Contents
Are there moonshiners in Tennessee?
Skip to content
Browse Site » A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0-9
Moonshine Randal Rust 2018-03-01T20:22:55+00:00 In 1935, this still was confiscated by park rangers at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the Sugarlands area. The boys are Civilian Conservation Corps workers posing as moonshiners for the staged photograph, taken by CCC employee E.E. Exline. Simply stated, “moonshine” is untaxed liquor, furtively produced quite often by the light of the moon, or at least out of the immediate reach and oversight of law enforcement.
Nicknamed “corn likker,” “white lightening,” “white mule,” “mountain dew,” and numerous other local appellations, the typical moonshine is clear in color and potent, usually approaching 100 proof, or 50 percent alcohol by volume. The process of making moonshine includes fermentation, distillation, and condensation.
The basic ingredients are sugar, water, yeast, cornmeal, and malt. First the mash of fermented grain is carefully heated. At the conclusion of the process, the alcohol is condensed, using the “worm,” a coil of copper pipe in a barrel of cool water. Although the process appears to be a simple one, only well-trained and highly skilled practitioners can produce unadulterated whiskey under such generally primitive conditions.
Scots-Irish settlers brought with them to America the knowledge and skills of whiskey-making. Prior to the American Revolution, production was limited, with rum being the preferred ardent spirit. The imposition of an excise tax on whiskey by the Washington administration in 1791 touched off a 1794 rebellion of farmers in western Pennsylvania who found it advantageous to convert their large corn crops into something more easily transportable.
Although the revolt failed, it proved that some Americans, whether they be nineteenth-century moonshine makers or twentieth-century marijuana growers, will provide a product for an illicit market if the price is right and chances of prosecution are minimal.
The legal history of this cottage industry followed several trends. Between 1817, when the excise tax was lifted, and 1862, when it was reinstituted, local distillers flourished along with larger established companies. In 1878 the federal government offered a blanket pardon to moonshiners, which many accepted while still plying their trade.
The Tennessee v. Davis Supreme Court decision of 1879 established federal supremacy in moonshine prosecution cases. With corn the primary crop, particularly among semisubsistence farmers in the Appalachian backcountry, it was only natural for the production of distilled liquor to become the occupation or avocation of many farmers.
- Coupled with poor or corrupt local law enforcement and inhospitality to federal “revenuers,” a tradition was formed that would last to the present.
- Prohibition touched off a flurry of activity with syndicates connected to such mobsters as Al Capone.
- The end of the “Noble Experiment,” the cost of sugar, changing American tastes, and the vagaries of law enforcement have dictated the ebb and flow of the market for moonshine.
Several areas in Tennessee, particularly Cades Cove, and Blount, Carter, Fentress, Hancock, Henry, Polk, and Scott Counties, have dominated the history of moonshining in the state. Women as well as men took part in the trade. For example, Mollie Miller led the moonshiners of Polk County and has been credited for the killing of several revenuers and informants.
- Another woman, who reportedly weighed six hundred pounds, ran a bloody family business, comforted by the fact that lawmen could think of no way to physically transport her to the seat of justice.
- The folklore and legends about moonshiners and revenuers have become a lasting part of southern history.
- The blockade runner, or “tripper,” became legendary with the advent of fast, modern automobiles.
Their flights from justice stood them well as a training ground for developing proficiency in high-speed driving, and many runners became contenders on the early stock car circuit. Revenuers who served as the nemesis of their moonshining quarry became famous as well.
What whiskey is only made in Tennessee?
Tennessee Whiskey Tennessee whiskey is Straight Bourbon Whiskey produced in the state of Tennessee. This definition is legally established under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). However, three of the four current producers of Tennessee whiskey disclaim references to their products as “Bourbon” and do not label them as such on their product bottling’s.
- Some Tennessee whiskies undergo a filtering stage called the Lincoln County Process, in which the whiskey is filtered through a thick layer of maple charcoal before it is put into charred new oak barrels for aging.
- The companies that produce whiskey in this manner say that this step improves the flavor of the whiskey.
Currently, there are four brands of Tennessee whiskey on the market: Jack Daniel’s, George Dickel, Collier and McKeel, and Prichard’s. : Tennessee Whiskey
How strong is Tennessee moonshine?
Bottled at 128 proof (64% ABV), it’s nothing if not strong.
What drink is Tennessee known for?
The Most Popular Liquor by State Have you ever wondered what the most-loved liquor in your state is? Last year, a social drinking app called found out by surveying 700,000 of its users to determine the most popular type of liquor in every state. If you’re a Tennessean, it won’t surprise you that whiskey is our favorite drink — Tennessee Whiskey is world-famous, after all.
