Hard Truth Distilling Co. announced the return of the Bourbon & BBQ Festival, now in its second year, to the Hard Truth destination distillery campus in Brown County.

The Saturday, July 18, event 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 grain-to-glass distillery’s forested backdrop will set the stage for guests with live music from Ariana & the Bourbon Britches with the Blue Bridge Boys, two new Hard Truth Whiskey releases, and samples from the competitors.

Additional activities include cooking demos from event sponsors, yard games, whiskey tasting stations and more.

The festival drew nearly 1,000 visitors in 2025. With World Food Championships and Great White Smoke as event partners, and Indiana Pork and Outlaw Smokers as sponsors, Hard Truth is expecting to see even more barbecue fans this year.

“Bourbon & BBQ is everything I love about barbecue,” Dave White of Great White Smoke BBQ Co., said in a news release. “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. 

“Over the past several weeks, we’ve given guests a taste of what’s coming through our Smoke School and Cask & Still events, but July 18 is where it all comes together. We’re bringing championship pitmasters from across the country to Hard Truth and challenging them to step away from the turn-in boxes for a weekend and create the dish they’d be most excited to serve their family, friends, and fans.” 

He continued, “That’s what makes this event different. Guests won’t just watch barbecue happen. They’ll get to meet the people behind it, hear their stories, taste their creations, and experience barbecue in a way that’s rarely available to the public.”

As an extra-special lead-in to the main event, Hard Truth is also hosting Before the Char, an intimate evening with top chefs, distillers and fellow culinary enthusiasts, on Friday, July 17.

The menu will feature the collaborative efforts of renowned Memphis chef and 2024 World Food Live Fire Champion Michelle O’Guin and Hard Truth Master Distiller Bryan Smith, pairing bold, live-fire flavors with craft cocktails.

“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,” Smith said. “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.”

For more information and tickets, visit the following links: Bourbon & BBQ | Before the Char

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)

Read more: Hard Truth Announces 2026 Double Oaked Sweet Mash Rye

About Hard Truth Distilling Co.

Hard Truth Distilling Co. is a producer of sweet mash whiskey, and, in 2024, was named the Indiana Distillery of the Year by the NY International Spirits Competition. In addition to its line of sweet mash bourbons and rye whiskeys, the Nashville, Indiana-based brand also crafts a selection of premium craft spirits, including top-selling Toasted Coconut Rum, Toasted Coconut Rum Cream, Cinnamon Vodka, and Maple Bourbon Cream. For more information, visit https://hardtruth.com/.