Hard Truth Distilling Releases French Oak Finished Bourbon

The limited-edition whiskey is the first in the brand's 2026 Barrel Finish Reserve series.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 3:35pm

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Hard Truth Distilling Co. has launched its French Oak Finished Bourbon, marking the first release in its 2026 Barrel Finish Reserve series. The limited grain-to-glass whiskey blends two mash bills distilled using the sweet mash method, aged in custom toasted American oak barrels, and then finished in toasted French oak casks.

Why it matters

Hard Truth's Barrel Finish Reserve series showcases the distillery's quality-driven approach and commitment to innovation, highlighting their expertise in blending and finishing techniques to create unique and complex whiskey expressions.

The details

The 23-barrel batch was bottled at 106.1 proof (53.05% ABV) after being aged in the custom toasted American oak barrels and then finished in toasted French oak casks. The final step involved returning the bourbon to its original casks for additional mellowing, allowing the French oak character to integrate more deeply.

  • The French Oak Finished Bourbon is now available at the Hard Truth Distilling Co. campus in Nashville, Indiana.
  • The limited-edition whiskey will arrive at select retailers in the coming weeks.

The players

Hard Truth Distilling Co.

A grain-to-glass distillery in Brown County, Indiana, that produces a range of spirits and has steadily expanded its portfolio in recent years with limited-edition barrel finish expressions.

Chris Moore

The Barrel Manager at Hard Truth Distilling Co., who oversaw the development of the French Oak Finished Bourbon.

Bryan Smith

The Master Distiller at Hard Truth Distilling Co., who highlighted the production team's quality-driven approach in creating the new bourbon.

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What they’re saying

“The exciting part of bringing this bourbon to life is the unique opportunity to put our blending strategy and barrel finished program together.”

— Chris Moore, Barrel Manager

“This bold, sweet and elegant whiskey highlights our quality-first mindset. This has quickly become THE favorite whiskey amongst the distillery crew.”

— Bryan Smith, Master Distiller

What’s next

The French Oak Finished Bourbon is a limited-edition release, so interested consumers should check with their local retailers for availability in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

Hard Truth Distilling's new French Oak Finished Bourbon showcases the distillery's commitment to innovation and quality, blending two complementary mash bills and finishing the whiskey in specialty French oak casks to create a complex and unique expression that has already become a favorite among the distillery's own team.