Hard Truth Bottled-In-Bond Wheated Bourbon

Steve Coomes -

BOTTLE DETAILS

STEVE'S NOTES

SHARE WITH: All whiskey drinkers, especially fans of bonded releases.

WORTH THE PRICE: Yes.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle.

OVERALL: A visit to Hard Truth Distillery is a must for any whiskey fan rolling through central Indiana, especially from spring through fall. The grounds are spectacular and the ATV experience through the forest is terrific. The merch shop has loads of great stuff, there are multiple bars on campus at which to buy drinks, and the onsite restaurant serves terrific casual grub. In the late afternoons and evenings, there's live music in its outdoor amphitheater. There's even a upscale private cabin for rent. You get the point that there's lots to do there?

Thematically, that energy and variety come through in all its whiskies. Master distiller Bryan Smith has his grain-forward spirits dialed in, and his custom-toasted barrel program amplifies his crew's efforts in ways that make you think, "There's no way this whiskey isn't older." On the nose and palate of this bottled-in-bond wheated bourbon, wood represents spice and complexity, toast and char and delivers hints of smoke.

Just-harvested grain aromas tag along with subtle fruit notes of burnt citrus before shifting to pie crust, toasted bread and blended brown sugar and cinnamon. On subsequent sniffs, dark chocolate works its way in alongside dried rose petals and cherry blossoms.

A first sip serves up fruit and spice: golden apples, ripe banana, cinnamon, cocoa and a bit of black pepper. Keep after it and you get a bourbon toddy that, given its high corn and wheat mashbill, needs no warming or honey; it's sweet and subtle enough on its own. It's a graceful whiskey built to pair well with desserts constructed on foundations of crust, and it'll dance a lively jig in a citrus-accented cocktail such as a gold rush or the Big Texan.

BRAND NOTES

AROMA: Toasted marshmallow, dark chocolate, and custard

TASTE: S’mores, toasted almond, and candied fruit

FINISH: Mocha and shortbread that build to black pepper and maple

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.