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% &omplete Gui'e to (oonshine) *till +lans) ,ome -istillin. an' (oonshinin.
,ow to ma"e a moonshine still with free plans for home 'istillin. the ol'-
fashione') tra'itional way. (oonshinin. is an art. *ee how it is 'one. /his
article is courtesy of 0lliot 1i..inton2s 3o$#re series.
/he manufacture of moonshine illicit whis"ey in the mountains is not 'ea'.
3ar from it. %s lon. as the operation of a still remains so #nancially rewar'in.)
it will ne4er 'ie.
/here will always be men rea'y to ta"e their chances a.ainst the law for such
an attracti4e pro#t) an' willin. to ta"e their punishment when they are
cau.ht.
5ac".roun' to (oonshine (a"in.:
(oonshinin. (a"in. is a #ne art) howe4er) e6ecti4ely 'isappeare' some time
a.o.
/here were se4eral reasons. 7ne was the a.e of aspirin an' mo'ern
me'icine. %s home 'octorin. lost its stature) the 'eman' for pure corn
whis"ey as an essential in.re'ient of many home reme'ies 4anishe' alon.
with those reme'ies. 8ncreasin. a9uence was another reason. :oun. people)
rather than follow in their parents2 footsteps) 'eci'e' that there were easier
ways to ma"e money; an' they were ri.ht.
/hir') an' perhaps most in<uential of all) was the arri4al) e4en in
moonshinin.) of that peculiarly human 'isease "nown to most of us as .ree'.
7ne fateful ni.ht) some force whispere' in an unsuspectin. moonshiner2s ear)
=>oo". %'' this .a'.et to your still an' you2ll 'ouble your pro'uction. -ouble
your pro'uction) an' you can 'ouble your pro#ts.=
*oon the small operators were bein. force' out of business) an'
moonshinin.) li"e most other manufacturin. enterprises) was ?uic"ly ta"en
o4er by a bree' of men bent on ma"in. money@an' lots of it. >oss of pri'e in
the pro'uct) an' loss of time ta"en with the pro'uct increase' in 'irect
proportion to the 'esire for pro'uction; an' thus moonshinin. as a #ne art
was burie' in a ?uiet little ceremony atten'e' only by those mourners who
ha' once been the prou' artists) "nown far an' wi'e across the hills for the
e$cellence of their pro'uct.
/oo ol' to continue ma"in. it themsel4es) an' with no one followin. behin'
them) they were re'uce' to reminiscin. about =the .oo' ol' 'ays when the
whis"ey that was ma'e was really whis"ey) an' no ?uestions as"e'.= 1e .ot
intereste' in the subject one 'ay when) far bac" in the hills whose streams
buil' the >ittle /ennessee) we foun' the remains of a small stone furnace an'
a woo'en bo$ an' barrel.
7n 'escribin. the location to se4eral people) we were amaAe' to 'isco4er
that they all "new whose still it ha' been. /hey all aBrme' that from that still
ha' come some of the =#nest home brew these mountains e4er saw. Nobo'y
ma"es it li"e that any more)= they sai'.
*u''enly moonshinin. fell into the same cate.ory as faith healin.) plantin.
by the si.ns) an' all the other 4anishin. customs that were a part of a
ru..e') self-suBcient culture that is now 'isappearin..
7ur job bein. to recor' these thin.s before they 'ie) we tac"le' moonshinin.
too. 8n the si$ months that followe') we inter4iewe' close to a hun're'
people. *heri6s) fe'eral men) lawyers) retire' practitioners of the ol' art)
haulers) 'istributors) an' men who ma"e it to'ay for a li4in.; all became
subjects for our ?uestionin..
(any were e$tremely reluctant to tal") but as our information slowly
increase' we were able to use it as a le4er@=,ere2s what we "now so far.
1hat can you a''C=
3inally we .aine' their faith) an' they opene' up. 1e promise' not to print or
re4eal the names of those who wishe' to remain anonymous. /hey "new in
a'4ance) howe4er) that we inten'e' to print the information we .athere'@all
e$cept that which we were speci#cally as"e' not to re4eal. %n' here it is.
/he ,istory of (oonshine - 8n the 5e.innin.
%ccor'in. to ,orace Kephart in 7ur *outhern ,i.hlan'ers D(acmillan) EFG)
the story really be.ins with the tra'itional hatre' of 5ritons for e$cise ta$es.
%s an e$ample) he ?uotes the poet 5urns2 response to an impost le4ie' by
the town of 0'inbur.h.
/hae curst horse-leeches o2 the 0$cise
1ha2 ma"e the whis"ey stills their priAeH ,au' up thy han2) -eilH ance) twice)
thriceH
/here) sieAe the blin"ersH %n2 ba"e them up in brunstane pies
3or poor '@n2' 'rin"ers.
