Moonshining in the Blue Ridge

[4570Man]

Mr.Wolfe that so cool. What else could a man want when he has his own still. The coils have to be out there somewhere.

That’s what I was thinking. It would probably be field stone and not block from that era. Plus the wood in the tanks wouldn’t last very long.

 

[Doofy]

Nice and interesting find. I went to a Christian Retreat in Stone Mountain Georgia back in 1972 or 73 and while out walking in the woods, were amazed seeing these tree-stands everywhere. Then, we saw the big piles of corn shucks and realized the purpose of all those tree stands. Sure spooked us and we ran.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

How recently did moonshiners operate? That wellhouse looks way too new to date back to prohibition.

The moonshiner's are still in full operation. I have some Apple and Peach Brandy sitting in the kitchen right now. I don't drink so I get it and give it away as gifts.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

That’s what I was thinking. It would probably be field stone and not block from that era. Plus the wood in the tanks wouldn’t last very long.

We figure they date to maybe 15 to 20 years ago or so. The story is they were busted up by the Fed's or the Sheriff in the old hog barn which is where they cooked the liquor and then fed the mash to the hogs. No telling how long they sat there till they were drug out to the woods where I found them. The spring house has a pump, expansion tank, and had power at one time. There are old power poles cut off and piled up next to the barn as well, apparently the law cut the power off as a deterrent. Hoping to run into the neighbor down the road soon and get the whole story.

 

[Tomtint]

We were working in Kentucky about a year and a half ago... Got my first..and last taste of Kntuckys clear..... it's certainly an acquired taste.... and not for me....I can barely tolerate beer. ... never mind acetone

 

[Molalla1]

The moonshiner's are still in full operation. I have some Apple and Peach Brandy sitting in the kitchen right now. I don't drink so I get it and give it away as gifts.

:wave: . . . hello . . .

 

[Steppenwolfe]

[/B]
:wave: . . . hello . . .

Buddy... You are welcome to stop by anytime. I don't believe I can UPS jet fuel legally...

 

[Molalla1]

Buddy... You are welcome to stop by anytime. I don't believe I can UPS jet fuel legally...

I may . . . :licking: I sometimes really like jet fuel . . .

 

[Steppenwolfe]

We were working in Kentucky about a year and a half ago... Got my first..and last taste of Kntuckys clear..... it's certainly an acquired taste.... and not for me....I can barely tolerate beer. ... never mind acetone

Like I said, I don't drink myself, but when pouring this from half gallon jars to 12 oz jars I had just a tea spoon left. I pulled it into my mouth to taste and my tongue went numb, not to mention I couldn't breathe for a few seconds. This stuff is no joke. The Apple Pie if much more mellow and smells so good I can at least take a few small sips without slipping into a coma...

 

[Steppenwolfe]

I may . . . :licking: I sometimes really like jet fuel . . .

Don't you have kin folk in Virginia?

 

[Molalla1]

Don't you have kin folk in Virginia?

South Carolina . . . and actually Kentucky . . . from years ago.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Like I said, I don't drink myself, but when pouring this from half gallon jars to 12 oz jars I had just a tea spoon left. I pulled it into my mouth to taste and my tongue went numb, not to mention I couldn't breathe for a few seconds. This stuff is no joke. The Apple Pie if much more mellow and smells so good I can at least take a few small sips without slipping into a coma...

That's probably up there, maybe 180-190 proof. I've always heard 200 (100%) is impossible once opened moisture in the air would dilute it some.
Years ago we were at wife's aunt/uncle's house, uncle has some in his fridge in basement. There was a knock at door, a neighbor friend comes in, asks for some. Takes a great big swig out of the Mason jar...says "Hoooooo-weeeeeee!!!!!" then staggers back home. I don't see how he did it straight like that.
Years ago there was a Franklin county moonshiner the judge didn't prosecute, he said that was the way he could afford putting three kids through college. One other fellow who did go to jail a couple years was making $200K/year in the 1970s!

 

[Jim Nelson]

There are some you tube videos on how to make white lightening and one of my sons found a recipe he really likes as do some of his buddies. He only makes it a certain time of year,I think winter, and has a bunch of guys waiting around for it to be ready.

Back during the depression my Dad got into bootlegging and one of his partners wives ended up blind drinking some of it. I'm like Step,I can't handle it .

 

[Fuddy1952]

There are some you tube videos on how to make white lightening and one of my sons found a recipe he really likes as do some of his buddies. He only makes it a certain time of year,I think winter, and has a bunch of guys waiting around for it to be ready.

Back during the depression my Dad got into bootlegging and one of his partners wives ended up blind drinking some of it. I'm like Step,I can't handle it .

Some went blind, some got the jake leg. There's an art to it like everything and some people made hootch using old car radiators, etc. You have to know what you're doing.
Years ago I worked downtown next to a diner that mostly sold alcohol. On their counter next to the register was one of those donation money jars, usually someone's picture needing money to pay medical bills. This one just had a card taped to it..."Wine for the Blind" it said.

 

[Jstpssng]

I learned another new term tonight, Jake Leg

From Merriam-Webster dictionary:

\ ˈjāk-ˌleg


, -ˌlāg \
Definition of jake leg
: a paralysis caused by drinking improperly distilled or contaminated liquor

First Known Use of jake leg
1932, in the meaning defined above
History and Etymology for jake leg
jake grain alcohol flavored with an alcoholic extract of ginger

Then again, I'm probably the only one who hadn't heard the term.

 

[Molalla1]

I learned another new term tonight, Jake Leg

From Merriam-Webster dictionary:



Then again, I'm probably the only one who hadn't heard the term.

Bathtub gin . . .

 

[Threepoint]

Hey Steppenwolfe, very cool! Here's a little music to go along with your new finds.

Joan Baez - Copper Kettle [HD] - YouTube

 

[MossRoad]

I'm pretty sure those are submarine pot stills, not mash tanks.

 

[Wagtail]

Then again, I'm probably the only one who hadn't heard the term.

Nope, I had to look it up too... which is a wee bit of a turn-around to all of you blokes having to decipher 'Aussie-isms'.

Turns out that the 'jake' part was from "Jamaica" ginger.

 

[Gunny]

I'm pretty sure those are submarine pot stills, not mash tanks.

That was my line of thinking, and if they aren't made out of copper, I wouldn't want any shine that came out of it, no way it could have made good whiskey. A moonshiner with any pride in his finished product wouldn't use it.

We've got a couple of folks still making moonshine here, on is just three farms down the road from me. His is pretty good stuff, grinds his own corn in the mix, but he only fires up and runs two or three times a year.