Moonshine's Revival: The Golden Age of Outlaw Liqour - Polidicks

[quote][B](CNN)[/B]Moonshining is a vocation that speaks to the American pioneer spirit. In the golden age, folk heroes like Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton and Doc King avoided high alcohol taxes by hitching their stills to souped-up cars and lighting out for the Appalachian woods after dark, where they distilled eye-watering liquor from corn mash, to be sold in mason jars off the books. They played a game of cat and mouse with the authorities, as illegal distilling was an offense that carried jail time. But it was also high risk for the hated "revenuers" from the liquor authority, who were sometimes attacked, tarred and feathered. The product itself could be dangerous. For much of its 300-year history, moonshine referred to any illegal home-made spirit, including low quality brews with deadly contaminants. Today it usually describes clear, unaged whiskey, and standards have improved as the distillers no longer need to operate in the shadows. [B]New dawn[/B] When the global financial crisis hit the Appalachian heartlands, counties all over the region tapped into one of the few growth industries by legalizing moonshine. The first legal distillery in Tennessee opened its doors in 2010, and others followed in Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. "We somewhat cheated by learning from the bootleggers down by the river outrunning the revenuers," says Trey Boggs, who along with his brother Bryan founded Palmetto Moonshine, which became the first legal distillery in South Carolina in 2011. "The recipe is tried and true, the only difference is we pay taxes ... We make the real thing and use mason jars, nothing fancy." A 2012 explosion at the Anderson County factory highlighted the danger of no-frills distilling, but the damage was light enough that the company could take it in good humor. "Our shine's so good it's on fire," Palmetto announced. But while the business takes pride in its local roots, the liquor has gone far beyond South Carolina. Today, Palmetto Moonshine sells in 24 U.S. states. It has spread across Canada and launched in the United Kingdom, with new distribution deals struck for the Caribbean and South Africa. Sales have risen from 5,000 cases in 2011 to 25,000 in 2014. The British connection was formed when Callum Burt received a moonshine jar as a Christmas present, and realized it was not available anywhere in the United Kingdom. "I started talking to the top six legal moonshiners in the U.S.," says Burt. "Palmetto were the first to say 'when can you start?'" Moonshine UK was born, but adapting from U.S. to EU regulations presented a challenge. Burt had to change the size of the jars and remove all traces of the word "whiskey" -- which must be aged three years to meet European criteria. Ingredients were adjusted for Palmetto's flavored varieties. The moonshine is now on sale in 50 British bars and through an online retailer, with plans to supply every city in the country. It has been popular enough to inspire competition, and Burt believes the tradition is as much of a draw as the taste. "In the UK we like Americana at the best of times, and all the infamous history really lends itself to a drink like moonshine."[/quote] [url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/17/world/moonshine-legal-golden-age/]CNN[/url] If only ole' Popcorn Sutton lived to see this. He would of been a really happy man :/

I picked up this 73-year-old hitchhiker the other day, carried him some 150 miles. He was a PTSD Vietnam veteran and former heroin addict, had used acid when "acid" meant LSD, and pointed out to me the locations of several moonshine stills we passed.

I got some quality moonshine in New Hampshire, where it's pretty popular. It was the smoothest bottle of rubbing alcohol I've ever tasted. Seriously don't understand how people can stomach the stuff.

[QUOTE=catbarf;48001389]I got some quality moonshine in New Hampshire, where it's pretty popular. It was the smoothest bottle of rubbing alcohol I've ever tasted. Seriously don't understand how people can stomach the stuff.[/QUOTE] Depends on where you get it from and how you have it. I had my 21st birthday in Eastern KY and there was a lot of genuine apple pie moonshine being thrown around, which is quite honestly amazing. I also had some really terrible sour mash that was more like what you describe. In contrast, I went to Gatlinburg, TN where there are 4 distilleries that produce licensed moonshine that's not nearly as crazy, and they're all pretty decent. I'm partial to the Sugarlands prohibition-style sour mash. But the interesting thing is the sheer amount of history behind it. Some shiners have been doing it for generations, and if it wasn't such a secretive business it would be awesome to document how it's done. Disclaimer: I'm not saying I know a lot about moonshine but I've never experienced the "Holy shit this stuff could kill me" kind...Yet.

