Despite having never produced spirits before, Bryan Smith joined Hard Truth Distilling Co. in 2015 as a distiller. But since he had experience making wine and beer and because he enjoyed science, he adapted easily to his work at the distillery. Smith is currently working as the company's master distiller and has helped develop some of Hard Truth's best-selling products, including its Cinnamon Vodka, Toasted Coconut Rum, and Straight Rye Whiskey. Read more about him and his journey below. 

What has your distilling career been like? Tell us a little about your background.

I was fortunate to be raised with many significant culinary influences that shaped my palate and my thoughts on how to approach creating flavours in food and drink.  I was also extremely curious about science, food, and how to shape flavours at a young age.

My dad would bring me along when he and his buddies made (and still to this day make) wine and sausage each year down in Evansville, IN. They use old-world Dutch, and German recipes and techniques passed down through family and friends.  Being right on the border with Kentucky, we would often get old bourbon barrels to rest the wine and the sausage was made fresh using locally raised meats.

I also had a very culinarily talented mother, grandmother, and aunt who all taught me how to create unique flavours by exploring the boundaries of different cultural cuisines. I focused on the sciences in school and ultimately graduated with a BS in Rec. Therapy from Indiana University.  

I’ve realized now that all these experiences prepared me with the sensory skills and scientific knowledge necessary to shape flavours in spirits.  Connecting with some very successful entrepreneurs at the birth of Hard Truth Distilling Co. provided me with the opportunity to put these skills into action.

Image: Bryan Smith; Source: Facebook

Now, we are 7 years down the road with over 20 award-winning spirits in the market, including our celebrated Sweet Mash whiskeys, an expansive distillery experience, and the most talented group of hard-working people anywhere making it happen.

Image: Bryan Smith; Source: Instagram

How do you think the Spirits industry has evolved?

The growth in this industry in the past 10 years has been crazy.  The quality of the people making the spirits, however, has remained consistent through this growth.  

Image: Bryan Smith; Source: Facebook

Tell us a little about your day-to-day role.

Being a part of the team not only making the spirits but also building the business has led to wearing many hats at different times.  Most recently, I have been dividing my time between business development, product innovations, quality evaluation, opening new markets, and promoting our spirits around the U.S.

What's your elevator pitch to a bartender when pitching your brand?

I take out a bottle in the elevator, open the top and let them taste it.  Liquid to lips has been critical to Hard Truth’s success thus far.

Image: Bryan Smith; Source: Instagram

How do you help bartenders with depletions of your brand?

This is an excellent question.  Brand immersion and telling your story to connect with bartenders/store owners are critically important to market success.  There is so much noise on the shelves these days and finding a way to separate yourself and become important to the bartender is crucial.

What do you cover in your product training with bartenders?

We have a great advantage because we are able to tell an authentic story of real people in a real place, making amazing spirits.  Many brands have fun and creative brand stories with no real meat on the bones.  I am able to talk about the history of our 325 acres authentically, carved out of the beautiful hardwood forest of Brown County, Indiana, and the extremely talented men and women. They work hard every day to make our spirits.  Once I tell the story, we taste, discuss ingredients and process and finally provide tools and programs to help them make more money utilizing Hard Truth spirits.

How do you think a distiller can help drive marketing and sales personally?

Surround yourself with extremely talented people in your production operation to give you the space to spend time out of the distillery if possible.  Meeting the maker(s) is important in the market.

[[relatedPurchasesItems-39]]

Define a good distiller.

Curious, creative, hard-working, confident, and relentless.

Which is your go-to drink, and what is the perfect setting you enjoy it in?

At the moment, it’s a couple of fingers of our Sweet Mash Rye whiskey in a glass.  If not that, I love a good beer and some Mezcal.  I’m a big fan of the outdoors, so if I had to choose one place, I would say fireside with friends and family, surrounded by a hardwood forest.

What do you do when you are not distilling?

When not at the distillery or out working the market, I typically hang out with my beautiful wife and twin daughters at home, cooking, hanging out on the lake, at school events, or traveling.  Every now and then, I work a fishing trip with my friends and my dad.

What is your idea of a good life?

Hanging out with my beautiful wife and twin daughters at home, cooking, hanging out on the lake, at school events, or traveling. Every now and then, I work a fishing trip with my friends and my dad. I’m the luckiest guy I know.

Header Image: Bryan Smith; Source: Facebook