Bourbon is a uniquely American product, both by law and through its embeddedness in history, connection to the land, and cultural significance to those who celebrate it. From 2023 to 2025, I was given total access to Hard Truth Distilling Co., in Brown County, Indiana, at a pivotal moment. Having set its sights on becoming "one of the next great houses of Bourbon," I started this project just one year before the first release of their sweet mash bourbon. Working alongside master distiller Bryan Smith, I documented not only the steps of production but the people and relationships he built to get to this moment. ​

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Bourbon is one of the few remaining industries where time cannot be compressed, and the long wait is rewarded. These photographs are a curated selection from a much larger archive that is awaiting further distance of time to understand its significance. In the selection shown, I focus on the human hands and accumulated knowledge that have turned timber, grain, water, and copper into something worth collecting, sharing, and celebrating.