[QUOTE=catbarf;48001389]I got some quality moonshine in New Hampshire, where it's pretty popular. It was the smoothest bottle of rubbing alcohol I've ever tasted. Seriously don't understand how people can stomach the stuff.[/QUOTE] Was my go to for much of college, I am assuming you got it from someone who didn't know what they were doing. You can get really nice smooth high proof stuff if your supplier knows their stuff. Any redneck can look up how to run a still online and produce rotgut, but if you get someone who knows the trade it is a quality drink. Clear the (on the right) is higher proof than most flavors and pretty good for mixing. Flavored shine such as Apple pie, Strawberry, etc. like the others in the picture just taste amazing and good for sipping. And the fruit on the bottom packs a real punch, also shine blueberries make the best pancakes ever. [t]http://i.imgur.com/B7efkwF.jpg[/t] [t]http://i.imgur.com/m54HGwi.jpg[/t] Things like a bubble test, smell, etc. can clue you into the proof and quality. And always do a burn test if you dont 100% trust your supplier, hell I did a burn test on every bottle even trusting my guy (Multi-generation operation).

It's pretty ridiculous that distilling alcohol for personal use is illegal in most Western nations

[QUOTE=download;48001702]It's pretty ridiculous that distilling alcohol for personal use is illegal in most Western nations[/QUOTE] A lot of places people will look the other way, unless you are churning out a ton of money untaxed you are not worth the time and effort to prosecute.

[QUOTE=download;48001702]It's pretty ridiculous that distilling alcohol for personal use is illegal in most Western nations[/QUOTE] It's not illegal in the US, just distribution and sales are illegal without the proper licensing.

[QUOTE=Tone Float;48001320]I picked up this 73-year-old hitchhiker the other day, carried him some 150 miles. He was a PTSD Vietnam veteran and former heroin addict, had used acid when "acid" meant LSD, and pointed out to me the locations of several moonshine stills we passed.[/QUOTE] when did acid ever stop meaning lsd? i mean unless you're talking about people calling 2c-i and shit acid but that's just dealers misrepresenting it

[QUOTE=purvisdavid1;48001756]It's not illegal in the US, just distribution and sales are illegal without the proper licensing.[/QUOTE] No, it's illegal to make it without a license even if it's for personal use. [editline]19th June 2015[/editline] [url]http://www.ttb.gov/spirits/home-distilling.shtml[/url]

[QUOTE=download;48001702]It's pretty ridiculous that distilling alcohol for personal use is illegal in most Western nations[/QUOTE] That's because it's usually dangerous. Home brewing meanwhile is legal though, largely because its much safer.

[QUOTE=Deng;48002002]That's because it's usually dangerous. Home brewing meanwhile is legal though, largely because its much safer.[/QUOTE] its cause the government wants you to pay their taxes. a lot of things are dangerous, but the government can make mad tax money off the sale of alcohol.

[QUOTE=Deng;48002002]That's because it's usually dangerous. Home brewing meanwhile is legal though, largely because its much safer.[/QUOTE] It's pretty hard to fuck up. The two dangers are being a stupid hick and using a car radiator as a condenser which will give you lead poisoning, and using mystery yeast that has a high methanol content which can easily be solved by taking the 'head' off your product.

[QUOTE=Ninja Gnome;48001767]when did acid ever stop meaning lsd? i mean unless you're talking about people calling 2c-i and shit acid but that's just dealers misrepresenting it[/QUOTE] That is what I am referring to. Around here, the real stuff is so uncommon that people (not just dealers) who know the difference between LSD and 25x-NBOMes just call it all "acid". I'm sure they all feel a bit sorry when they do it though.

[QUOTE=Tone Float;48002173]That is what I am referring to. Around here, the real stuff is so uncommon that people (not just dealers) who know the difference between LSD and 25x-NBOMes just call it all "acid". I'm sure they all feel a bit sorry when they do it though.[/QUOTE] That is terrible. Expecting LSD and ending up with NBOMes is disappointing, but expecting any of the 2Cs and getting LSD would be fucking terrifying for the ignorant.

[QUOTE=sloppy_joes;48002033]its cause the government wants you to pay their taxes. a lot of things are dangerous, but the government can make mad tax money off the sale of alcohol.[/QUOTE] When it comes to what is effectively chemistry, a lot of people fuck up. Unless you are making moonshine using the type of equipment that real distilleries use, and using the same methods they do, it's quite likely you are going to fuck up. Distilleries have to keep to strict regulations, in addition to frequent health checks and regular inspections. Most moonshiners who brew on a small scale don't have these regulations, and the equipment is usually subpar. [QUOTE=download;48002069]It's pretty hard to fuck up. The two dangers are being a stupid hick and using a car radiator as a condenser which will give you lead poisoning, and using mystery yeast that has a high methanol content which can easily be solved by taking the 'head' off your product.[/QUOTE] I don't trust people to make it at home. I've worked in a lab with distillation and done enough health and safety in industrial science courses to know that most people who do this sort of thing at home are usually dipshits who end up harming themselves or other people.

