.

About Hard Truth Distilling Co. 
Hard Truth Distilling Co. is an industry leader in the production of sweet mash whiskey. Headquartered in Nashville, Indiana, they produce more than20 premium craft spirits, including the critically acclaimed Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey and top-selling Hard Truth Cinnamon Vodka, Hard Truth Maple Bourbon Cream, Hard Truth Toasted Coconut Rum, and Hard Truth Toasted Coconut Rum Cream.

Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey is a culmination of years of careful planning and precise crafting. The result is a complex, pleasant, high-quality rye that has garnered numerous honors including Hard Truth's first batch of Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey which was named in the top 50 of Fred Minnick's Top 100American Whiskeys of 2021, and since then has taken home a gold medal in USA Spirits awards, double platinum medal in the Ascots, and scored a 93 by Whiskey Advocate. Most recently, a barrel-finished expression of Sweet Mash Rye was named the #34 best American Whiskey from over 900 whiskeys tasted in Fred Minnick's Top 100 of 2023.

Hard Truth is currently celebrating a milestone with the release of its first bourbons all produced grain-to-glass. According to Hard Truth co-founder and Master Distiller Bryan Smith, this moment marks a new chapter in the Hard Truth story. The new bourbons include Hard Truth Sweet Mash Bourbon, Wheated Bourbon, and Four Grain Bourbon. The Sweet Mash Bourbon was released at90-proof, and both Wheated Bourbon and Four Grain Bourbon are 100-proof and bottled-in-bond.

Hard Truth’s spirits are distributed in Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Washington, D.C., and the Bahamas.