0specially hate' were those laws which struc" at the national 'rin" which
families ha' ma'e in their own small stills for hun're's of years. Kephart
e$plains that one of the reasons for the hatre' of the e$cise oBcers was the
fact that they were empowere' by law to enter pri4ate houses an' search at
their own 'iscretion.
%s the laws .ot harsher) so too the amount of rebellion an' the amount of
un'er-the-table cooperation between local oBcials an' the moonshiners.
Kephart ?uotes a historian of that time:
Not infre?uently the .au.er coul' ha4e lai' his han's upon a 'oAen stills
within as many hours; but he ha' co.ent reasons for a4oi'in. 'isco4eries
unless absolutely force' to ma"e them. I/his o4er two hun're' years a.o.J
% hatre' of the e$cise collectors was especially pronounce' in 8relan' where
tiny stills 'otte' roc"y mountain co4es in true moonshinin. tra'ition. Kephart
?uotes the same historian:
/he 4ery name I.au.er) or .o4ernment oBcialJ in4ariably arouse' the worst
passions. /o "ill a .au.er was consi'ere' anythin. but a crime; where4er it
coul' be 'one with comparati4e safety) he was hunte' to 'eath.
*cotchmen Dnow "nown as *cotch-8rishG e$porte' to the three northern
counties of 8relan' ?uic"ly learne' from the 8rish how to ma"e an' 'efen'
stills.
1hen they fell out with the 5ritish .o4ernment) .reat numbers of them
emi.rate' to western +ennsyl4ania an' into the %ppalachian (ountains
which they opene' up for our ci4iliAation. /hey brou.ht with them) of course)
their hatre' of e$cise an' their "nowle'.e of moonshinin.) in e6ect
transplantin. it to %merica by the mi' K00s. (any of the mountaineers
to'ay are 'irect 'escen'ants of this stoc".
/hese *cotch-8rish frontiersmen woul' har'ly be calle' 'ishonorable people.
8n fact) they were 1ashin.ton2s fa4orite troops as the 3irst Le.iment of 3oot
of the &ontinental %rmy. /rouble be.an after 8n'epen'ence) howe4er) with
,amilton2s #rst e$cise ta$ in KE.
1his"ey was one of the few sources of cash income the mountaineers ha' for
buyin. such .oo's as su.ar) calico) an' .unpow'er from the pac" trains
which came throu.h perio'ically. 0$cise ta$es wipe' out most of the cash
pro#t. Kephart ?uotes %lbert Gallatin:
1e ha4e no means of brin.in. the pro'uce of our lan's to sale either in .rain
or meal. 1e are therefore 'istillers throu.h necessity) not choice) that we
may comprehen' the .reatest 4alue in the smallest siAe an' wei.ht.
/he same ar.ument persists e4en to'ay@battles ra.e' aroun' it throu.h the
1his"ey 8nsurrection of KEF) an' o4er .o4ernment ta$es le4ie' 'urin. the
&i4il 1ar) +rohibition) an' so on ri.ht to this moment.
/he ,istory of (oonshinin. - /he >aw 4s. /he 5loc"a'er
/he reasons for the continuous feu' implie' in this hea'in. shoul' be ob4ious
by now. /he .o4ernment is losin. money that it feels ri.htfully belon.s to it.
/his has always been the case. 8n the report from the &ommissioner of
8nternal Le4enue for MKK-KM) the followin. appeare':
/he illicit manufacture of spirits has been carrie' on for a number of years)
an' 8 am satis#e' that the annual loss to the Go4ernment from this source
has been 4ery nearly) if not ?uite) e?ual to the annual appropriation for the
collection of the internal re4enue ta$ throu.hout the whole country.
8n Ithe southern %ppalachian states from 1est Nir.inia throu.h Geor.ia an'
inclu'in. %labamaJ there are "nown to e$ist 5)000 copper stills.
8t2s 'i6erent nowC &learly not) as seen in an article in the (ay O)EPM %tlanta
&onstitution on the interim report of the Go4ernor2s &rime &ommission. 8n
7ctober) EPK) there were aroun' K50 illicit stills in Geor.ia) operatin. at a
mash capacity of o4er K50)000 .allons.
/his amounts to appro$imately Q5R million in annual fe'eral e$cise ta$ frau')
an' almost QE million in state frau'. /he article ?uotes the &ommission)
placin. the blame for Geor.ia2s ran"in. as the lea'in. pro'ucer of moonshine
in the Unite' *tates on =corrupt oBcials) a misinforme' an' sometimes
unintereste' public) an' the climate create' by Geor.ia2s RE 'ry counties.=
7ri.inally arrests ha' been ma'e by .o4ernment oBcials D=3e's= or
=Le4enuers=G) but 'urin. +rohibition much of the enforcement was left up to
the local sheri6s. /his put many of them in a peculiar position) for the
moonshiners they were bein. tol' to arrest were) in many cases) people they
ha' "nown all their li4es.
%s it turne' out) howe4er) most of the lawbrea"ers were reser4in. their
hostility for the fe'eral a.ents an' the 4olunteers Dcalle' =Le4enue -o.s=G
who helpe' them. /hey ha' nothin. a.ainst their sheri6 frien's who) they
un'erstoo') were simply 'oin. their jobs.
/he sheri6s) for their part) un'erstoo' the economic pli.ht of the
moonshiners. 3or many of these people) ma"in. moonshine was the only way
they ha' at the time of fee'in. their families. %s one tol' us) =8 felt li"e 8 was
ma"in. an honest 'ollar) an' if it ha'n2t a been for that stu6) we2' a ha' an
empty table aroun' here.=
/he situation resulte' in a stran.e) frien'ly ri4alry in most cases. %s one
moonshiner sai') =8 ne4er .a4e an oBcer trouble e$cept catchin2 me. %fter
82uA cau.ht) 82uA his pic"aninny.=
/he same man tol' us of a time when he was cau.ht by a local oBcial who
was as frien'ly a man as he ha' e4er met. ,e wasn2t treate' li"e a criminal or
an animal) but treate' with respect as another man ma"in. a li4in. for a
lar.e family@which he was. %fter it was all o4er) the local oBcial ha' ma'e2a
frien' instea' of an enemy) an' the two are still fast frien's to'ay.
-urin. the same perio' of time) there was another sheri6 whom he often
encountere' on the streets of a little town in North &arolina. /he sheri6 woul'
always come up to him) .reet him) an' as" him what he was up to 'own in
Geor.ia. /he other woul' usually reply) =7h) not much .oin2 on 'own there.=
8f) howe4er) the sheri6 ha' .otten a report about one of his stills) he woul'
follow that reply with) =8 hear you2re farmin2 in th2 woo's.= /he moonshiner
woul' "now that that was a warnin. for him to watch his step. -espite the
warnin.s) the sheri6 was able to catch him an' cut 'own his moonshine stills
on three separate occasions) but they remaine' fast frien's.
1e tal"e' to se4eral retire' sheri6s Done of whom) >uther Lic"man) was the
#rst sheri6 to rai' a still in Labun &ountyG) an' they a.ree' completely. (ost
of the bloc"a'ers that they ha' encountere' ran small operations) an' the
whis"ey they ma'e was in the best tra'itions of cleanliness. 5esi'es) times
were har') an' a man ha' to eat.
-espite the fact that the sheri6s at that time were pai' on the =fee system)=
an' thus their entire salary 'epen'e' on the number of arrests they ma'e)
they 'i' not .o out loo"in. for stills. /hey ma'e arrests only after reports ha'
been turne' in 4oluntarily by informers who) as we shall see later) usually ha'
personal reasons for reportin. the stills. /hey were ne4er hire' to 'o so.
7peratin. on the fee system) the local oBcials .ot Q0 just for still. 8f they
were able to catch the operator also) they recei4e' between QF0 an' QP0.
0$tra money was .i4en them if they brou.ht in witnesses who coul' help
con4ict. 3or the bloc"a'er2s car) they recei4e' appro$imately half the price
the bloc"a'er ha' to pay to .et it bac" which was usually the cash 4alue of
the car. %n' they were allowe' to "eep any money they coul' .et from sellin.
the copper out of which the still ha' been ma'e.
&on#scate' moonshine) beer) an' the li"e were poure' out. /he su.ar was
often 'onate' to an institution li"e a school or hospital. /he number of stills
actually unco4ere' 4arie' 'rastically from month to month. *ome months)
twenty or thirty woul' be cau.ht an' =cut 'own)= but other months) none at
all woul' be 'isco4ere'.
,ar'est of all was catchin. the men actually ma"in. a run. 8n almost all cases
they ha' loo"outs who were arme' with bells) horns) or ri<es) an' who
in4ariably soun'e' the alarm at the #rst si.n of 'an.er. 5y the time the
sheri6 coul' .et to the still) the men woul' ha4e all <e' into the surroun'in.
hills. 1e were tol' about one man who was pai' a hun're' 'ollars a wee"
just as a sentry. %nother still was .uar'e' by the operator2s wife who simply
sat in her home with a wal"ie-tal"ie that connecte' her with her husban'
while he was wor"in..
/he moonshine still) which sat a.ainst a cli6 behin' the house) coul' only be
reache' by one route) an' that route passe' 'irectly in front of the house.
/he operator was ne4er cau.ht at wor". 7n those occasions when the sheri6s
'i' mana.e to catch the men re'-han'e') they usually resi.ne' themsel4es
to the fact that they ha' been cau.ht by a better man) an' woun' up
lau.hin. about it.
7n one rai') a sheri6 cau.ht four men sin.le-han'e'ly. /here was no
stru..le. /hey helpe' the oBcial cut their still apart; an' when the job was
'one) e4eryone sat 'own an' ha' lunch to.ether. 1hen they ha' #nishe')
the sheri6 tol' the men to come 'own to the courthouse within the ne$t few
'ays an' post bon') an' then he left.
/he same sheri6 tol' us that only rarely 'i' he brin. a man in. ,e almost
always tol' them to show up at their con4enience) an' they always 'i'. /o
run woul' simply ha4e shown their lac" of honor an' inte.rity) an' they
woul' ha4e ultimately lost face with their community an' their customers.
/hey simply pai' their #nes li"e men) an' went on about their business.
8t was a ri4alry that often le' to frien'ships that are maintaine' to'ay. 7ne of
the sheri6s) for e$ample) spent two e4enin.s intro'ucin. us to retire'
moonshiners) some of whom he ha' arreste' himself. 8t was ob4ious that
they bore no .ru'.es) an' we spent some of the most entertainin. e4enin.s
listenin. to a bloc"a'er tell a sheri6 about the times he .ot away) an' how;
an' naturally) about the times when he was not so luc"y.
/o'ay fe'eral a.ents ha4e lar.ely ta"en o4er a.ain) an' so the character of
the stru..le has chan.e'. /he a.ents acti4ely stal" their ?uarry) sometimes
e4en resortin. to li.ht planes in which they <y o4er the hills) always
watchin.. 8n the opinion of some people) this is just as it shoul' be.
7ne sai') =/he operations are so much bi..er now) an' sloppier. 8f the 3e's
can2t .et2em) the +ure 3oo' an' -ru.s ou.ht to try. /hat stu6 they2re ma"in2
now2ll "ill a man.= %n' another sai') =+eople use' to ta"e .reat pri'e in their
wor") but the pri'e has left an' the 'ollar2s come in) by th2 way.=
1e was stillin2 one 'ay away up on a si'e of a hill away from e4erythin.)
min'in2 our own business) just .ettin2 rea'y t2ma"e a run when my partner all
of a su''en sees somethin2 mo4e in a pasture one hill o4er. &oul'n2t tell who
he was. /oo far away. 8 coul'n2t see him at all) stuc" away behin' a fence post
li"e that.
1e went on wor"in2) "eepin2 one eye out) an' after we was throu.h) an'
whate4er that was o4er yon'er ha' .one on) we went o4er to see. 8t was
somebo'y there all ri.ht. 8 see' that chec"e'y sole print in th2 soft .roun'
an' we mo4e' her out that ni.ht. 8t was a re4enuer all ri.ht. 8 "now because 8
ran into him a.ain later an' he as"e' me about it. 5ut "now how 8 "new
before thatC 5ecause of that boot print) an' because he 'i'n2t come 'own
an' say hello. % frien' of ours woul' ha4e.
(oonshinin. - ,i'in. the (oonshine *till
*ince the 'ays of e$cise) moonshiners ha4e been force' to hi'e their stills.
,ere are some of the ways they ha4e use'.
. *ince col' runnin. water is an absolute necessity) stills are often hi.h up
on the si'e of a mountain near the source of a stream. 1ater on the north
si'e of a hill <owin. west was preferre' by many. *ome count on the
inaccessibility of the spot they chose for protection.
7thers) howe4er: buil' a lo. she' o4er the still an' co4er this with e4er.reen
branches ben' li4in. saplin.s o4er so they conceal the still.
,i'in. the moonshine still un'er branches.
,i'in. the moonshine still un'er branches./his lo. framewor" was built in the
woo's to conceal a still. 1hen #nishe') it was co4ere' with branches.
&lan'estine moonshine location
% hu.e still operate' un'er this she' for o4er a year before it
was 'isco4ere' an' cut 'own by fe'eral oBcers.
/he branches continue .rowin. an' their lea4es pro4i'e co4er; #n' a tree
that has fallen o4er a ra4ine or .ully an' buil' the still un'er it) a''in.
branches) if necessary) for a''itional co4era.e; #n' a ra4ine) 'i. out its
bottom) place the still in) an' then set branches an' saplin.s o4er the top li"e
a roof.
