Troy & Sons is named for Troy Ball and her three sons. She and Charlie, her husband, started by making moonshine. “She’s the fourth female distillery owner in the country, and the first to make moonshine” according to Garden and Gun, you can read the whole article here.

“Blonde starts with heirloom Turkey Red Wheat and White Corn, grown on Peaceful Valley Farm in the lowland hills of Western North Carolina. That same strain of corn has been grown continuously at Peaceful Valley since the mid 1800’s, tended by generations of the McEntire Family. And in the 1800’s our wheat first arrived, brought by Mennonites eager to start new lives in a new land, but unwilling to let go of the memory and the taste of home. Modern hybrids have bigger yields and are more resistant to weather and pests, but the older grains have a flavor and softness the newer versions can’t match.” –Ashevilledistilling.com, check out their website for all the information.

Company: Asheville Distilling Co.

Distillery: Troy & Sons

Location: Asheville, NC

Mash Bill: ? White corn and turkey red wheat.

Age: NAS

ABV: 40% (80 proof)

Released: Ongoing

Price: $35

Color: Golden Honey Blonde (Of course).

Nose: Sharp smell, a little metallic, almost like vinegar or a pickle, slight cherry. So, not the greatest nose you’d like to smell on a whiskey.

Taste: Vanilla, slight cherry fruit flavor, it tastes very young. The more I sip the better it seems to get. So, let this one open up awhile. Eventually, I get some oak, a bit of caramel, and bitter chocolate.

Finish: It does leave a slightly warm caramel-y finish in your throat.

Overall: I was super excited for this whiskey because it was made by a woman (sort of for women) and I’m super disappointed. That’s not to say, I won’t drink it, because I will. Maybe, my expectations were just set too high.  I think maybe more age in the barrel would be great for this. They do have another whiskey called Troy & Sons, which I’ll probably be reviewing soon, and I’m curious about the difference.

Honestly, if you see this on a shelf you could probably skip it, though it would make a good introductory whiskey for someone, if it’s the right price point for you. I wish I had some Basil Haden’s for a side by side comparison. I would place it in that ballpark.

Rating: 2.5/5