This month was a hard choice for the whiskey of the month. We had several whiskeys to choose from and decided on the Hard Truth Four Grain Bottled-in-Bond over Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye and Old Elk Cigar Cut Bourbon. We decided against the Michter’s, our second choice, because we have done Michter’s products before and the Old Elk because of the price of over $100. Both of these other whiskeys are excellent whiskeys, but the Hard Truth was exceptional. We enjoyed the Hard Truth Bourbon and we decided to make it our whiskey of the month in a blind tasting. Here are our tasting notes.
Hard Truth Four Grain Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon
Proof: 100
Age: Five Years Old – Made Spring 2019 Bottled Spring 2024
Nose:
- Mike: Caramel, vanilla, apples, baking spices, oak wood.
- Matt: Corn, caramel, raisins, maple syrup, oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Caramel, vanilla, apples, allspice, cardamom, oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and the caramel is enhanced and the spice becomes cinnamon and nutmeg. Tasted with a pecan and raspberry and cherry fruit come out in the flavor.
- Matt: Caramel, raisins, maple syrup, and oak wood. The dried cranberry brings out orange zest. The pecan enhances the caramel and maple syrup.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak and baking spices. The dried cranberry brought out a cinnamon red hot candy in the finish. The pecan made the finish very long with oak wood and lingering raspberry and cherry fruit.
- Matt: Medium long with oak and leather. The dried cranberry added some lingering maple syrup. The pecan made the finish very long with oak, leather and maple syrup.
I would recommend a cigar with lots of vanilla and cedar spice in the smoke. I would reach for a My Father La Opulencia cigar.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller