Caramel | Cherry turnover | Glazed cinnamon rolls | Light charred oak

Sweet oak | Candied pecans | Vanilla cream | Buttery

Peppery spice | Chocolate | Charred oak | Mixed nuts | Lingering coffee liqueur aftertaste

Hard Truth Distilling Co. started out distilling their own rye whiskeys, which is unusual in the industry as bourbon is typically the go-to as a distillery gets off the ground. Hard Truth’s bourbon portfolio will now include three bourbons: Hard Truth Sweet Mash Bourbon, Wheated Bourbon, and Four Grain Bourbon. As with their rye production, Hard Truth states, “Most of the wheat and all of the corn used to produce bourbon at Hard Truth is grown by Doug Miller, a local, fifth-generation Indiana farmer located just 60 miles from the distillery. A majority of the rye is also from Indiana, grown in the southwestern part of the state by farmer Dr. Duane Kuhlenschmidt.”  

Hard Truth Sweet Mash Bourbon starts in the traditional sense with a strong caramel dominated nose. Things turn even sweeter when cherry turnover and glazed cinnamon rolls enter, with light charred oak trailing behind. The palate is noticeably buttery, with mellow sweet oak dominating the flavor profile. Even at this point you can tell the bourbon is in a good place as candied pecans and vanilla cream get added. The finish hits with a jolt of pepper spice that quickly resides, leaving behind charred oak, chocolate, and mixed nuts. Nicely capping the sip off is a lingering sweet Kahlua coffee liqueur note.

Much like Hard Truths rye products, there seems to be a recurring dessert-like trait to them. Someone must have a sweet tooth at Hard Truth Distilling Co. because every aspect of their sip seems to add layers of sweetness to the overall flavor profile. Hard Truth Sweet Mash Bourbon still lacks ample complexity and overall maturity, yet what is offered at least 4 years old works well. As long as someone likes their bourbon on the sweet side, most will thoroughly enjoy their time with Hard Truth Sweet Mash Bourbon.