Hard Truth Distilling Co. announced the release of four, limited reserve whiskeys: Barrel Finish Reserve 2024 Blend, Master Distiller’s Reserve 2024 Blend, Double Oaked Sweet Mash Rye, and Maple Brûlée Rye. 

With a focus on the use of special barrels and meticulous blending, distiller Bryan Smith and cooperage expert Chris Moore have produced four unique expressions that take advantage of the character of the distillery’s current award-winning whiskeys and enhanced them by resting for the perfect amount of time in distinctively selected cooperage from around the world.

Distribution of each new whiskey will be limited and, for many fans, require a search to purchase. Smith is confident that each of these new whiskeys will be worth the hunt.

“Because we only utilized a handful of barrels for this release, they’re not easy to find,” said Smith. “But, your best shot at securing each bottle is to visit our distillery in Indiana.”

Smith and Moore worked with Independent Stave Company, Tonnellerie Baron, and Tonnellerie Moreau to determine the barrels and aging process for each whiskey. Smith said it was equal parts science, distillers’ know-how and imagination which led to the final approach.

“However,” he noted, “for all the calculations and lessons learned we rely on, ultimately, we let the whiskeys speak to us.”

Part of the inspiration for the new reserve expressions comes from the recent awards and accolades received by Hard Truth’s whiskeys, including their new line of bourbons and previously released reserved blends.

“We make whiskey that excites us,” said Smith. “Receiving awards and recognition for our sweet mash whiskeys is great, but we know that, in order to establish Hard Truth as a true heritage American whiskey brand, we need to constantly innovate. I love it.”

New for fall 2024:

Barrel Finished Reserve Collection: Barrel Finished Reserve 2024 Blend

Last year, Hard Truth’s RW-1 mash bill Sweet Mash Rye went into rare finishing barrels: Cognac, Pedro Ximénez Sherry, Pedro Ximénez Brandy, and Sauternes.

The four resulting expressions were highly rated and awarded, including best-in-category barrel-finished rye (PX Sherry) in the 2023 ASCOT Awards and a spot in the top 50 of Fred Minnick’s Top 100 American Whiskeys 2023 (Cognac).

For this year’s release, these same award-winning whiskeys have been blended and rested on toasted Jupilles French Oak.

● Blend composition: Cognac 31 percent, Sauternes 26 percent, PX Sherry 26

percent, and PX Brandy 17 percent.

● Bottled at cask strength at 116.8 proof (58.4 percent ABV)

● Mash bill: 94% rye, 6% malted barley

● Batch size: 11 barrels

● Aged 3 years

● Rested on: Toasted Jupilles French oak

● MSRP: $89.99

● 11 barrels were produced.

● Released Sept. 7, 2024.

Barrel Finish Reserved Collection: Double-Oaked Sweet Mash Rye

Hard Truth’s award-winning Sweet Mash Rye takes on new depth in this decadent double-oaked expression of the RW-1 mash bill (94 percent rye, 6 percent malted barley).

After aging for 2+ years, this whiskey was blended, then placed in a second set of new, charred, American white oak barrels to finish aging for another 3+ years.

“We let the whiskey speak to us, and, ultimately, we found the perfect moment to release this,” said Moore.

This limited, cask-strength release is a must-try for fans of Hard Truth’s original Sweet Mash Rye and whiskey fans with a taste for unique expressions.

● Bottled at cask strength, 106.9 proof (53.54 percent ABV)

● Sixteen barrels produced

● Aged 5+ years

● MSRP, $69.99

● Released Sept. 7, 2024
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Master Distiller’s Reserve 2024 Blend

Each year, Hard Truth offers up a Master Distiller’s Reserve, or what Smith calls “one of our favorite things.”

Three Hard Truth mash bills come together in 2024’s release — Hard Truth’s Chocolate Malt, Caramel Malt, and Malted Rye Sweet Mash Ryes.

These three mash bills were released as individual Master Distiller’s Reserve expressions in previous years, each earning double platinum ASCOT Awards for taste in 2023 and Malted Rye earning double gold in the 2023 the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, among other awards.

● Blend composition: 20 percent Chocolate Malt Rye, 50 percent Caramel Malt Rye, and 30 percent Malted Rye

● Bottled at cask strength, 115 proof (57.5 percent ABV)

● Twenty barrels produced

● Aged 4+ years

● MSRP: $89.99

● Released: Sept. 7, 2024

‍‍Barrel Finish Reserve: Maple Brûlée Rye 

Maple Brûlée Rye features a unique Hard Truth mash bill finished in unique barrels.

After the initial aging process — 3+ years in new, charred American white oak barrels — the whiskey spent just over a year resting in maple brûlée barrels.

The brûlée barrels, from the Tonnellerie Moreau cooperage in Quebec, are charred a second time after aging bourbon for 7-9 years and maple syrup for a year. The barrels did take the long route to Hard Truth, however. Before heading to Canada, they were aging syrup at Bissell Maple Farm in Jefferson, Ohio.

Once the whiskey had soared in the bold maple and caramelized sugar notes from those barrels, Smith and Moore added one more element to tie it all together, briefly resting Maple Brûlée Rye on toasted Jupilles French oak.

This extremely limited, eight-barrel batch will be distributed as single barrels, appearing in key markets throughout Hard Truth’s distribution area — including at the distillery property itself.

● Mash bill: 69 percent rye, 20 percent corn, 11 percent malted barley

● Rested just over one year in maple brûlée barrels, then briefly on Jupilles French Oak

● Bottled at cask strength

● Eight barrels produced

● Aged 4+ years

● MSRP: $89.99

● Release: Sept. 28, 2024

Read more: Hard Truth to Auction Rye Whiskey to Support Farm Aid

About Hard Truth Distilling Co.

In addition to its critically-acclaimed line of sweet mash bourbons and rye whiskeys, the Nashville, Indiana-based Hard Truth also crafts a selection of premium craft spirits, including top-selling Hard Truth Toasted Coconut Rum, Hard Truth Toasted Coconut Rum Cream, Hard Truth Cinnamon Vodka, and Hard Truth Maple Bourbon Cream. Hard Truth’s spirits are currently distributed in more than 20 states, and the distillery has partnered with ReserveBar for online sales in more than 40 states.

For more information on Hard Truth, visit hardtruth.com.