Hard Truth Distilling Forges Ahead with Plans to Increase Production 800% to Keep Up with Explosive Growth

In a 2018 interview with Hard Truth Co-Founder Jeff McCabe he told us their operation was about one thing, “Creating great experiences.” Based on the latest announcement for expansion that mantra is working as their business has continued to grow over the last several years. To keep up with demand, its time for the second distillery expansion.

3 New Fermentation Tanks – The majority of Hard Truth’s distillation equipment is manufactured by Vendome Copper and Brass Works from their column still, hybrid pot still, cookers and fermentation tanks. The distillery has three 2,500 gallon fermentation tanks and will be adding three new 5,000 gallon fermentation tanks.

Going 24/7 – They will also be increasing distillation operations to 24/7 upon completion of the expansion. All combined between the new equipment and expanded operations they will increase production capacity by 800%.

“We are going to go from producing 1,000 whiskey barrels per year, which is what our current run rate is, to 8,500 barrels a year as of January 1, 2023,” said Master Distiller Bryan Smith. “I am so excited!”

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Rackhouse No. 2 – All that great whiskey and rye must go somewhere. Hard Truth will build a second and larger barrel warehouse. The original warehouse is home to 4,000 palletized barrels while the new warehouse will have triple the capacity at 12,000 barrels. Not to mention they have the single barrel warehouse floating on the pond!

Steady Sales Growth from New Products and New Markets

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Hard Truth Distilling has no shortage of product offerings. Hard Truth’s sales have grown steadily year over year. From 2020 to 2021, during the pandemic times, sales nearly doubled thanks to increases from existing brands and the introduction of three new products, including Hard Truth Maple Bourbon Cream. Hard Truth’s portfolio of spirits includes Hard Truth Toasted Coconut Rum, Toasted Coconut Rum Cream, Maple Bourbon Cream and Cinnamon Vodka — which has become the best-selling cinnamon vodka in the U.S. Whiskey brands in addition to Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye, include Indiana Straight Rye Whiskey, the Sipes’ family of bourbon and rye whiskeys, and the Schoonover family of bourbons.

In addition to ongoing sales gains, Hard Truth continues to add new markets. The distillery’s portfolio of spirits can now be enjoyed in 16 states and in the Bahamas, and according to Jeff McCabe, Hard Truth Co-Founder, market expansion is a priority. “We expect to see our brands in 28 states by 2023,” said McCabe.

Work on these latest expansion projects began in late June and is expected to be completed within six months.

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