When Matt and I visited Hard Truth Distillery, I purchased several bottles of their whiskey and was gifted two more. I wanted to spread out the posts as not to overload the Hard Truth reviews, but here is the next one. It is a bottle that was only available in the gift shop. Matt and I sat down to to taste it the other day and here are our tasting notes on this excellent rye whiskey.

Hard Truth Rye Finished in Spanish PX Brandy Casks

Proof: 114

Age: No Age Statement

Nose:

  • Mike: Rye grass, vanilla, raisins, plums, allspice and oak wood.
  • Matt: Rye grass, vanilla, cotton candy, red pepper flakes and oak wood.

Taste:

  • Mike: Rye grass, vanilla, raisins, cherries, allspice, black pepper and oak wood. Tasted with a dried cranberry and the fruits are reduced in flavor and the black pepper is enhanced. Tasted with a pecan and the vanilla becomes a rich caramel.
  • Matt: Rye grass, vanilla, red berries, cinnamon and oak wood. The dried cranberry added red pepper flakes to the taste. The pecan made the vanilla a rich caramel and added the flavors of rhubarb and wild berries.

Finish:

  • Mike: Long with oak wood, black pepper and lingering cherry. The dried cranberry enhanced the pepper in the finish. The pecan made the finish very long with oak wood, caramel and just a hint of black pepper.
  • Matt: Long with oak wood and cinnamon.  The dried cranberry made the finish long with oak wood and red pepper flakes. The pecan made the finish long and dry with lots of oak wood.

I would pair this fine rye whiskey with a My Father Blue cigar. I think the vanilla and dried fruit flavors in the smoke would pair well with the vanilla and fruit in the whiskey.

Hard Truth Rye Finished in Spanish PX Brandy Casks

Photos Courtesy of Rosemary Miller