Hard Truth Sipes Bourbon Review

By Emily Mullis

Rating: C+

With so many whiskey pioneers out there it can be hard to keep up with who started what, and every county seems to have its own leading trailblazer who has stamped their name on the ledger of whiskey history. What makes this fun for distillers and whiskey connoisseurs is that no matter the pioneer, the time they lived in, or the place, each whiskey is special in its own way. No two whiskeys taste exactly alike and that is all thanks to the various minds that have influenced whiskey to this day.

Hard Truth Distillery has recently released a whiskey calling back to the old days of Brown County, Indiana, where Henry A. Sipes made a name for himself. Sipes was the first known distiller in Brown County, and his spirits would later sell at fast-growing establishments in the area. What better drink than whiskey for those gruff men of the woods, prairies and hills.

Sipes’ Straight Bourbon Whiskey a four-year-old whiskey finished in a rum cask, which adds to the spice notes and makes for a soft, sweet spirit. It’s definitely one for those who wish to avoid the hard burn that some whiskey’s offer.

The Whiskey
While this was in no way a terrible whiskey, it’s not as complex as I would prefer. There was a hard cherry scent in the nose accompanied by cinnamon and hints of brown sugar. It was a sweet scent, but not overpowering, and pleasant overall.

It was to be expected that following the nose the taste would be sweet as well, and it was. The spice notes balanced the smooth flavor providing a slight complexity but in the end, Sipes just lacks that good strong kick that is found in plenty other whiskeys. If a stronger flavor is desired, stay clear of this whiskey.

The mouthfeel is light with more notes of cherry, vanilla, and brown sugar. The cherry notes really stick out as does the brown sugar, though, others might say they are tasing toffee instead. There is a slight burn in the finish but is more or less overpowered by a soft, sweet taste that lingers for a few seconds. With this comes a hint of tartness that is reminiscent of the cherry notes.

Its color is a light/medium amber in the bottle and light amber in a glass. While anyone may choose to consume this whiskey as they please, I would recommend not taking it on the rocks or even with water as it softens it out even more. As the cooler months continue to creep up on the year, this might be a whiskey to pick up and enjoy outside on cool evenings.

The Price
This whiskey is priced at $57.99.