This whiskey is a blend of Hard Truth Bourbon and Rye whiskeys created at the request of Hud Mellencamp and Levi Colson with artwork by John Mellencamp. It is a blend of their sweet mash Bourbon and their sweet mash chocolate malt rye whiskey. The profits from this whiskey go to charity, including Farm Aid. I picked up a bottle when I visited the distillery some time ago and Matt and I sat down to taste it. Here are our tasting notes.

Hard Truth Farmer’s Reserve Blended Straight Whiskey

Proof: 106

Age: No Age Statement

Nose:

  • Mike: Rich caramel and chocolate, apricots, baking spices and oak wood.
  • Matt: Caramel, peanut butter, cinnamon and oak wood.

Taste:

  • Mike: Caramel, vanilla, apricots, nutmeg, cinnamon and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and the chocolate comes out and the cinnamon is enhanced. Tasted with a pecan and the oak wood is enhanced and the spice becomes a white pepper.
  • Matt: Caramel, peanut butter, cinnamon and oak wood. The dried cranberry brought out some white pepper spice. The pecan made the caramel a rich toffee with peanut butter, cinnamon and white pepper.

Finish:

  • Mike: Long with oak wood, baking spices and lingering vanilla. The dried cranberry made the finish longer with lots of cinnamon spice and lingering chocolate. The pecan made the finish long and dry with oak wood and white pepper.
  • Matt: Medium long with oak and peanut butter. The dried cranberry made the finish long and spicy with white pepper. The pecan made the finish very long and dry with oak wood and white pepper.

I would pair this whiskey with a Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva Rothschild cigar. I think the vanilla and cedar spice of the smoke would pair well with the caramel and spice of the whiskey.

Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller