Week 23 in the Year of Drinking Adventurously! Moonshine!
Sunday, June 5th was National Moonshine Day here in America. A day to celebrate the spirit of Prohibition. When America went dry in 1920, the movement gave rise to an illegal industry that –now legal– has become romanticized in the hearts of Americans.
Moonshine wasn’t invented during Prohibition, but distillers that were just making the stuff for their families and for local sale saw an opportunity to cash in on the demand for illegal booze. Unfortunately, because of the huge and sudden spike in that demand, the moonshiners often added inferior and sometimes dangerous ingredients to stretch their batches. Things like paint thinner and antifreeze made drinking moonshine a real gamble. Ever hear the term “blind drunk?” It was a real possibility!
Now if I’d been on my game a couple of weeks ago, I’d have realized that my visit to Eastern Tennesee, Gatlinburg in particular, left me plunked right in the heart of moonshining country. Gatlinburg is home to Ole Smoky Original Moonshine Whiskey. By the way, Kevin, you could have shared that with me. Thanks for nothing!
Fortunately, that’s not the only place I’ve visited that has a moonshine connection!
I spent a week in the Blueridge Mountains of Southern Virginia last year with an incredible view and a lousy internet connection. (Not complaining, just explaining.) The summer had been ridiculously busy and a do-nothing vacation was just the ticket. Coffee on the deck to watch the sunrise, a daily walk along the mountain roads with the valley falling away to one side, a nightly soak in the hot tub in the moonlight with a beer and nothing but stars overhead, thanks to no light pollution. Idyllic!
Part of the joy of traveling is taking in local culture and cuisine. And well, in that part of the country, the local cuisine is barbecue and the local heritage is moonshining. The house we rented was only about 20 minutes from Mt. Airy, North Carolina — home to Mayberry Spirits. At the time, the distillery was in its “soft opening” stage and only open Friday and Saturday afternoons. Nevertheless, we had a nice tour from the very knowledgeable and enthusiastic owner and distiller himself. It’s a small operation, making just enough booze to supply the local liquor stores with product.
We were able to sample their main products: Mayberry Moonshine, toasted oak whiskey and toasted vanilla whiskey. While most moonshine is 80% corn based, Mayberry’s products are sorghum based. Weird, right? Maybe, but it makes a unique and deliciously smooth whiskey. (Even the straight moonshine went down easy, almost like a high-quality white rum.) Needless to say, I brought home a supply! So if y’all end up in that neck of the woods, stop on into Mayberry Spirits and have a sip of Carolina moonshine! Careful though! It’s 100 proof!
Now, how should you drink your moonshine? You can substitute it for whiskey in whiskey-based cocktails or for rum in rum-based cocktails, so instead of a Long Island Iced Tea, here’s an idea:
Appalachian Iced Tea!
In a mason jar, over ice, combine:
3/4 oz tequila
3/4 oz vodka
3/4 oz tripel sec
3/4 oz gin
3/4 oz moonshine
1 oz sour mix
Splash of cola to top it off and stir
Garnish with a lemon slice and drink on your front porch in your rocking chair!
Since Lula is also plunked smack dab in the middle of moonshine country, I expect she had no trouble with this week’s adventure!
Every time I hear the word ‘moonshine’ all I can think of is ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’… That’s really all I have to add…. 🙂
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That’s where I’m from Sandra. Well, sorta. Lived in the area most of the last 30 years. I gotta tell ya, them Duke boys…
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When I was a little kid, it seemed like they were in a whole different world from me… which I suppose they were since I’m a New Englander. I’m pretty sure I had to ask my parents what moonshine was…
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I grew up in rural Pennsylvania. I think its not so much a southern thing as it is a ‘country’ thing. I went to school with guys like that… fixing up beater cars, drag racing, tapping a keg in the woods and everyone bring your own cup. 😉
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I didn’t grow up in a city… But there was one 20 minutes in one direction and one about 45 minutes in the other… so not exactly rural. Most guys I knew were in a band or something…
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There were those guys too…
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If there were kegs in the woods… I didn’t know about it. Of course, I was a nerd. 😛
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Loved that show! Was the only girl in 4th grade who like Luke better than Bo! Ha!
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Hahaha… I had to think about that to remember which was which. My memory is going…
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That’s not ‘shine. You can’t buy ‘shine in a store. Next time I’m in Kentucky I’ll get you the real, illegal and untaxed version. Sold in mason jars or 1 gallon plastic milk jugs.
But I’m sure store-bought will suffice in the mean time…
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Oh yeah, now you’re all helpful… When it’s too late! 😦
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That iced tea sounds amazing!
