![]() The Call family has deep roots in the mountains of North Carolina. READ MORE: The 20 Best Treehouse Rentals in the North Carolina Mountains Photo courtesy of Brian Call 3. ![]() Thus far, the Blue Ridge Distilling Co has kept it simple and good, and it has made them one of the best North Carolina whiskey distilleries. In 2022, they won Gold for their Defiant American Single Malt and Double Gold for their Defiant 100% Rye Whisky. Their Defiant American Single Malt Whisky took home Gold as the Best American Single Malt in 2019. The unique flavor lies in the toasted white oak, cultured yeast, brewer’s barley, and water from the North Carolina mountains. Their “Defiant Whisky” relies on basic ingredients and intuition. But it has recently come under new ownership. This NC distillery was started by a crew of salvage divers who aimed to meld Scottish whisky techniques with American ingenuity to make a unique North Carolina whiskey. Proudly breaking with convention, the Blue Ridge Distilling Company is located in Bostic, about 35 miles southwest of Morganton NC. READ MORE: Exploring The 12 Best Asheville NC Breweries Defiant Whisky, photo via Facebook 2. The Asheville Distilling Company distributes under the name Troy & Sons and offers several different types of whiskey, as well as a true moonshine. Instead they keep only “the heart” that comes in the middle of the distillation process. The other trick Troy learned from the mountain men was that the best whiskies skip “the head” (the first liquids distilled) and “the tails” (the last liquids distilled). Their recipes remain simple, but specific, relying on special heirloom corn (Crooked Creek Corn) and Mennonite wheat (Turkey Red Wheat) to create smooth and complex flavors. This popular Asheville NC distillery was built around the traditions of family distillers from the nearby mountain towns. The Asheville Distilling Company was founded by Troy Ball, a woman who was determined to discover the secrets of the best moonshine. READ MORE: The 15 Best NC Wineries to VisitĪsheville Distilling Company, photo via 1. Closer to progressive Asheville, we find exciting new spins in the casks.Įither way, the best distilleries in North Carolina have a lot to offer both the connoisseur and the casual consumer. In this region (particularly Wilkes County, near Boone and Blowing Rock), we find many distilleries clinging to moonshine tradition. ![]() But our list concentrates on Western NC, in the Blue Ridge Mountains and the foothills. There are plenty of choice distilleries in the state, such as the End of Days distillery in Wilmington and the Fainting Goats Spirits distillery in Greensboro. Today, distilleries in North Carolina can be found in abundance, with a new generation of distillers carrying on old traditions. Spirits (and the spirit of the outlaw) remain much beloved here, with homespun moonshine still passed around the campfire at North Carolina music jams and other gatherings. This morphed into stock car racing and, ultimately, NASCAR (which is strongly linked to North Carolina via the Earnhardt, Petty, and Jarret families).ĭespite being located in the Bible Belt and playing a role in the end of Prohibition in 1933, North Carolina has kept the tradition of moonshine alive. North Carolina auto racing heroes like Junior Johnson are reputed to have developed their formidable driving skills while running bootleg liquor. In short, NC distilleries are something of a cultural institution. An important aspect of North Carolina’s state history, NC moonshine is filled with legends, folklore, and lots of liquor.
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