/hey shoul' be arran.e' so that they blen' in with the lan'scape; #n' a ca4e
an' co4er up the front of it; #n' a lar.e laurel thic"et) crawl into the center of
it) an' cut an' out a room ri.ht in the mi''le of the thic"et bi. enou.h for the
still; #n' a lar.e spruce an' put the still un'er its branches so it can2t be seen
from a plane.
R. /he le.en' has .rown that all one has to 'o to #n' a still is follow a li"ely
loo"in. branch up into a co4e an' then po"e aroun' until unco4erin.
somethin. suspicious. (oonshiners ha4e countere' by locatin. many stills in
so-calle' ='ry hollows.=
/hey #n' a co4e that has no stream an' pipe in the water they nee' from a
hi.her) =wet= co4e. Usin. all the hi'in. 'e4ices mentione' abo4e) they: buy
two-inch pipin.) an' run the pipe un'er.roun') aroun' a ri'.e an' into the
'ry hollow; .et plastic pipe an' run it un'er lea4es) or in a trench; for.et
about the co4e) an' put the still ri.ht out on the top of a 'ry ri'.e) or in a
laurel thic"et) an' pipe the water from a hi.her source.
O. 7ther moonshiners .et far more elaborate an' actually 'i. out an
un'er.roun' room bi. enou.h to stan' in comfortably. Lows of beams are set
in o4erhea') co4ere' with 'irt) an' plant materials are actually plante'
o4erhea'. % small trap'oor in the center of the roof) also co4ere' with a
.rowth) lifts up) e$posin. a la''er which .oes 'own into the room. % 4ent
pipe) cle4erly conceale') carries o6 fumes. *ome rooms are e4en wire' for
electricity.
F. %nother way to a4oi' 'etection is by mo4in. constantly. *ome men follow
lo..in. jobs) #.urin. that the lo..ers will 'estroy all si.ns of their
moonshinin. acti4ities. 8n fact) lo..ers themsel4es often run stills in
conjunction with their lo..in. job.
5. *ome men set up in a site the re4enuers ha4e just cut 'own belie4in. that
they won2t be bac" for at least two months unless they .et another report of
acti4ity there.
P. 7thers place their stills ri.ht in e$istin. buil'in.s that are not often 4isite')
or woul' not normally be suspecte'@barns) silos) smo"ehouses) tool she's)
aban'one' homes or buil'in.s) e4en the basements of their own homes.
7thers run ri.ht in the center of town behin' a false-fronte' store or in a
con'emne' buil'in..
K. 7ne man we "now) belie4in. that the re4enuers will be loo"in. for his still
to be conceale') has it ri.ht out in the open) near the main hi.hway) with
only a few trees in front. ,e hasn2t been cau.ht yet.
M. *mo"e) too) is a problem) but only at the be.innin. of the run. 1hen the
#re be.ins burnin. well) it .i4es o6 heat wa4es rather than smo"e. /hus)
often the #re is starte' just before 'awn an' is burnin. well enou.h by
'ayli.ht to escape 'etection.
7thers) howe4er) worrie' about smo"e) =burn their smo"e.= % worm or pipe
which runs out the si'e of the furnace an' bac" into the #rebo$ recirculates
the smo"e an' ma"es it in4isible.
1e also ha4e hear' of a man who somehow pipe' his smo"e so that it came
up un'erwater@this suppose'ly 'isperse' it so e6ecti4ely that it coul' not be
seen. 7thers counte' on the lea4es an' branches o4er their shelters to
'isperse the smo"e. Now any concei4able problem of smo"e has been wipe'
out with the use of fuels such as butane or "erosene.
E. % 'ea' .i4eaway as to the location of a still is a =si.n= or trace of acti4ity.
(oonshiners constantly .uar' a.ainst this. %n empty su.ar ba.) the li' from
a fruit jar) a piece of copper@all can re4eal their location.
%n e4en bi..er problem is that of trails. /here are 4arious ways if the still is in
the woo's) always enter the woo's from the roa' at a 'i6erent point. /hen)
one hun're' #fty yar's up the hill) cross o4er to the main trail which be.ins
as many yar's or so o6 the roa'. enter stills that are in a co4e or hollow from
the ri'.e abo4e the still) instea' of comin. uphill from the front.
7ne man who li4es at the base of a hi.h ri'.e sai' he coul' sit on his porch
on a summer ni.ht an' sometimes hear the 4oices of men) on the way to
their still) shoutin. at the mules that were carryin. in the supplies. 8f he
loo"e' carefully) he coul' see their lanterns win"in. hi.h up on the ri'.e as
they came in the bac" way to "eep from bein. cau.ht. %n' locate the still on
a stream that runs into a la"e) throu.h brush) an' far away from any roa'.
