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Whiskey Review: Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye (Batch 001)

We review Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye, a rye made without the common sour mashing technique by Indiana-based Hard Truth Distilling Co.

OVERALL RATING

8
$69.95
  • Scott Bernard Nelson is a writer, actor, and whiskey reviewer.
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Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye

Tasting Notes

About:

Mash bill of 94% rye, 6% malted barley, aged a minimum of 2 years in American oak; 115.2 proof/57.6% alcohol by volume; MSRP of $69.95 for a 750 ml bottle.
Appearance:
Darker than you’d expect for a 2- to 3-year-old whiskey. The legs are watery, but the color is dark amber verging on brown.
Nose:
Sweet mash doesn’t suggest that it should smell sweet… but in this case, it is sweet – almost bourbon-like. The combination of dark coloration and sweet nose suggests Hard Truth’s barrels are new, heavily charred, and having a definite impact on the whiskey. Vanilla and maple syrup aromas are strong, with more subtle grace notes of grass and earthiness.
Palate:
The rye comes through much more profoundly in the mouth than it did in the nose. Black pepper, granulated brown sugar, and ginger snap cookies at the front end fade into a long honey and molasses finish. I’ll admit to a personal bias for barrel-proof whiskies, and the 115 proof on this one feels just right. It isn’t a rye that wants to be watered down any further.
Finish:
Comments:
Hard Truth dumped only 30 barrels of Batch 001 last October, so it’s very much a small batch – and a first step toward what the Indiana distiller hopes is a new identity built around distinctive sweet mash flavor profiles. More important for someone deciding whether to buy a bottle, it held up remarkably well alongside some of my favorite ryes in an impromptu taste test. At less than $70 for a bottle, this is one I’d happily stock up on – and/or keep a sharp eye out for future batches. This is not a perfect rye, but it’s a damn good one. And an impressive effort for a first batch.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Scott Bernard Nelson

Scott Bernard Nelson is a writer, actor, and whiskey reviewer based in Portland, Oregon. While currently working in higher education, he previously dedicated 22 years to journalism, covering impactful events such as 9/11 in Manhattan, crossing into Iraq with U.S. Marines, and contributing to The Boston Globe's Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of abuse in the Catholic Church, which inspired the film "Spotlight." Since 2019, Scott has shared his insights as a whiskey reviewer for The Whiskey Wash.  

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