Troy and Sons Oak Reserve is an interesting whiskey. It’s made using Crooked Creek Corn, an heirloom variety of white corn (non-GMO), and nothing else except water. To get the starch to convert to sugar for the yeast to do its fermentation they utilize a separate enzyme in the fermentation process.
Being a 100% corn mashbill, and aged in used copperage, the Troy and Sons Oak Reserve’s actual TTB designation is a corn whiskey, but the company bills it as an aged or “rested” moonshine. Using moonshine as a synonym for new make / white whiskey (white dog) irks me a teeny bit, but it’s been appropriated by pop-culture to the point that I even use here on TWJ. It’s a minor quibble that I’ve come to accept and reluctantly embrace.
Troy and Sons Oak Reserve Info
Region: North Carolina, USA
Distiller: Asheville Distilling
Mashbill: 100% Crooked Creek Corn
Cask: ex-Bourbon
Age: NAS
ABV: 40%
Price: $45
Troy and Sons Oak Reserve Review
EYE
Chestnut
NOSE
Toasted grains, caramel, spice, dried corn, apricots, vanilla, molasses, nutmeg and a touch herbal with a dusting of bakers sugar. It’s quite sweet, but not unpleasant. A bit more maturity to add more depth and I think it’ll be awesome.
PALATE
Butterscotch, candy corn, roasted corn, toffee, vanilla, molasses, citrus peel and a touch of grains and oak. The palate is more cloying than the nose, but it’s still not horrible and could also use a bit more maturity.
FINISH
Medium fade of butterscotch, molasses, vanilla, oak and herbs The fade reminds me of a nice funky rum.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Decent balance, full body and a round oily feel.
OVERALL
Troy and Sons Oak Reserve is a whiskey that drinks like a rum. No kidding, if I was doing this blind I would have though this was some kind of nice funky rum and if you drink it with that in mind it goes from a decent whiskey to a good rum and I’m thinking I should use it in some tiki cocktails as a substitute and see how it turns out. Strong rum resemblance aside it’s a decent dram.
There’s enough funky, molasses-like herbal funkiness going on inside of the Troy and Sons Oak Reserve to make it consistently interesting and something that I’ve found myself weirdly drawn to now and then. If you like the weird stuff pick this up and if you’re a rum fan definitely do yourself a favor and at least get a taste. If you’re looking for a classic “whiskey profile” then move on down the road to something else because this ain’t it, but it’s still darn tasty.
SCORE: 84/100 (B)
*Disclosure: This sample of Troy and Sons Oak Reserve was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
Troy and Sons Oak Reserve Review - Score Breakdown
Summary
Troy and Sons Oak Reserve is a decent sip. Needs a bit more maturity to it, but all-in-all not bad.
Overall
- Nose - 84
- Palate - 84
- Finish - 84
- Balance, Body & Feel - 84
User Review
( votes)
My neighbor gave me a bottle of Oak Reserve and am having trouble giving them an appreciative thank you. The nose is a harsh chemical unlike any whiskey I have ever tasted. It is so powerful I can not give an opinion on the taste. Maybe this is an example of a facet of whiskey I have never experienced, if so I have a lot to learn. For now I will stick with Eagle Rare, Kentucky Spirits, Knob Creek and similar whiskey.
Sounds like it somehow got worse, sorry to hear it Ed :/
I tried this because as a North Carolinian I try to support local distilleries, and as small local distilleries go, this is one of the best around. From quality of ingredients to attention to detail in packaging, they do it right. I found the Oak Reserve good andn I don’t regret the purchase, but it’s not quite worth the $35 it goes for here. I found the entry candy corn sweet but the finish to me is similar to tequila. In fact they list a “margarita” recipe on their website using this stuff. It made a passable old fashioned and I take my bottle out from time to time and enjoy it, but it is so hard to plunk down $35 on this when I can get a bottle of OGD 114, Henry McKenna 10 Yr BIB, Wild Turkey 101, etc etc for the same or less money. I really enjoy “Blonde”, their other entry into aged whiskey which throws some heirloom wheat into the mix and smooths out that “tequila-ish” finish. If you’re going to pay $35 for this one, you might as well throw in 5 more and purchase the Blonde.
I liked the Blonde. I have a bottle of that as well, but I agree on the price. It’s always tough, but like you I do like supporting the little guys when I can. I met their distiller at an event and agreed to try them and review them. I was really happy I liked them when they arrived.
Try a whiskey sour made with this…2 oz T&S Reserve, 1 oz fresh lemon juice and 1 oz simple syrup with a lime garnish. For some reason, this pairs really well with that citrus. I’m not big on “sweetish” mixed drinks, but this was really good.
That sounds pretty good actually. Cheers Ben!