There is a lot to like about Hard Truth Distilling Chocolate Malt Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey on paper. At 54.8% ABV and $80, let us see if it lives up to expectations.
Nose
A buttery creamy aroma that has hints of spicy rye. Certainly, some coffee and chocolate, but they are a bit muted. Just a bit of fruit that blends into the overall sweetness. The coffee flavor pop much more on the palate than on the nose. You also have that familiar spiciness of a rye but given that the mash bill features corn so heavily its no surprise that the overall flavor is on the sweeter side for this type of whiskey. Not that it goes overboard, the sweetness is just enough to elevate the chocolatey/coffee flavor to the point that its noticeable, but not a novelty.
Palate
Hard Truth Distilling delivers an absolute treat with their small batch Chocolate Malt release. The interesting mix of sweet coco and coffee mixed with the kick of spicy rye gives us a whiskey that could be really interesting to mix in some winter time cocktails, or enjoyed neat to really appreciate the unique flavor. Given that the batch is so small I highly recommend buying them if they are still available near you, or looking forward to the next small batch release this time next year.
Finish
Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by Whiskeyful or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.
The Bottom Line
Hard Truth Distilling Chocolate Malt Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey delivers the goods. It is well-made, genuinely enjoyable, and at $80 represents solid value for what you are getting. I would happily buy this again.