/hey always enter the still at ni.ht) by boat. #n' a cut in the roa' the top of
which is cappe' with a roc" le'.e) an' is either le4el with or a little hi.her
than a pic"up truc" be'.
>oa' or unloa' from this roc" to pre4ent lea4in. trails. use fuel li"e butane
.as to pre4ent lea4in. si.ns such as stumps of trees an' woo' chips an'
clippe' o6 folia.e.
7nce a man was cau.ht sellin. whis"ey. ,e ha' painte' some of the jars to
loo" as thou.h they containe' buttermil") but then he ran out of paint an'
ha' to use clear jars for the rest of his supply. 1hen the re4enuers cau.ht
him) they con#scate' the clear jars; but so con4incin.ly were the others
painte' that they 'i' not e4en bother to open them. /hey simply left them
behin') an' the salesman was able to clear a pro#t) 'espite the loss of part of
his wares.
(oonshinin. - 3in'in. the ,i''en (oonshine *till
>aw oBcers ha4e use' many metho's for #n'in. hi''en stills.0ach time one
became popular) the bloc"a'ers countere' by hi'in. it in a 'i6erent way.
,ere) howe4er) are some of the metho's use'.
. /hey are always alert for si.ns. % bric" 'roppe' in the mi''le of the woo's
is an ob4ious one. 1hy woul' it be there e$cept for a furnaceC *pille' meal or
su.ar on the si'e of a roa' is suspicious.
% la''er left at the top of a hi.h cut in the roa' is an ob4ious si.nal; probably
it is use' to loa' an' unloa' supplies from the bac" of a pic"up. 7ther si.ns
inclu'e an empty su.ar ba.) a bro"en jar) a place in the woo's where trees
ha4e been cut) a pile of charcoal) an empty cement ba.) a bro"en sho4el
han'le) a barrel sta4e) a burlap sac".
R. 1ith an oBcer on either si'e of a bac"woo's 'irt roa'@each two hun're'
yar's away from the roa') wal"in. parallel to it@they search for a place
where a trail be.ins.
O. 1ith a boat) they search the e'.es of a la"e. /hey loo" for si.ns of acti4ity
near a place where a branch empties into the la"e. *uch si.ns mi.ht be
places where a boat has been pulle' up on shore or slic" trails ma'e by
'ra..in. hea4y fee' ba.s.
F. /hey sta"e out a roa' an' watch for si.ns of unusual acti4ity in the early
mornin. hours. /hey follow any cars hea'in. up little use' roa's. 7r an
oBcer mi.ht sta"e out a section of woo's an' listen for soun's such as a
hammer a.ainst metal) the soun' of a thump barrel) etc.
5. Usually areas where moonshine is bein. ma'e ha4e a 'istincti4e smell.
>aw oBcers may 'etect that while wal"in. throu.h forest. (any stills are
foun' by people li"e hunters who spen' much time in the woo's an' merely
stumble across one by acci'ent.
7thers are foun' by searchin. small branches that <ow from hillsi'es throu.h
hea4y .rowth. /he most pre4alent means of #n'in. stills) howe4er) remains
the informer.
7ften) they are people with a .ru'.e or an a$e to .rin'. 7ne moonshiner
characteriAe' them as people) =who 'on2t ha4e enou.h of their own business
to min') an' so they feel obli.ate' to min' th2 business of other people. /h2
lowest man 8 "now)= he continue') =is one who wins your con#'ence) buys
your li?uor) an' then turns you in. 8 belie4e there2s a special place for people
li"e that after they 'ie.= *ome informers har'ly 'eser4e such criticism.
% mother whose youn. son comes in 'run" an' ina'4ertently tells her where
he .ot the whis"ey mi.ht well try to 'o somethin. about it. % man who #n's
a bloc"a'er operatin. on his property without his permission a ri.ht to as"
the sheri6 to remo4e him. % more common moti4e) howe4er) is jealousy.
*heri6s tol' us story after story in which a man whose still ha' just been cut
'own woul' turn in another out of spite. =/hey24e cut mine. 82ll #$ it so they2ll
.et some others too. 8f 8 can2t be runnin.) 8 'on2t want them runnin. either.=
%nother e$-sheri6 tol' us the followin. story. =1hile 8 was in oBce) a man
who owne' a still in4ite' a nei.hbor to come in with him an' ma"e a run of
apple bran'y. 1hen the run was #nishe') they en'e' up with thirty-nine
.allons. /he owner of the still too" twenty) an' .a4e his nei.hbor nineteen.
