Hard Truth Sweet Mash Bourbon Review

Distillery: Hard Truth Distilling Company – Nashville, Indiana

Proof: 90 (45% ABV)

Age: At least four years

Mashbill: 73% Corn, 19% Rye, 8% Malted Barley

MSRP: $45

Website: https://hardtruth.com/

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Who They Are

Situated almost equidistant between Indianapolis and Louisville is Nashville, Indiana — home of Hard Truth Distilling Company. In only seven years, Hard Truth Distilling Company went from operating in space about the size of a residential garage to a sprawling 325-acre property that houses a distillery producing multiple award-winning expressions, an event venue and a restaurant. The property once known to locals as “Firecracker Hill” is now known as “Hard Truth Hills.”

Use any search engine and you are likely to find Hard Truth Distilling as the first hit for sweet mash whiskey from among about a half-dozen distilleries. The term “sweet mash” refers to the process of using fresh ingredients for each fermentation batch, rather than reusing a portion of a previous batch (sour mash). Pitch the question of which is the better, sweet or sour mash, to a group of distillers, and you will get good arguments both ways. Regardless, Hard Truth feels that its use of sweet mash is a testament to their dedication to craftsmanship.

Growing from their humble beginnings to a full 24/7 operational distillery with three rickhouses capable of aging 20,000 barrels, Hard Truth has experienced significant growth and is positioned for even more. The distillery’s commitment to the sweet mash process is evident in its offerings including two rye whiskeys, a four-grain bourbon, a barrel finish reserve, a Master Distiller’s reserve and the subject of this review, a sweet mash bourbon plus several annual limited releases.

If you give Hard Truth B-n-B Sweet Mash Bourbon a try, have questions or want to suggest an expression for a future review, please drop me a note. I would love to hear from you! mike@bourboninspector.com

Hard Truth Sweet Mash Bourbon Review: Tasting Notes

Nose – 4/5

The Nose of this small batch Bourbon has a layer of sweetness that immediately jumps out at you. An ever so slight hint of clove helps to round out the highly prominent aromas of caramel and cherry fruit. It is a little difficult to pick out the underlying hints of butter and pecan. The Nose sets a high bar for what is to come on the Palate.

Palate – 4.5/5

On the Palate, Hard Truth Sweet Mash Bourbon is highly satisfying. The rich taste of sweet cream follows the initial burst of toffee and caramel. Cherry notes from the nose carry
through to the Palate, adding a fruitiness that balances the richness of the toffee and caramel. As you continue to sip, you’ll notice a subtle spiciness of clove, adding depth to the sip. The high corn content in the mash bill contributes to a smooth mouthfeel that makes for a great drinking experience. There is also a hint of oak, which adds a slight earthy quality to the Palate.

Finish – 4/5

The Finish leaves a great lasting impression because of its smooth nature. An initial warmth of the spice fades and gives way to notes of vanilla, oak and coffee, which adds a rich sort of roasted quality to the finish. Eager to take another sip, you will probably find Hard Truth Sweet Mash Bourbon an expression that you will go back to again and again.

Value – 4.5/5

This small batch bourbon, with its rich and vibrant flavor profile, is an excellent value at $47. Heck, it would be an excellent value at $65. The combination of high-quality ingredients and non-traditional production methods results in a bourbon that is a wonderful combination of both a classic bourbon and yet unique.

Hard Truth Sweet Mash Bourbon: The Verdict

Verdict – 4.25/5

We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.

Scoring System:

• Platinum – 4.5 – 5
• Gold – 4 – 4.5
• Silver – 3 – 4
• Bronze – <3