Raisin | French toast | Caramel corn | Ripe red fruits | Spiced rum cake | Some heat

Raisin | Black cherry | Stone fruit | Baking spices | Aged oak | Slightly acidic

Rye spice | Tobacco | Dark fruits | Cherry | Lingering spice

Hard Truth Distilling Co. out of Nashville, Indiana, continues to impress with increasingly higher aged and more complex whiskeys. I find the distillery’s ryes particularly enjoyable, and 2024’s reserve blend of four finished ryes that have been rested on Jupilles French oak is a feast for the senses.

Jupilles French oak comes from the Jupilles forest in France, and has a tight grain structure and sweet vanilla aroma that is similar to other French oak. The final resting of this range of four finishes on the Jupilles oak was likely meant to mellow the blend, as such a range of finished whiskeys can quickly go sideways if not married carefully. A total of 11 barrels were included in the blend, which was bottled at cask strength.

The result is a densely rich whiskey that favors dark fruits and spice, with ample intensity throughout. The aroma brings a bit of heat, and there is some welcome acidity on the midpalate that helps drive home the increasingly spicy finish. For such a young whiskey, it’s incredibly developed and complex, with no indication of being underaged. Overall it’s a complex and satisfying pour that will please more adventurous whiskey drinkers.