/he more the nei.hbor thou.ht about it) the ma''er he .ot. 1hat really ir"e'
him was that the owner of the still alrea'y ha' a buyer for his twenty .allons;
he ha' none.
=/hey too" their bran'y an' hi' it in separate places. /hat ni.ht) the
nei.hbor came to me an' tol' me that he "new where twenty .allons of fresh
bran'y was hi''en an' wante' me to 'o somethin. bout it. *o 8 .ot out of
be' an' went an' poure' the bran'y out) li"e 82m suppose' to 'o. =
>ater 8 foun' out that when the buyer came to .et his twenty .allons) the
nei.hbor stoppe' him) tol' him that the sheri6 ha' alrea'y foun' it an'
poure' it out) an' then sol' him his nineteen. 8 foun' out all about it from the
owner of the still who came in here as ma' as any man 8 e4er saw. 8 just 'i'
"eep him from .oin. an' "illin. that nei.hbor.=
*ometimes the stories ta"e surreal twists. /he same oBcer also tol' us this
story) an' swore that it really happene'. =
% man that li4e' aroun' here while 8 was in oBce "new of an un'er.roun'
still that was a beautiful thin. to loo" at. ,e wante' the ri. himself) so one
ni.ht he bro"e the loc" on the trap 'oor) .ot into the un'er.roun' room) an'
too" it.
/he ne$t 'ay he came to me sayin. he "new where a still was that 8 shoul'
cut 'own) an' he2' e4en come with me to show me where it was. 8 was
suspicious) but 8 went. =1hen we .ot there) 8 saw ri.ht away that the loc" on
the 'oor was bro"en) an' when 8 .ot insi'e) 8 saw that the still was .one too.
1ell) 8 bro"e up what was left in there an' then came bac" out an' tol' the
man that the still wasn2t there.
=,e really carrie' on when 8 sai' that) but 8 "new ri.ht away what was up. ,e
ha' ta"en it) an' wante' me to bust up the place so that the owner woul'
thin" that / ha' .otten his still 'urin. my rai'.
=8 went bac" to the oBce) an' not too lon. after that) the owner showe' up
an' as"e' if 8 ha' .otten his still. 1hen 8 tol' him 8 ha'n2t) he wante' to "now
who ha' stolen it. 8 "new all the time) but 8 ne4er sai' anythin.. 8 ne4er once
let anyone "now who 8 ha' .otten information from. 8t just woul' ha4e cause'
trouble.
=3inally the man who owne' it as"e' me if 8 woul' just "eep my eyes open for
it. ,e 'i'n2t want it bac" necessarily@just wante' to "now when it showe' up
out of curiosity. /hen he tol' me how he ha' 'roppe' it one 'ay an' bro"en a
piece of the collar. *ai' he ha' put a =N=-*hape' patch on the bro"en place)
an' that2s how 82' "now it was his.
=1ell) 8 foun' out later that the man who ha' ta"en it in the #rst place ha'
ta"en it home an' put it in the loft of his barn. /wo boys wor"in. for him
loa'in. hay foun' it up there) an' they stole it from him.
=*e4eral 'ays later) there was a robbery in town) an' that ni.ht 8 was in there
loo"in. aroun' to see if 8 coul' pic" up a clue or somethin.. Sust "eepin. my
eyes open. 1hile 8 was in there) these two boys came alon.. 8 .ot bac" out of
the way out of si.ht) an' these two sat 'own on some steps not far from me.
8 coul' hear e4erythin. they were sayin.. /urns out they were still lau.hin.
about this new still they ha' .otten an' won'erin. where they coul' set it up
an' when they coul' .et it runnin.. :ou won2t belie4e this) but they #nally
'eci'e' to set it up on a 4acant piece of lan' that 8 owne'@sai' 82' ne4er
loo" for it there in a hun're' years. /hey2' ma"e four or #4e runs an' then
they2' mo4e it somewhere else.
=/he ne$t 'ay 8 went up on the lan' where the boys ha' tal"e' about settin.
it up@in some laurels up there@an' sure enou.h) there it was) an' there was
the patch. 8 .ot it an' too" it into town to the oBce.
=1hen 8 saw the ori.inal owner a.ain) 8 calle' him o4er. *ai' 8 ha' somethin.
to show him. 5oys) his eyes poppe' ri.ht out of his hea'. /hat was it all ri.ht.
8 'i'n2t tell him how 8 .ot it) but we ha' many a .oo' lau.h o4er that later
on.=
/he fact that ho.s lo4e the corn mash that whis"ey is ma'e out of is le.en'.
7ften moonshiners were force' to put fences aroun' their stills to "eep ho.s)
who were "ept on =open ran.e= then) from fallin. into the mash bo$es an'
'rownin..
