I like the Hard Truth whiskeys and particularly their sweet mash rye whiskey. The distillery has been experimenting with different finishes for their whiskey and this bottle is one of those experiments. It is from a three barrel batch of their rye whiskey finished in Sauternes wine barrels. It is a very good rye whiskey and I say that because the rye whiskey comes through the finish in full force. I am a firm believer that the finishing of whiskey is an art of balance with the finish complementing the whiskey and not dominating the whiskey. Hard Truth has done an excellent balancing act with this whiskey. The bottle is a distillery-only bottle and I picked one up the other day when Matt and I visited the distillery. We sat down and tasted it recently and here are our tasting notes.
Hard Truth Rye Finished in Sauternes Wine Barrels
Proof: 110
Age: Four Years Old
Nose:
- Mike: Vanilla, wild berries, baking spice and oak wood.
- Matt: Caramel, lemon zest, cherries, black pepper and oak wood.
Taste:
- Mike: Vanilla, blackberries, raspberries, cinnamon, nutmeg and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and the raspberry is enhanced and a hint of ginger comes forward. Tasted with a pecan and the vanilla becomes a rich caramel and apple comes forward.
- Matt: Caramel, cherries, lemon zest, black pepper and oak wood. The dried cranberry brought out vanilla to join the party. The pecan added coffee with cream and peanut butter to the flavor.
Finish:
- Mike: Medium long with oak wood, raspberry and cinnamon. The dried cranberry added black berry to the finish. The pecan made the finish long with oak wood, cinnamon and lingering caramel.
- Matt: Medium long with oak wood and black pepper. The dried cranberry added lingering vanilla. The pecan added lingering coffe and cream.
I would pair this fine rye whiskey with a cigar that has vanilla and rich tobacco in the smoke. I would reach for a Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial cigar.
Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller