Editor’s Note: The Whiskey Wash welcomes Chloe Huckins to our review team!
Do blondes have more fun? The Asheville Distilling Blonde Whiskey doesn’t taste like it holds the key to the answer—although the name may pay homage to its creator, the Southern belle Troy Ball.
Ball and her husband, Charlie, moved to Asheville, North Carolina, seeking a healthier climate for their two special needs sons. Quickly seduced by local strains of moonshine, the couple dove headfirst into the whiskey business a few years back.
The company’s whiskeys rely on a steady diet of Carolina sweet white corn, grown by a local farmer named John McEntire (yes, he grows the Entire-ty of their sweet, sweet corn). The Blonde employs another McEntire crop, the Turkey Red Wheat, a rare and delicate grain that predates modern breeding. Legend has it that the wheat was so highly valued by German-Russian immigrants that they filled entire trunks with its seeds and transported them to the U.S. in the late 1880s. Noted for its complex flavor and high protein content, Turkey Red Wheat is said to lend a velvety quality to whiskey. Asheville’s distillation process also boasts pure Appalachian Mountain spring water and a custom-built copper German still.
Overall, Asheville Distilling favors an absence of bite and smooth, velvety flavors. Bathtub moonshine, this is not.
Tasting Notes: Asheville Distilling Blonde Whiskey
Vital stats: 80-proof; a blend of the rare heirloom Turkey Red Wheat and Carolina sweet white corn; no age statement; Blonde is available in 750ml for around $30 to $45.
Appearance: Even blonde in appearance, this is a light and coppery liquor with quick and fragile legs.
Nose: True to its tagline (“a kinder spirit”), the Blonde has a gentle aroma, one that you might have to go searching for. This is not a fully immersive experience; the whiff-and-you-missed it quality leaves most of the work up to your taste buds.
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Palate: Built for savoring, the experience is akin to letting one of your grandmother’s caramel candies melt in your mouth. Incredibly smooth, with leading notes of vanilla, this recipe skips most of the familiar burn—although by no means eliminates it.
Final Thoughts:
The Blonde doesn’t simper; it’s more the strong and silent type. While undeniably smooth, it lacks the spunk of other spirits. Seems appropriate for a stiff spring drink.
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