Klatch Coffee drops new espresso roast

Nashville, Indiana-based Hard Truth Distilling is taking two of its most decorated ryes and smashing them together into one bottle.

The new Master Distiller’s Reserve Dark Roast Rye is a 50/50 blend of the distillery’s Chocolate Malt Rye and Caramel Malt Rye, two mash bills that have individually racked up gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition since Hard Truth started experimenting with roasted malts back in 2018.

For me, a solid liquor cabinet holds the absolute basics— vodka, whiskey, gin, tequila, bitters, and a few home bar essentials for crafting cocktails. But my less-than-impressive shelf had a fundamental flaw—I focused on variety instead of craftsmanship, barely looking beyond the label. So I amassed a dozen award-winning spirits to see if I could taste the difference. 

The results? I learned that much of what I blamed on my technique was actually due to my spirits’ quality. With better bottles in hand, straight pours brought on deeper complexity, and cocktails achieved effortless balance, without a single skill set shift.

While there’s no wrong time of year for tequila-based cocktails, summer just might be the best. Also, when it comes to warm-weather spirits, it’s hard to beat the appeal of agave-based tequila, with flavors like citrus, vanilla, vegetal agave, cracked black pepper, and other spices. Aging only adds to the nuanced flavor profile, making tequila a great choice for warm-weather mixed drinks like the Margarita, Paloma, and more.

While I’ve sung the praises of gin-based cocktails during the summer months, I have the same affinity for tequila. There’s something special about sitting on a deck (or dock) overlooking a pond, lake, or river while you sip a tequila-based cocktail on a warm, humid afternoon. When you’re sipping your drink and taking in the picturesque view, there are no deadlines and emails waiting for response. You’re in the moment and just going with the flow as jet skis, pontoon boats, and sailboats glide by.