[QUOTE=Deng;48002417]When it comes to what is effectively chemistry, a lot of people fuck up. Unless you are making moonshine using the type of equipment that real distilleries use, and using the same methods they do, it's quite likely you are going to fuck up. Distilleries have to keep to strict regulations, in addition to frequent health checks and regular inspections. Most moonshiners who brew on a small scale don't have these regulations, and the equipment is usually subpar.[/QUOTE] There are many forums online dedicated to distilling. The people there have continuously managed to not fuck it up. The idea you can easily poison yourself is massively overblown.

I think you should be free to produce for your own consumption, but any sort of sale without proper licenses/regulations/tax stamps should be illegal. Obviously you are also responsible for any/all fuck ups your product causes.

[QUOTE=download;48002425]There are many forums online dedicated to distilling. The people there have continuously managed to not fuck it up. The idea you can easily poison yourself is massively overblown.[/QUOTE] The point is that amateurs for the most part tend to fuck up. There's not just poisoning, but issues related to the fact you are producing vapours which can combust. Unless you are using the type of equipment and training (and usually knowledge of the health and safety too) that professionals in the food or science industries use, I don't trust you to not be a dipshit. The kind of amateurs who produce moonshine at home tend to fall into that category. It's much worse when they don't know about chemistry either.

[QUOTE=Deng;48002483]The point is that amateurs for the most part tend to fuck up. There's not just poisoning, but issues related to the fact you are producing vapours which can combust. Unless you are using the type of equipment and training (and usually knowledge of the health and safety too) that professionals in the food or science industries use, I don't trust you to not be a dipshit. The kind of amateurs who produce moonshine at home tend to fall into that category. It's much worse when they don't know about chemistry either.[/QUOTE] The point is amateurs don't tend to fuck it up. Find me some evidence of home distillers regularly fucking up.

[QUOTE=download;48002490]The point is amateurs don't tend to fuck it up. Find me some evidence of home distillers regularly fucking up.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nation-and-world/2-people-injured-kentucky-moonshine-distillery-explosion[/url] [url]http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2013/06/13/3781104.htm[/url] [url]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2955934/Inside-fake-alcohol-distillery-Plant-bottling-counterfeit-vodka-raided-police-seized-2-500-litres-fake-wine-spirits.html[/url] [url]http://edition.cnn.com/2011/12/16/world/asia/india-moonshine-deaths/index.html?_s=PM:ASIA[/url] Remember, the fact that moonshine is often outside of the law means that there is nothing preventing proper checkups and safety examinations - which can be extremely dangerous. I mean you aren't fucking baking a cake here, you're separating out poisons and flammable compounds with the intention of drinking the end product. It's for effectively the same reason you aren't allowed to make your own petrol. I mean sure it's possible to do it, but people just plain fuck up. And unlike the giant facilities run by professionals, the dangers tend to be much more deadly and harder to avoid.

Tennessee's the epicenter of this stuff right now. It's apparently a big part of my region's tourism, in and around the GSMNP. I'm not a huge fan. It's too sharp for me, sharper than Vodka. The fruit moonshine jellies are pretty okay, though. [editline]19th June 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=Deng;48002537][URL]http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nation-and-world/2-people-injured-kentucky-moonshine-distillery-explosion[/URL] [URL]http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2013/06/13/3781104.htm[/URL] [URL]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2955934/Inside-fake-alcohol-distillery-Plant-bottling-counterfeit-vodka-raided-police-seized-2-500-litres-fake-wine-spirits.html[/URL] [URL]http://edition.cnn.com/2011/12/16/world/asia/india-moonshine-deaths/index.html?_s=PM:ASIA[/URL] Remember, the fact that moonshine is often outside of the law means that there is nothing preventing proper checkups and safety examinations - which can be extremely dangerous. I mean you aren't fucking baking a cake here, you're separating out poisons and flammable compounds with the intention of drinking the end product. It's for effectively the same reason you aren't allowed to make your own petrol. I mean sure it's possible to do it, but people just plain fuck up. And unlike the giant facilities run by professionals, the dangers tend to be much more deadly and harder to avoid.[/QUOTE] People homebrew beer and ale all the time, and we don't freak out about botulism or any of the other bacterial infestations in that craft. The methods for removing harmful compounds are fairly concrete, and there are test kits you can buy to be absolutely sure you're producing decent moonshine or distillates. (And craft distillates, like herbal vigors and bitters, are a very wonderful thing.) That said, if you don't know what you're doing, and you haven't done adequate research, taken adequate precaution, and generally haven't done your homework, it's probably not a good idea to try to make the home-distilling version of toilet wine. Also, it's ridiculously illegal. So if you're not a fan of being in jail, probably best to leave it to the professionals.

