Traditional sweet scents waft out of the glass initially, including brown sugar, charred oak, and toasted caramel. Exploring further brings about scents of cinnamon sticks and Dutch apple pie. A light dose of baking spices adds to the sweetness that the overall enjoyable aroma of this bourbon produces.

The baking theme found in the nose carries over to the palate. Cinnamon bread combines with raisins and oak to provide a slightly sweet and dry base layer. Spiced dried apples and baking spices, along with a touch of nutmeg powder add further intrigue along that same vein. It’s a pleasing combination that never leans too far into any one flavor dimension.

Apple cinnamon spice jumps forward and combines with additional distinctive hits of cinnamon powder and dried apples. Lightly charred oak and a slight vanilla sweetness provide further flavor variety. A gentle cinnamon spice lingers and allows you to appreciate the overall sip. It’s rare that bourbon peaks at the very end, and while the finish contains more simple flavor notes, they come together quite well as the sip concludes,  achieving the high point of the whiskey.

Bottled in bond bourbons seem to be having more of a focus as of late, especially from distilleries that have only been around since the 2010s. It’s the ultimate equalizer bourbon that presents an even playing field for all who enter. Yes, you may see brands that are able to capitalize on age, such as Heaven Hill’s Old Fitzgerald line, but for the most part it’s a fairly straightforward apple-to-apples comparison.

Wheated bourbons, in general, are not as prominently produced as rye-based bourbons are. The most popular names that come to mind when most people think of wheated bourbons are the Maker’s Mark and Weller lineups. However, wheated bottled in bond bourbons are still rare, especially from large Kentucky distilleries, with the exception of the more recent Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Bottled in Bond offering. That trend is changing, though, thanks to the steady increase by more craft distilleries such as Ben Holladay and Blue Grass Distillers.

Hard Truth Wheated Bourbon Bottled in Bond enters this less crowded playing field and does so with more force than you’d expect from a distillery that only started distilling in 2015. Its sip tastes dialed in and is full of rich autumn flavors that accentuate the wheat’s softness. While it leaves room for future improvement, it also stands shoulder to shoulder with other major established brands that have been in the market for multiple decades by comparison. Factor in that this is the first time the distillery has ever produced a bourbon, and you walk away shocked at how well composed the whiskey is and impressed with what Hard Truth has accomplished here. It’s not often that a distillery’s first foray into a whiskey category can stand up to established brands, but Hard Truth pulls off this feat, making it a unique entrant in the world of wheated whiskeys in 2024.

Coming in at $55, Hard Truth Wheated Bourbon Bottled in Bond comes in spot on for the sip being delivered. It’s not the cheapest wheated bourbon in the market, but it’s also not meant to be either. One must acknowledge that economies of scale come into play in order for larger, more established distilleries to offer their bourbons at the price they do. In Hard Turth’s case, the sip is well-rounded, and offered at a price that is in line with other craft distilleries in the market. This isn’t a value play whiskey, but one that’s priced exactly for what it is, a well-rounded wheated bottled in bond bourbon that delivers a pleasing sip.

For Hard Truth’s first foray into bourbon, let alone a wheated bottled in bond bourbon, the result is surprisingly good. It’s striking how well-developed this tastes, considering this would have been distilled within only a few years of the distillery starting up. The sip comes across as you’d expect from a more established brand and giving more of a big Kentucky brand vibe versus Indiana craft vibe. While Hard Truth Wheated Bourbon Bottled in Bond has room for improvement, this is a bourbon that is showing trending signs of firing on all cylinders in the future. In the here and now, the sip will please wheated bourbon lovers, especially when you factor in the reasonable cost being asked for this whiskey. If you haven’t explored any of Hard Truth’s products yet, and are looking for a change to your standard go-to bottled in bond bottles, this wheated bourbon is a solid place to start.