Hard Truth Distilling Co. has launched its French Oak Finished Bourbon, marking the first release in its 2026 Barrel Finish Reserve series. The limited grain-to-glass whiskey is now available at the Nashville, Indiana, distillery campus and will arrive at select retailers in the coming weeks.
The expression blends two mash bills distilled using the sweet mash method: Hard Truth’s straight bourbon (73% corn, 19% rye, 8% malted barley) and an all-Indiana grain bourbon (82% corn, 18% rye). The 23-barrel batch was aged in custom toasted American oak barrels, blended, and then finished in toasted French oak casks. It is bottled at 106.1 proof (53.05% ABV).
"The exciting part of bringing this bourbon to life is the unique opportunity to put our blending strategy and barrel finished program together," said Hard Truth Barrel Manager Chris Moore.
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READ THE STORY"By selecting two complementary mash bills of our sweet mash bourbon, then finishing the whiskey in medium plus toast char #1 barrels from one of the oldest cooperages in France, we were able to develop a complex and velvety bourbon that I think folks will truly appreciate from Hard Truth," Moore added.
Master Distiller Bryan Smith highlighted the production team’s quality-driven approach. A final step involved returning the bourbon to its original casks for additional mellowing, allowing the French oak character to integrate more deeply.
"This bold, sweet and elegant whiskey highlights our quality-first mindset," Smith said. "This has quickly become THE favorite whiskey amongst the distillery crew."
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Hard Truth Distilling Co. operates a distillery campus in Brown County, Indiana, where it produces a range of spirits using grain-to-glass methods. The company has steadily expanded its portfolio in recent years, with its Barrel Finish Reserve series showcasing limited expressions finished in specialty casks.
Official tasting notes from the brand describe the bourbon’s color as burnt amber, with aromas of apricot jam and buttered croissant opening to lush honey and warming clove. On the palate, sweet candied fruit and buttered toffee build to warming rye spice and oak. The finish offers lingering notes of apricot and rich baking spice, fading to cracked black pepper and bruléed sugar.
Further details are available at Hard Truth Distilling Co..
