History

Lucky 818

It began as a desire to find the perfect moonshine recipe. Troy began in 2008 to test recipes collected from the North Carolina State Archives and from residents in Madison to McDowell counties. She has been grateful for all home distillers who shared family secrets and small mason jars. On August 18, 2010, she finally distilled the perfect white spirit using Crooked Creek Corn™, smooth as silk with vanilla notes. A limited supply of the original 818 remains and will be kept at the distillery.

The Road to Troy & Sons

Where did the name Troy & Sons come from? Troy and Charlie have two special-needs boys and a history of building something outside the home. Luke, the youngest son, now works with them at the distillery. Despite the challenges, the goal has always been to create authentic, high-quality spirits that honor the old American whiskey masters.

From Old Mountain Sources to Asheville

Troy learned to distill during the summer of 2008 by meeting moonshine artisans in and around Asheville, NC, and was inspired by the smoothness and complexity that were less known outside the home settings. She sought to give people the opportunity to taste and appreciate this white whiskey.

The Distillery and Its Ingredients

Crooked Creek Corn became the foundation for Troy & Sons’ whiskeys through meeting John McEntire and his family, who have grown heirloom corn for generations. John also grows Turkey Red Wheat, which is used in Blonde Whiskey. Troy built her first two copper stills and later invested in larger stills for Asheville; in 2011 the distillery was moved to Asheville and in 2012 a larger 5,000-liter Kothe still was installed, supplemented by additional equipment to enable the production of older products.

The Heart of the Production

Troy learned from mountain whiskey craftsmen that if you only capture the heart in the distillation, the whiskey will be smooth and free of the burning aftertaste. She explains that the heads contain acetone and other toxic compounds, while the tails contain fusels, and that she goes against profit to create a clean and soft whiskey – "pure heart whiskey."

Disney and Recognition

It has been noted that Troy & Sons appeared on Disney Resort menus for a season, which provides a measure of validation and recognition of their products.

Marketing and Distribution

After the devastation from Hurricane Helene in Fletcher, the planned tasting room was not reopened. The products can still be found in NC ABC stores, and they are announcing a forthcoming 12-year Oak Reserve release.