As a woman owned business, The Troy and Sons Distilling offers a unique whiskey selection. Troy, the distillery’s founder, is dedicated to making high-quality whiskey. She scoured North Carolina, speaking with home distillers to learn their family secrets. Then through extensive testing, she found the perfect combination of ingredients and distilling methods to create a smooth, enjoyable whiskey. This is your ultimate guide to Troy and Sons Distilling in Asheville, NC. 

Troy and Sons History 

In 2008, the founder of Troy and Sons got the opportunity to taste home distilled whiskey. She was amazed at how smooth and flavorful it was. To her, compared to store-bought whiskey, it was exemplary. Therefore, in that moment, she decided everyone should have the opportunity to experience this enjoyable whiskey. 

It took two years of learning and practice to finally distill what she felt was a perfect whiskey. She refers to this as the 818 batch, as it was on August 18, 2010. Additionally, a limited supply of this original batch is carefully preserved at the distillery. Then, with the distilling and whiskey in hand, she decided to name the operation after herself and her sons. Over the years, she built the business up to what it is today. 

Distillery Tastings 

Enjoy a unique experience by visiting Troy and Sons Distilling in Asheville, North Carolina. Step up to the bar and let the expert bartenders walk you through the lineup of spirits. There, they will explain the distilling process and point out the flavor notes of each spirit. And, as you go, taste each whiskey until you find your favorite. Then, you can purchase as many bottles as you like to take home with you. 

Crafted Spirit Lineup 

Troy and Sons Distilling offers a whiskey lineup that features complex flavors that combine to create smooth whiskey. While they may not craft a large number of spirits, those they do make are high quality. 

Blonde Whiskey 

This blonde whiskey is a local treasure, crafted from high quality locally grown ingredients. Additionally, the white corn is sourced from the Peaceful Valley Farm in the lowlands of Western North Carolina. This particular strain of corn has been carefully cultivated and farmed at Peaceful Valley Farm from the 1800s. Turkey red wheat is used. This variety of red wheat is from the original Mennonites. While modern wheat varieties have been engineered to be bigger and more resilient, they can’t match the flavor and softness of the Mennonite wheat. 

Troy and Sons Oak Reserve

The reserved whiskey from the Ashville Distilling Co has a warm gold hue. This comes from the mellowing process done in charred bourbon barrels. The barrels infuse the whiskey with rich flavors of caramel and the light sweetness of the white oak wood. These flavors combine with the delicate whiskey flavors for a truly elevated drinking experience. Staying true to the distillery’s philosophy, only the highest quality ingredients are used in the distilling process. This includes crisp Appalachian spring water and heirloom white corn. 

Troy and Sons Platinum

In honor of the American tradition of making moonshine, Troy and Sons Distilling makes a platinum spirit. The clear color represents the pure spirit of The World’s Finest Moonshine. In addition, it is the only distillery that is distilled with Crooked Creek Corn. This special corn is an open-pollinated heirloom white corn. The finished spirit is surprisingly smooth with a flavor that is full of the American spirit. 

Troy and Sons Cinnamon and Honey

This whiskey’s cinnamon and honey blend is perfectly balanced for a warm and comforting drinking experience. The Madagascar cinnamon is rich and complex in flavor, as it is one of the few places where true cinnamon grows outside of Sri Lanka. The flavor notes are subtle and slightly citrusy, with a mild zest. The honey comes from local mountain bees for a sweet taste with hints of flower. 

Troy and Sons Nectarine and Honey Whiskey

Enjoy a genuinely southern spirit with the flavors of this nectarine and honey whiskey. The delicate taste of the whiskey doesn’t overpower the fruity and sweet notes. To make this unique spirit offering, whiskey is infused with perfectly ripped nectarines and local mountain honey. The result is a whiskey that is perfect for sipping in an after dinner cocktail or when cooking desserts. 

Moonshine, Whiskey, and Bourbon 

These three terms tend to get thrown around about drinkers without fully understanding the differences. However, there are differences between these three different types of spirit. 

Whiskey is a spirit distilled from a fermented grain mash. A combination of wheat, rye, corn, and barley can be used. Sometimes, the spirit gets aged wooden barrels. Troy and Sons Distilling crafts whiskey. 

Bourbon is a type of whiskey. So technically, all bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. Now, for a whiskey to be a bourbon, it has to be made from at least 51% corn, under 125 proof, 80 proof or more, and aged in charred oak barrels. While whiskey can be made anywhere, bourbon is a distinctly American made spirit. 

Traditionally, moonshine was untaxed whiskey. This made it illegal. However, many legal distillers now use the phrase “moonshine” to describe their whiskey. In short, if the moonshine is on a store shelf, it is legal whiskey. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How many distilleries are in Asheville, NC?

There are almost 100 distilleries in Asheville, NC, making a wide range of spirits. The number grows yearly as more people move to the area and establish new distilleries. With a thriving distillery community, there are plenty of things to do in Asheville, NC.

Is Asheville, NC, a dry county?

Technically, Buncombe County is a dry county. However, within the county, Asheville, Black Mountain, Weaverville, and Woodfin voted to allow alcohol sales. So, the county is dry, but the municipality isn’t. The laws are restrictive, though; alcohol can be sold or served only between 7 a.m. and 2 a.m. Monday-Saturday. Alcohol sales on Sunday are also restricted. Happy Hour specials are also illegal in North Carolina. 

Can you walk around Asheville with alcohol?

While you are allowed to purchase and consume alcohol in Asheville, do not try to walk down the street while drinking. Also, open containers are not allowed. 

Learn more about where you can taste some of America’s best whiskey by visiting the Distillery Nearby home page and their multiple ultimate guides.