Old Timers Steal the Show on Moonshiners
Brewing is one of the world’s oldest professions and distilling takes it to a harder level. As soon as governments began regulating the production of alcohol, the first batch of ale was brewed and the first batch of moonshine was distilled. Decades, centuries, or millennia later, illegal production and bootlegging is still alive and well.
Benjamin Franklin once said that death and taxes are the only two things that are certain. Demand for liquor is a third thing that probably won’t go away any time soon.
While I don’t care for hard alcohol, I’ve always been intrigued by the history of brewing and distilling. In the United States, some of that production has been legal and some not, but either way it has tracked the nation’s development from sleepy colonies to westward expansion to a much more populous country. Though alcohol was only prohibited for a short time in this history, governments have regulated its production and distribution for much of that time. Legal alcohol sales generate huge revenues for governments, and some underground products can be adulterated with harmful substances, so it is understandable that there is some push to limit or control production.
Nevertheless, moonshining and bootlegging of illegal liquor are alive and well. As long as there is demand for alcohol, then some segment of the market will be glad to accept lower-priced hooch that doesn’t come with taxes and retail premiums. For moonshiners, there is some thrill in staying one step ahead of the law, though the risks of getting caught (and going to jail) must be incredibly stressful also.
In my area of the country, marijuana production has been a similar story. That has been illicit but quite widespread. And today, we finally see that government laws are catching up with this. Marijuana is becoming more legally acceptable partly because governments see the benefits of being able to regulate and tax it. Meanwhile, moonshiners continue to produce illegal alcohol in many places.
Somewhere, I happened across the Discovery Channel’s Moonshiners show and have enjoyed watching the saga of some of these people who run illegal distilleries in Appalachia. (I'm still catching up on old episodes, since I didn't catch it live until recently.) Moonshining is an age-old tradition, but the shows focuses heavily on the younger generation. They have learned the craft from some old-time Moonshine legends. And the show does a great job including footage from some of these old-timers also, from Popcorn Sutton to Jim Tom. A few are still active, while others are well remembered.
So I thought I would take a few screenshots of the old-timers and a few of their good lines from the Moonshiners show. I do not promote or glorify the illegal production or distribution of alcohol (and I think they perform some bait & switch on this show to prevent actually breaking the law on camera). But it sure is an interesting culture and they certainly have some entertaining stories to tell. As far as a 'reality' show involving illegal subject matter, this show does a nice job telling those stories.
All images are screenshots from the Discovery Channel's "Moonshiners" show.
Distilling without a proper knowledge of doing it will pose a health risk to consumers because a by-product which is methanol (a poison) should be taken off before collecting the ethanol.
A case was told on the news here in my country just recently when some men died because they consumed a very bad batch of distilled sugar cane.
I had been drunk in some occasion during my college years and the effects really wasn't pleasant, like I wanted to die already @donkeypong
I don't think that the government can control it that is why they legalized it again decades ago.
Merry Christmas and wish you all the best @donkeypong! I have not used much moonshine as I understand now that this is real science and one can say rite. Surprisingly, old people who used moonshine and lived so much because it is less harmful with modern drinks!
I completely agree with you that no matter how much the government prohibits alcohol, mankind will always find a way to circumvent these prohibitions and moonshine is a complete confirmation of this. The reason is simple, the minimum cost and quality is higher, which brings less harm to health and hangover is also less!
Yes, the cost is lower. Not sure if the quality is that much different.
Oh yes @donkeypong, moonshine is the ancestor of modern alcoholic beverages and its use has always been in our times a very common event in some countries. You are right, the difference of moonshine from modern alcohol is that it is made on a natural basis, the less adversely affects the body, perhaps this is the secret of longevity of old-timers. Merry Christmas!
Excellent review, my friend and moonshine has always been a very consumed drink at all times and, as you correctly noted, its production increased greatly after the ban by the authorities in many countries. I’m sure that all the countrymen have lived and used so much moonshine that it is made from completely natural ingredients and without adding all-possible chemistry! Thanks @donkeypong and Happy Christmas!
Bans may slow it down, but won't stop it.
I have seen this documentary....it was awesome
Awesome! Moonshiners is a great show, I've seen every episode. If you enjoy Moonshiners and you haven't see it check out Swamp People.
I've seen that one pop up as a recommendation and will check it out - thanks!
@donkeypong, First of all I want to say Merry Christmas to you and family.
As my country also have legal permission for some alcohol products and no giving legal license some products like marijuana and and local illegal products.
More worldwide peoples use alcohol products and I believe sales income more than healthy expenditure. So every governments try to control illegal activities and bring new regulations for stop un valid alcohol businesses. But more moonshiners know old recipe for make local & natural alcohol products. But they didn't made revenue to government. That's fantastic review. Thanks.
Jim Tom is the best! Rye whiskey....Rye whiskey, dont let me down....lolololololo
That guy is flat-out hilarious. Quite a character.
Liquor, marijuana are objects that are forbidden in my religion, Islam. But even though I live in a country with a majority Muslim population, liquor sales and marijuana are still carried out in secret. It seems that this business is very profitable for the perpetrators. coupled with a weak legal system so that the perpetrators can be free easily from the law.
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