Asheville Distilling Company - Troy & Sons
Overview of the Distillery
Asheville Distilling Company in Asheville, North Carolina, produces Troy & Sons whiskeys rooted in Appalachia's moonshining traditions. The distillery works with open-pollinated heirloom corn and pure Appalachian spring water, and offers both unaged white whiskeys, several-year aged editions, and infused variations.
History
Troy Ball began in 2008 to learn the craft from local moonshiners and gathered recipes from both local home distillers and state archives. After several years of experimentation, she distilled the original white spirit, Lucky 818, on August 18, 2010 based on Crooked Creek Corn. Asheville Distilling Company was founded in 2010, and since then the Troy & Sons lineup has expanded with both unaged and aged products. In 2017, Troy Ball published the book 'Pure Heart' and undertook a book tour, while the products reached national markets and gained attention in media and competitions.
Raw Materials and Production
The production starting point is local and historical grain varieties: Crooked Creek Corn (open-pollinated heirloom white corn), Turkey Red Wheat, and White Corn from Peaceful Valley Farm. The distillery uses pure Appalachian spring water and emphasizes that they 'only use the heart' of each distillation. Troy & Sons Platinum is positioned as a modern, legal interpretation of the traditional Appalachian white whiskey. Many details such as fermentation time, still type, and capacity are not specified, but the work with ingredient choices and cutting to the heart of the cut is central to the production philosophy.
Maturation and Barrel Types
Maturation ranges from unaged white whiskeys to longer aging in bourbon barrels. Oak Reserve is mellowed in charred bourbon barrels and is indicated to be aged for 10 years, where the barrels impart a tawny color and contribute caramel and sweet white oak notes. Blonde Whiskey is indicated as aged for 8 years. Several products in the lineup achieve their flavor through infusion rather than barrel aging.
Whiskeys
The core lineup consists of Troy & Sons Platinum (white whiskey/moonshine), Oak Reserve (10 years, bourbon barrel), and Blonde Whiskey (8 years, built on heirloom grains). In addition, the distillery offers two infused variations: Cinnamon and Honey and Nectarine and Honey, which highlight spicy and fruity profiles and are intended for both sipping and cocktails.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Alcohol | Age | Barrel & Style | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blonde Whiskey | American whiskey | 40 % | 8 years | Blonde is made from heirloom Turkey Red Wheat and White Corn from Peaceful Valley Farm and is aged for 8 years. ABV is 40% (80 proof). | Current; Core Range | |
| Troy & Sons Oak Reserve | American whiskey | 40 % | 10 years | Bourbon barrels | Oak Reserve is made with heirloom white corn and Appalachian spring water and is mellowed in bourbon barrels. ABV is 40% (80 proof) and production is indicated as 10 years aged. | Current; Core Range |
| Troy & Sons Platinum | Moonshine / white whiskey | 40 % | Troy & Sons Platinum is described as a 'true American Moonshine' and is produced with Crooked Creek Corn and pure Appalachian spring water. ABV is 40% (80 proof). | Current; Core Range | ||
| Troy & Sons Cinnamon and Honey | Flavoured whiskey | 35 % | An infused edition based on Troy & Sons Platinum with Madagascar cinnamon and mountain honey. ABV is 35% (70 proof). | Current; Core Range | ||
| Troy & Sons Nectarine and Honey Whiskey | Flavoured whiskey | 35 % | A delicate infused edition produced by adding nectarine and mountain honey flavorings to Troy & Sons Platinum. ABV is 35% (70 proof). | Current; Core Range |
The Whiskeys' Style and Flavor Profile
The documented style ranges from pure, unaged spirit with vanilla/wood undertones (Lucky 818) to barrel-influenced notes of caramel and sweet white oak (Oak Reserve) to fruit- and honey-based infusions as well as spice (nectarine/honey and Madagascar cinnamon in the respective infused editions). These three main directions paint a broad picture of the distillery's flavor profile.
Visit the Distillery
The distillery in Asheville has welcomed visitors for tours and tastings since 2010. Contact details including email and phone are provided, and the address on South French Broad is given as the meeting place for visits. For practical details and booking, use the distillery's contact channels.
Philosophy and Craft
The distillery's practice is based on using local heirloom grains, pure mountain spring water, and a traditional approach inspired by Appalachian moonshiners. A consistent craft decision is to cut to and use the heart of each distillation to ensure purity of the spirit.
Awards and Recognitions
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Silver Medal (2011, Silver, Troy & Sons Platinum)
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Silver Medal (2012, Silver, Troy & Sons Platinum)
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Silver Medal (2012, Silver, Troy & Sons Platinum)
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Bronze Medal (2012, Bronze, Troy & Sons Platinum)
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Bronze Medal (2012, Bronze, Blonde Whiskey)
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Silver Medal (2013, Silver, Blonde Whiskey)
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Silver Medal (2013, Silver, Troy & Sons Platinum)
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Bronze Medal (2013, Bronze, Troy & Sons Oak Reserve)
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90 points / Gold (2014, 90 points (Gold), Troy & Sons Platinum)
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Bronze (87 points) (2014, 87 points (Bronze), Troy & Sons Oak Reserve)
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Bronze (85 points) (2014, 85 points (Bronze), Blonde Whiskey)
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Point ratings (Tasting Panel Magazine) (2015, Platinum 90; Oak Reserve 91; Blonde 95)
Latest News
Pure Heart, A Spirited Tale of Grace, Grit & Whiskey debuts – 2018-01-31
In 2017, Troy Ball published the book 'Pure Heart' together with Bret Witter and undertook an extensive book tour in the southern United States, sharing her story of raising three sons and building the distillery.
Troy & Sons Launches in Chicago, Illinois – 2014-05-23
The distillery's products were launched in Chicago as part of expanding the brand into new markets.
Troy & Sons Seen On the Today Show – 2014-05-03
Troy & Sons and the family behind the distillery were featured on The Today Show, which led to increased attention and traffic to the website.