Hardhide Ponchatoula Strawberry Flavored Whiskey

The Current Beverage of the Week Previous Beverages of the Week

Beverage of the Week (BOW)

Hardhide Ponchatoula Strawberry Flavored Whiskey

Product Story

Hardhide is a fantastic new product that must be tried to be believed and loved. Today the market is filled with flavored Whiskies and let's be honest — most of them are rather uninspired. Most flavored whiskey has completely forgotten about the Whiskey and Hardhide is a shining example of a Whiskey-forward flavored spirit. The lovely base of aged wheat and American light whiskies is perfectly flavored with Cocktail & Son’s Strawberry and Lemon Syrup and fresh strawberries from Johndales Farm in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. It's bottled at 86 proof to further let the whiskey flourish. Hardhide takes its name from Hardhide the gator who is the mascot of the town of Ponchatoula, Louisiana. She's the decedent of the original Hardhide who reigned over downtown Ponchatoula since 1975.

Brand Story

Sidewalk Side Spirits is a spirits brand incubator company founded in 2020 by spirits industry veteran John Eason and the owners of Cocktail & Son’s, Lauren Myerscough and Max Messier. Their first brand was a collaboration with the undisputed King of King Cakes, Gambino’s Bakery to create Gambino’s King Cake Rum Cream. This award-winning product was born out of their love of Carnival and all it means to the hundreds of thousands of revelers who celebrate it across the country and the world every year. This was followed-up with Hardhide Ponchatoula Strawberry Flavored Whiskey — a flavored Whiskey that has not forgotten the Whiskey. Stay tuned to see what they create next.

Tasting Note

Brilliant, medium burnt orange color. Unlike most flavored Whiskies, Hardhide brings the Whiskey as it's the first scent to catch the nose followed by ripe red berries and a touch of honey. The palate echoes the nose delivering a sweet Whiskey-focused core with waves of strawberry, lemon zest, and honey. Full-bodied and pleasingly balanced with waves of Whiskey and fruit offered with the proper dose of sweetness. Bottled at 86 proof so it's not shy. $32.99 – 4 Stars/92 points