Hardhide Ponchatoula Strawberry Whiskey Review & Tasting Notes

 

Hardhide is an American alligator. It isn’t just any alligator but the official mascot of the Town of Ponchatoula, Louisiana. Hardhide has worked in that capacity since 1975. Well… there’s been more than one gator over the years; the original Hardhide passed away in 1985. The entire town gathered and gave her a send-off with an old-school Jazz festival. The current Hardhide lives in the town square and is quite the tourist magnet!

 

“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 1st 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 every year.” – Sidewalk Side Spirits

 

Hardhide Ponchatoula Strawberry Whiskey was designed by bartenders. This whiskey is blended with a 3-year wheat Bourbon, an American light whiskey, Cocktail & Son’s Strawberry and Lemon Syrup, and fresh strawberries from Johndales Farm in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. It should be stated that Ponchatoula is known as the “Strawberry Capital of the World” and hosts an annual Strawberry Festival that attracts between 250,000 and 300,000 people.

 

The whiskey is blended and bottled at the Porchjam Distillery in New Orleans.

 

I know some of you are reading this and thinking, Hey there, Mr. Whiskeyfellow. For a whiskey to legally be whiskey, it must be at least 80°! This is just a whiskey liqueur!

 

You’re absolutely correct on the first part. A legal whiskey must be at least 40% ABV (80°), and Hardhide satisfies that, weighing in at a healthy 43% ABV (86°). And a 750ml package will set you back about $30.00. Sidewalk Side Spirits donates 2% of the sale of each bottle toward Hardhide’s care and upkeep. Donations are also made from the sale of Friends of Hardhide Foundation swag.

 

The folks at Sidewalk Side Spirits have been kind enough to send me a sample of Hardhide in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. Let’s #DrinkCurious and discover if this is worthy of being the mascot’s namesake.

 

Appearance: I sipped this whiskey as I do any other; I poured it into a Glencairn glass to drink neat. Despite what you might expect, this whiskey has no “strawberry” coloring. Instead, it presented as untarnished copper, forming a medium-weighted rim and thick, syrupy tears.

 

Nose: This whiskey smelled of fresh strawberries (versus strawberry flavoring). There was also citrus, likely from the Cocktail & Son’s syrup. Melon and corn were also present. As I drew the aroma into my mouth, I encountered fresh strawberries and a smidge of vanilla.

 

Palate: The thick texture coated my tongue. Fresh strawberries and corn flavors hit the front of my palate. The middle featured vanilla and lemon curd, while strawberries and vanilla returned to the back.

 

Finish: Vanilla took the lead, but the strawberry and lemon notes stuck around the longest, a reasonably significant duration. It lingered; there was a reminder that this wasn’t a kiddie drink as it warmed my mouth.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Hardhide is unmistakably whiskey. It drinks at its stated proof, but since it is almost cocktail-like, you may find it will sneak up and smack you upside the head with a 2x4. With the lemon syrup, I can see this being great mixed with fresh lemonade, especially on a summer’s day (or evening). Regardless, a neat pour provided plenty of smiling, and I wasn’t shy about topping off my glass. For about $30.00, this is an easy-pleaser and earns my Bottle rating. Cheers!  

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you do so responsibly.