But does it shock you that in 36 out of the 50 states, whiskey was the drink of choice? That’s 72 percent — so we think it’s safe to say that whiskey is America’s favorite liquor! Check out this map to see what the favorite beverage of your state is: In true Southern spirit, don’t forget to taste some of our locally-distilled whiskey while you’re in town.
Our 100-proof Classic American Corn Whiskey, Mitchum’s Old Tennessee Classic Whiskey, and Butcher’s 8-Year-Old Bourbon are our favorites — but if you hail from a non-whiskey-loving state, we’ve got you covered. We’ve got rum, vodka, Dumplin Creek Moonshine, and more to satisfy your palate.
Is Tennessee a dry state?
States that permit localities to go dry – 33 states have laws that allow localities to prohibit the sale (and in some cases, consumption and possession) of liquor. Still, many of these states have no dry communities. Two states— Kansas and Tennessee —are entirely dry by default: counties specifically must authorize the sale of alcohol in order for it to be legal and subject to state liquor control laws.
- Alabama specifically allows cities and counties to elect to go dry by public referendum.
- Alaska specifically allows local jurisdictions to elect to go dry by public referendum.
- Arkansas specifically allows local jurisdictions to elect to go dry by public referendum.
- California specifically allows local jurisdictions to enact liquor laws that are stricter than state law.
- Colorado specifically allows cities and counties to exercise a local option by public referendum whether to go dry.
- Connecticut specifically allows towns to exercise a local option by public referendum whether to go dry.
- Delaware ‘s state constitution allows specifically defined local districts to elect to go dry by public referendum.
- Florida specifically allows counties to elect to go dry by public referendum.
- Georgia specifically allows any local jurisdiction to go dry, without limitation on how that decision is made.
- Idaho allows local jurisdictions to prohibit sale of liquor by the drink by public referendum, but because all retail package sales are controlled by the state, no local jurisdiction may prohibit package liquor sales for consumption off-premises.
- Kansas is dry by default; counties have to choose to allow liquor sales in order for liquor to be sold at all in the county. ( see Alcohol laws of Kansas )
- Kentucky specifically allows local jurisdictions to elect to go dry by public referendum. The Kentucky Constitution implies that the default wet/dry status of any local subdivision reflects the state of its local laws at the time that statewide prohibition ended.
- Louisiana specifically allows local jurisdictions to go dry, without limitation on how that decision is made.
- Maine specifically allows local jurisdictions to elect to go dry by public referendum.
- Massachusetts requires that a series of questions of whether to go dry be placed on each municipality’s local ballot every two years, unless the municipality has voted to allow or prohibit liquor sales in three such consecutive elections.
- Michigan allows any city, village, or township in which there are no retail liquor licenses to prohibit the retail sale of alcoholic liquor within its borders by passage of an ordinance.
- Minnesota allows any local jurisdiction to enact laws that are stricter than state liquor law, including completely prohibiting the sale, possession, and consumption of alcoholic beverages.
- Mississippi is wet by default; local jurisdictions have to choose to go dry via referendum.
- New Hampshire specifically allows local jurisdictions to elect to go dry by public referendum.
- New Jersey specifically allows local jurisdictions to exercise control over the sale of alcoholic beverages in retail establishments (liquor stores, restaurants) and to limit or refuse to issue retail licenses.
- New Mexico is wet by default, but dry on Sundays until noon. Law does, however, allow for local jurisdictions to elect to go dry by public referendum.
- New York specifically allows cities and counties to exercise a local option by public referendum whether to go dry. ( see Alcohol laws of New York )
- North Carolina allows certain classes of local jurisdictions to exercise a local option by public referendum whether to go dry.
- Ohio state law allows local jurisdictions to exercise a local option by public referendum whether to prohibit the sale of liquor.
- Rhode Island state law allows local jurisdictions to exercise a local option by public referendum whether to prohibit the sale of liquor.
- South Dakota allows certain classes of local jurisdictions to exercise a local option by public referendum whether to prohibit the on-premises sale of liquor.
- Tennessee is dry by default; local jurisdictions must choose whether to allow liquor sales in order for liquor to be sold. ( see Alcohol laws of Tennessee )
- Texas allows local jurisdictions to exercise a local option to decide whether it is “wet” or “dry,” and does not limit how that decision shall be made.
- Vermont allows municipalities to exercise a local option by public referendum whether to prohibit the sale of liquor.
- Virginia allows local jurisdictions to exercise a local option by public referendum whether to prohibit the sale of liquor.
- Washington allows local jurisdictions to exercise a local option by public referendum whether to prohibit the sale of liquor.
- West Virginia allows local jurisdictions to exercise a local option by public referendum whether to prohibit the sale of liquor.
- Wisconsin allows local jurisdictions to exercise a local option by public referendum whether to prohibit the sale of liquor.