Indiana’s Hard Truth Distilling To Host BBQ Festival
Hard Truth Distilling Co. announces the return of the Bourbon & BBQ Festival, now in its second year, to the Hard Truth destination distillery campus in Brown County.
The Saturday, July 18 event will feature 25 teams competing in barbecue and Charred Truth live fire competitions, vying for prizes that include a People’s Choice Award and a golden ticket to the World Food Championships taking place in Indianapolis later this year.
The grain-to-glass distillery’s forested backdrop will set the stage for guests with live music from Ariana & the Bourbon Britches with the Blue Bridge Boys, two new Hard Truth Whiskey releases, and samples from the competitors.
Additional activities include cooking demos from event sponsors, yard games, whiskey tasting stations, and more.
The festival drew nearly 1,000 visitors in 2025. With World Food Championships and Great White Smoke as event partners, and Indiana Pork and Outlaw Smokers as sponsors, Hard Truth is expecting to see even more barbecue fans this year.
“Bourbon & BBQ is everything I love about barbecue. It’s not just competition. It’s not just trophies. It’s not just cooking. It’s bringing people together around live fire, incredible food, great bourbon, and unforgettable experiences,” said Dave White of Great White Smoke BBQ Co.
As an extra-special lead-in to the main event, Hard Truth is also hosting Before the Char, an intimate evening with top chefs, distillers and fellow culinary enthusiasts, on Friday, July 17.
The menu will feature the collaborative efforts of renowned Memphis chef and 2024 World Food Live Fire Champion Michelle O’Guin and Hard Truth Master Distiller Bryan Smith, pairing bold, live-fire flavors with craft cocktails.
“Bourbon & BBQ takes whiskey beyond the bottle, outside of that rocks glass, and dives even further into the possibilities of flavor-building through oak and fire – an essential spark behind everything we craft here at Hard Truth,” said Smith.
Bourbon & BBQ Festival
When: Saturday, July 18, 2026, 4-8 p.m.
Where: Hard Truth Distilling Co.
Featuring: Real-time barbecue and live-fire competitions, live music from Ariana & the Bourbon Britches with the Blue Ridge Boys, new-release Hard Truth Double Oaked Rye and a special Amburana Finished Bourbon Single Barrel
Tickets include:
General admission | $60
Entry to barbecue competition grounds
Tasting card and one food sample at each competitor station
Enamel pin
Three, one-quarter-ounce whiskey samples, including new releases (21+ only)
Charred Truth | $125
Entry to the barbecue and live fire competition areas
Tasting card and one food sample at each competitor station
Enamel pin and Bourbon & BBQ souvenir rocks glass
Three, one-quarter-ounce whiskey samples, including new releases (21+ only)
VIP | $260
Access to the House of Rye VIP Lounge, which includes drinks and grazing boards
Entry to the barbecue and live fire competition areas
Tasting card and one food sample at each competitor station
Enamel pin and Bourbon & BBQ souvenir rocks glass
Three, one-quarter-ounce whiskey samples, including new releases (21+ only)