[QUOTE=Deng;48002537][url]http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nation-and-world/2-people-injured-kentucky-moonshine-distillery-explosion[/url] [url]http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2013/06/13/3781104.htm[/url] [url]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2955934/Inside-fake-alcohol-distillery-Plant-bottling-counterfeit-vodka-raided-police-seized-2-500-litres-fake-wine-spirits.html[/url] [url]http://edition.cnn.com/2011/12/16/world/asia/india-moonshine-deaths/index.html?_s=PM:ASIA[/url] Remember, the fact that moonshine is often outside of the law means that there is nothing preventing proper checkups and safety examinations - which can be extremely dangerous. I mean you aren't fucking baking a cake here, you're separating out poisons and flammable compounds with the intention of drinking the end product. It's for effectively the same reason you aren't allowed to make your own petrol. I mean sure it's possible to do it, but people just plain fuck up. And unlike the giant facilities run by professionals, the dangers tend to be much more deadly and harder to avoid.[/QUOTE] So, a couple of cases out of thousands, real regular there. There are thousands of amateurs on distilling forums who manage to do it safely.

[QUOTE=download;48003491]So, a couple of cases out of thousands, real regular there. There are thousands of amateurs on distilling forums who manage to do it safely.[/QUOTE] I'd still argue that it should be illegal to operate your own distillery unless you have registered the still and are certified to produce it. There are still significant dangers involved that means it should be left to people who actually have the qualifications to do this sort of thing. I think the British penalty in particular (your still gets confiscated and you get fined £1000) is a fair response to it and one that should be upheld strongly.

[QUOTE=download;48001702]It's pretty ridiculous that distilling alcohol for personal use is illegal in most Western nations[/QUOTE] You can distill Pálinka here in Hungary legally for personal use. [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A1linka[/url]

[QUOTE=Adarrek;48003545]You can distill Pálinka here in Hungary legally for personal use. [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A1linka[/url][/QUOTE] It's legal here too, as long as you get a license for it.

[QUOTE=Deng;48003532]I'd still argue that it should be illegal to operate your own distillery unless you have registered the still and are certified to produce it. There are still significant dangers involved that means it should be left to people who actually have the qualifications to do this sort of thing. I think the British penalty in particular (your still gets confiscated and you get fined £1000) is a fair response to it and one that should be upheld strongly.[/QUOTE] A lot of the producers have been involved in the process since they were young teens if not earlier. They are skilled in their craft and know the risks and how to account for them and detect problems in the batch. They just pick it up in a manner more akin to apprenticeship rather than formal training. Unless they are complete morons (who are weeded out quick) they take quite a few safety precautions. You wouldn't keep a customer base, especially for generations, if you were cutting corners and producing unsafe products. [editline]edit[/editline] Plus you have to be an idiot to buy moonshine from someone who isn't a skilled producer and a bigger one to attempt to make your own product without any previous knowledge of the trade.

[QUOTE=Tone Float;48001320]I picked up this 73-year-old hitchhiker the other day, carried him some 150 miles. He was a PTSD Vietnam veteran and former heroin addict, had used acid when "acid" meant LSD, and pointed out to me the locations of several moonshine stills we passed.[/QUOTE] acid still means lsd though

[QUOTE=download;48001808]No, it's illegal to make it without a license even if it's for personal use. [editline]19th June 2015[/editline] [url]http://www.ttb.gov/spirits/home-distilling.shtml[/url][/QUOTE] Well god dammit. I thought it also covered spirits.

I live within smelling distance of the Jim Bean and Four Roses bourbon distilleries, and holy shit is moonshine culture huge in rural Kentucky. You can buy the stuff in gas stations.