This Indiana Distillery Just Dropped 4 Rye Whiskeys Each Featuring a Different Barrel Finish
Indiana distillery Hard Truth has debuted its Barrel Finish Reserve line, kicking off with four whiskeys. (Image: Hard Truth Distilling Co.)
On Thursday, Indiana whiskey producer Hard Truth Distilling Co. announced the release of four new whiskeys, which together comprise the Barrel Finished Reserve collection.
The Barrel Finished Reserve series takes Hard Truth’s Sweet Mash Rye — distilled from a mashbill of 94% rye and 6% malted barley — and finishes them in different barrels. Each whiskey has a suggested retail price of $99.99 per 750-milliliter bottle. Barrel Finished Reserve will be an annual release.
The debut expressions comprise Pedro Ximénez Sherry, Pedro Ximénez Brandy, Sauternes and Cognac.
“We are thrilled with the way these whiskeys finished out and excited for our fans to get these limited bottles,” Hard Truth Master Distiller Bryan Smith said in a news release. “The intent and careful work done on the front end of this project really shows off in the glass.”
Chris Moore, Hard Truth’s barrel program manager, sourced the finishing barrels “without cost consideration,” according to Hard Truth.
“To stay consistent with Hard Truth’s philosophy for making the highest quality whiskey, it was critical that we use not just any barrel – but instead use barrels with the level of quality and provenance that could match and complement its specific style of sweet mash whiskey making,” Moore said.
Hard Truth Distilling Co. Barrel Finish Reserve Details and Tasting Notes, Via the Brand
Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Finished in French Oak Cognac Barrels
Proof: 108
Batch size: Three barrels. Wine was dumped on Aug. 28
Barrel details: Cognac VSOP is a French Brandy made of mostly Ugni Blanc grapes from Cognac, France, and must be aged in Limousin French Oak barrels for at least four years.
Tasting notes: “Known worldwide as a rich, sipping spirit, French Cognac barrels impart notes of baked apple, brown sugar crumble, bold baking spice, and incredible complexity to Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye, with a long, inviting finish of fruit with a touch of maple, fading to black pepper and toffee.”
Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Finished in Pedro Ximénez Brandy Barrels
Proof: 114
Batch size: Two barrels. Wine was dumped on Aug. 28.
Barrel details: These barrels held PX Sherry for 17 years and were then filled with Brandy de Jerez and underwent the Solera process.
Tasting notes: “With sweet notes of maple syrup, baking spices, and candied fruit, the Pedro Ximénez Brandy barrels give our Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey a rich complexity of sweetness, quickly overtaken by soft fruit notes, rich clove, cinnamon, and pepper. A warming finish of cinnamon and shortbread give way to toffee and a hint of oak.”
Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Finished in Pedro Ximénez Sherry Barrels
Proof: 113.3
Batch size: Three barrels. Wine was dumped on July 18.
Barrel details: Pedro Ximénez sherry is thick, sweet and syrup wine made from Pedro Ximénez grapes that were sun-dried in Jerez, Spain.
Tasting notes: “Sherry from this white Spanish grape is extremely rich and sweet. Paired with our Sweet Mash Rye, this barrel imparts rich notes of vanilla custard, cassis, and rye spice that awakens the senses, with bright fruit, bruleed sugar, and warming spices on the palate. A warm dessert finish with concord grape jelly and smooth vanilla, fading to dark chocolate and clove.”
Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Finished in Sauternes Wine Barrels
Proof: 110
Batch size: 3 barrels. Wine was dumped Aug. 28.
Barrel details: Sauternes is a sweet white wine made in the Gaves region of Bordeaux, France. Sauternes is made of Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle grapes that have been affected by botrytis cinerea, aka noble rot, which causes the grapes to partially raisin, resulting in a sweet, dessert-forward flavor.
Tasting notes: “This French dessert wine is renowned for its complex sweetness, imparted by using grapes affected by noble rot. Our Sweet Mash Rye finished in these barrels balances rye spice with sweet pastry notes, rich raisin, warm baking spice, and a dessert finish of lingering candied fruit, pepper, allspice, and a touch of honey.”
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