Indiana’s Hard Truth Distilling Releases Its First Ever Bourbon

Hard Truth Distilling Co. describes itself as an “artisan distillery located in Southern Indiana.” Founded in 2015, it started initially as a small operation in the upper rooms of a pizza restaurant and has now grown to an 18,000-square foot, state-of-the-art distillery featuring Vendome Copper & Brass Works equipment. The distillery team there has now unveiled their first bourbon.

The new Hard Truth Distilling Co. Sipes’ Straight Bourbon Whiskey, according to those behind it, is a “curated” four year old American whiskey that’s been finished in “hand-selected rum casks and aged in the Hard Truth Distilling Co. rackhouse at Hard Truth Hills in Nashville, Indiana.” It is bottled at 90 proof and non-chill filtered.

“The demand for whiskey has grown significantly in the past decade,” said Jeff McCabe, co-founder and executive chairman of Hard Truth and an associated group of businesses, in a prepared statement, “and we’re proud to help answer the craft spirit lovers’ call with Sipes’ Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Since we started Hard Truth Distilling Co., we’ve continued to stay true to our Southern Indiana roots, and our first-ever whiskey product is a nod to the pioneer of distilling in Brown County.

“The release of Sipes’ marks the beginning of Hard Truth’s rollout of an array of whiskey and bourbon products while celebrating the history of Hard Truth Distilling Co.’s birthplace.”

Plans call for this new bourbon to price around $58 per 750 ml bottle. Official tasting notes make mention of “a deep and brilliant copper appearance with a nose full of pecan, carmel, and sweet cream with notes of ripe fruit and tobacco. The rich taste is finished with hints of toasted nuts and cornbread completed with lingering hints of chocolate, oak and dried fruit.”

As a side note, Sipes’ Straight Bourbon Whiskey is named after one Henry A. Sipes, Brown County’s first known distiller. Said county is also were the distillery is located.