I’m off to a music festival on the Isle of Wight this weekend (The Who are headlining again 46 YEARS after their legendary set there!) and have just been getting my booze together. I’ve had maybe three or four sips of Jack Daniels (just to check it’s not gone off… ahem) and I swear it’s gone to my head already… which means the 2 litres I’m taking will probably keep me merry till Christmas!
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Oh that sounds awesome! One of the music channels usually shows the big festival concerts after they’re all over. It looks like so much fun! I’d love to do something like that but my hubs is a bit of a dud! 😦
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I’m looking forward to the music… four nights in a tent with two other guys, without any hint of comfortable seating, is another matter though!
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Yeah! Your own bed and shower is going to feel great on Sunday night! 🙂
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I won’t get home till Monday night… my wife’s threatened to hose me down on the lawn before I enter the house. I’m not entirely sure she’s joking!
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Ahaha! I spent three nights camping out at three back to back Grateful Dead concerts while I was in college. Seriously, that’s what we all felt like. I think I burned my clothes! 😀
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Probably for the best!
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Not a fan of any kind of iced tea but this Appalachian Ice tea I’m goin to try, just coz of moonshine. Lula’s really made me want to try this stuff.
Why does everything illegal have an extra appeal to it? 😛
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Hahaha! Yes, exactly! Forbidden fruit! 😀
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Good god, y’all! You don’t mix moonshine, at least not here. It’s made for sippin’ straight from the Mason jar. And if it’s made right, no mixer is necessary! Have a couple jars in the liquor cabinet right now actually. 😃
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Why does that not surprise me?!? 😀 I am not a mixer either, but not everybody is as an adventurous drinker as we are! 😉
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Pity. They know not what they miss. These kids today. 😃
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😀
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Ohhhh, white lightening ⚡️⚡️⚡️
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Yes, ma’am! 😀
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My dad and uncles had a bit of a thing for mason jars 😝
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Meg, this is great! I could go for some moonshine right about now! 😀 have to settle for coffee at the moment, though lol!
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Yeah its a little early to be hitting the ‘shine! 😀
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Haha! I agree! 😀
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Glad you enjoyed your visit to North Carolina; if you ever make it to Coastal Carolina or the New Bern area (home of Pepsi and Tryon Palace, drop me a line and I’ll try to give you “the tour.”
I don’t drink, but rumor has it that my great-uncle Leroy had a special “fox bait” he kept well-hidden (i.e. locked in the bottom drawer of his dresser.
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Thanks, Jay! I’ll do that!
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One of the first times I went to TN with my new hubby we were taken to some, ahem, interesting places in search of people who had stills and were making moonshine. I’ve not heard of mixing moonshine with anything either. I’ve also been to the Jack Daniels distillery which is in Lynchburg, TN and I’d much rather be drinking some whiskey!
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Yes, any time there’s a ‘resurgence’ in popularity, the original product gets ‘gentrified’ 😜
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But is it really moonshine if it’s not made in an old still in the back woods? That’s what I want to know. Interesting origin of “blind drunk.” That’s scary! Thanks for the tour 🙂
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That’s exactly what the traditionalists say! If it’s made in a distillery then it’s just plain old sour mash whiskey!
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Wow! That sounds good. The name’s a little ironic since there’s no iced tea in it!
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You ever have a Long Island ice tea? It’s all booze but you can’t tell! Sneaky!
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Of course I’ve had LI ice teas!
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I’m having one right now!
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Ha! I love it!
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Just to be clear, in case my employer is cyberstalking me, I was kidding
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Riiiiiiiiiight!!!!
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How perfect that you did a cocktail this week when I just sipped straight. Very nice reversal of roles.
I’ll be sure to look for this one, it sounds quite tasty
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A few people said its not real moonshine if it’s made in a distillery! 😃
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I partly agree, but there is always some part of any whiskey distillate that is uncut and right off the still. It’s just made using better (or not) ingredients that they use in the woods. If it’s right off the still, I say white lightening is white lightening. Only diff is the law ain’t after ya.
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Woah! I think I caught a buzz just READING that recipe!
Reading this made me think of Mags’ Bennett’s “Apple Pie” moonshine on the show Justified – a brew that was literally deadly! The show is over now, but it was one of my favorites. You should check it out if you haven’t seen it.
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Yep, I’ve hard the show was good!
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I like this series… Once when I was living in a particularly dodgy neighbourhood in London I visit the off license and discovered in a clear plastic 2 lite bottle with a cheap paper label a product called Alkohol for the bargain price of 79 cent… It was obviously catering to the winos and homeless of the area. I was tempted because I am as curious as a cat but I chickened out from actually buying and tasting the stuff
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That was probably for the best! I’m glad you like it. It’s definitely been adventurous so far. My post for today is about gin. You are in the UK?
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Originally from… I live very close to they now after a long while in the states
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Gin has taken off big time
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