Our friends at Hard Truth Distilling Co. are bringing back the Bourbon & BBQ Festival this weekend. The second annual event will run from 4 to 8 p.m. in Nashville, Indiana, at the Hard Truth Distillery campus.
Hard Truth said, “Bourbon & BBQ 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 event will include live music from Ariana & the Bourbon Bitches, with the Blue Bridge Boys, two new whiskey releases from Hard Truth Whiskey, samples, cooking demonstrations, yard games, whiskey tasting stations, and more. More than 1,000 people attend the inaugural even last 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.
"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. The synergies and knowing kinship between the makers of both whiskey and barbecue are so naturally aligned. To be able to work hand in hand with these great pitmasters is such a privilege. We are beyond excited to share this year's round of Bourbon & BBQ creations with everyone!”
Hard Truth 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)
For more information and tickets, visit the following links: Bourbon & BBQ | Before the Char
Source: Hard Truth Distillery
About Hard Truth Distilling Co.
(From the distillery) Hard Truth Distilling Co. (est. 2015) is an industry leader in sweet mash whiskey production and a nationally recognized craft whiskey destination. Located in Brown County, Indiana amongst 325 acres of rolling hills, Hard Truth was named the No. 1 Distillery Tour 2026 by Newsweek. Hard Truth also crafts premium spirits, including Hard Truth Toasted Coconut Rum and Hard Truth Cinnamon Vodka, and limited release barrel reserve spirits.
Its first grain-to-glass Sweet Mash Rye release debuted in 2021, earning a spot in Fred Minnick’s Top 50 American Whiskeys. Hard Truth Straight Bourbon Whiskey entered the market in 2024 to much acclaim, recognized by Robb Report as “one of the 50 Greatest Bourbons of the 21st Century (so far).”
In 2025, Hard Truth Sweet Mash Bourbon, High Road Rye and Sweet Mash Rye earned Gold Medals at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC). The Double Oaked Sweet Mash Single Barrel Rye also earned a Double Gold at the 2025 SFWSC.
Hard Truth products are distributed in more than 20 states and available online in more than 40 states. For more information, visit hardtruth.com.
