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Hard Truth 6-Year Sweet Mash Rye: A Rich, Sophisticated Sipper

Whether such rye uniqueness is owed to sweet mashing, unique fermentation, barrel selection or a combination of all three, I don't know. All I know is this is a terrific whiskey in every possible way.

Steve Coomes

• 2 min read
Hard Truth 6-Year Sweet Mash Rye: A Rich, Sophisticated Sipper

BOTTLE DETAILS

STEVE'S NOTES

SHARE WITH: People you spot hovering over a well-marbled steak and requesting a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. Convince them that this spicy, fat demolishing rye will be a much better pour and superb palate cleanser. Buy 'em a pour if you have to.

WORTH THE PRICE: $70 for a whiskey of this quality and at a craft distillery price, of course it is!

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle. You'll want all the liquid to pair it with grilled beef, smoked meats, aged cheeses, and long-aged country ham.

OVERALL: I've been a fan of this brand since visiting Hard Truth nearly three years ago to taste what was then 3.5 year old sweet mash rye whiskey. I couldn't believe so much character and flavor could come from such young whiskey. But the collaborative result of HT's distillery team and its cooperage partner made clear that age isn't everything.

But age is so, so good in whiskey making, and this 6-year-old exemplifies that. HT's Sweet Mash Rye has never been harsh or in want of mellowing. Its spice character is always balanced with grain presentation and wood contribution. With each passing year, those aspects of this whiskey improve in step, but in 2024, rich stone fruit drew all of them to the center in four-part harmony.

In 2025, that tiny choir is singing a more sophisticated tune, one worthy of spotlighting on the American rye stage. It's rounder and richer than the year before, and stone fruit has moved to citrus with subtle tropical characters.

First to the nose is classic caramel with light brown sugar, but both are quickly overtaken by lemon, orange and raspberry filling. Split cedar moves it back from that delicious fruit salad and closer to aromas of rickhouse and freshly dumped barrels.

All across the palate, the uniquely toasted and charred barrel leaves calling cards of cinnamon, ground clove, cooked grain and campfire which tantalize for a minute. A little pause between sips sees citrus return to the mix along with toasted rye bread, bitter chocolate Demerara syrup. And when that happens, you just have to have another sip.

Despite it's massive dose of rye (94%), this is balanced to the point that it could almost pass for a high-rye bourbon. But give it a moment's study to ask, "Where's that coating mouthfeel?" and you'll have your answer: no corn. This is not a drawback, however. This whiskey is plenty viscous.

Those who sometimes cringe at rye's common dill and spearmint notes (I love 'em!) will be pleased that none of those show here. Whether such rye uniqueness is owed to sweet mashing or unique fermentation or a combination of both, I don't know. All I know is this is a terrific whiskey in every possible way.

BRAND NOTES

Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey is Hard Truth’s debut sweet mash whiskey, a culmination of years of careful planning and precise crafting. The result is a complex, pleasant, quality rye that we’re excited to share with the world. Sweet mash is the distilling process in which each batch of whiskey begins with entirely fresh ingredients. Mash bill one features 94 percent rye and 6 percent malted barley.

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.