Hard Truth Distilling Co. has announced Dark Roast Rye, the third expression in its 2026 Master Distiller’s Reserve series. The whiskey will debut as the featured release at the distillery’s Harvest Festival in Nashville, Indiana, on Saturday, 26 September 2026.

The bottled-in-bond rye blends two of the producer’s award-winning mash bills, RW-3 Chocolate Malt Rye and RW-4 Caramel Malt Rye, in a 50/50 split. Both mash bills previously appeared in earlier Master Distiller’s Reserve expressions.

TL;DR

Hard Truth’s new Dark Roast Rye is a 100-proof, bottled-in-bond whiskey blending Chocolate and Caramel Malt mash bills. Debuting in late September 2026 at the Nashville, Indiana distillery, it represents the third release in their Master Distiller’s Reserve series.

Roasted malts in American whiskey

“By combining our award-winning Caramel Malt Rye and Chocolate Malt Rye, the caramel malted barley and chocolate malted barley truly become the star ingredients that elevate Dark Roast Rye,” stated Hard Truth barrel manager Chris Moore. The distillery began exploring roasted malts used in beer production in 2018.

The 25-barrel batch is bottled-in-bond at 100 proof (50% ABV). It carries a suggested retail price of US$59.99.

Audience Traction

The wider Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye series has established proven audience traction—a public video explicitly reviewing the line showed over 14,000 views when captured for this article—and the new Dark Roast Rye bonded release builds directly on that profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hard Truth Dark Roast Rye?

It is a 100-proof, bottled-in-bond American rye whiskey from Hard Truth Distilling Co., blending their Chocolate Malt and Caramel Malt rye mash bills.

When is the release date?

The whiskey is scheduled to debut on 26 September 2026 at the distillery’s Harvest Festival.

What is the price and proof?

It is bottled at 100 proof and carries a suggested retail price of US$59.99.