7nce a two hun're'-poun' sow fell into a mash bo$ where she 'rowne'. /he
men runnin. the still foun' her bo'y in there se4eral 'ays later) but went on
an' ma'e whis"ey from the same mash anyway. 3rom then on) if whis"ey was
too stron.) the man 'rin"in. it woul' say) =/hat must2a ha' a 'ea' ho. in it.=
(oonshinin. Glossary of (oonshine *till +arts an' 0?uipment
5ale @wire or chain strappe' across top of cap to "eep it from blowin. o6
'urin. the coo"in. process.
&ap @the top thir' of the moonshine still. 8t is remo4able so that the still can
be #lle' after a run.
&ap %rm @the copper pipe connectin. the cap with the ne$t section of the
still; it con4eys steam to this section.
&ape @the bul.e in the main bo'y of the moonshine still. 8t is the point of
.reatest circumference.
&ollar @the connection for the cap an' the bo'y of the still.
&on'enser @a two-walle') seale' pipe which is submer.e' in water. *team
force' into the top con'enses an' <ows out the bottom.
3la"e *tan' @the container throu.h which water is constantly <owin. for #nal
con'ensation of the steam. ,ol's the worm) con'enser) or ra'iator)
'epen'in. on which apparatus is bein. use'.
3unnel @usually hol's whate4er material you are usin. to strain the whis"ey.
1his"ey passes throu.h it an' into the ju. or jar.
3urnace @stone structure in which the still sits for heatin..
,ea'ache *tic" @the lon. thump ro'.
,eater 5o$ Dor pre-heaterG@a 'e4ice which heats the fresh beer which will be
use' in the ne$t run.
>on. /hump Lo' @an open-en'e' copper pipe which con4eys the steam into
the bottom of the thump barrel where it is release'.
(ash *tic" @the stic" use' to brea" up the cap that forms o4er the mash an'
stir up the contents of the barrel. *ometimes it is ma'e of a stic" which has a
croo" in the en'. *e4eral holes are 'rille' in this croo") an' pe.s are inserte'
to form a comb-li"e 'e4ice. 8t can also be a stic" with se4eral nails 'ri4en in
the si'e.
+lu. *tic" @a hic"ory or white oa" stic" with a bun'le of ra.s fastene' to one
en'. /he ra.s jam into the slop arm thus sealin. the bottom of the still.
+roof Nial @a .lass tube use' to chec" the bea' of the whis"ey. % 5ateman
-rop bottle was the most popular as it hel' e$actly one ounce) an' was just
the ri.ht shape. 7thers use' now are bottles that rye <a4orin. comes in) or a
.o4ernment .au.e.
Lelay %rm @the pipe connection from the bottom of the relay barrel bac" into
the still.
Lelay 5arrel or -ry 5arrel @a #fty-.allon barrel with connections for the cap
arm) relay arm) an' a lon. thump ro'. &atches =pu"e= from the still 'urin.
boilin. an' con4eys it bac" into the moonshine still.
*till @the container into which the beer is place' for boilin.. %lso calle' the
04aporator) 5oiler) Kettle) or &oo"er. /he name can also refer to the entire
operation from the e4aporator throu.h the <a"e stan'.
*wab *tic" or /oothbrush @a hic"ory stic" half as thic" as your arm an' lon.
enou.h to reach from the top to the bottom of the still. 7ne en' is beaten up
well so that it fraAAles an' ma"es a #brous swab. /his is use' to stir the beer
in the still while waitin. for it to come to a boil) thus pre4entin. it from
stic"in. to the si'es of the still) or settlin. to the bottom an' burnin.. 8f the
latter happens) the whis"ey will ha4e a scorche' taste.
/hump 5arrel @also /humper or /hump-+ost @a barrel which hol's fresh
beer) an' throu.h which steam from the still bubbles thus 'oublin. its
stren.th. /he stren.thene' steam mo4es from here into the short thump ro'
which carries it either into the heater bo$) or into the <a"e stan'.
1orm @a copper tube) usually si$teen to twenty feet lon. which is coile' up
so that it stan's about two feet hi.h an' #ts insi'e a barrel. 1ater <ows
aroun' it for con'ensin. the steam which passes into it from the still.
% Glossary of *ome of the 0$pressions an' /erms use' in -istillin.
5ac"in.s @also sin.lin.s an' low-wines@what results after beer is run
throu.h a thumperless operation once. /hey ha4e a .oo' percenta.e of
alcohol) but they won2t hol' a bea'.
5eer @the fermente' li?ui' ma'e from corn meal bases which) when coo"e'
in the still) pro'uces the moonshine.
5loc"a'ers @men who ma'e moonshine. /he name is a hol'o4er from the
'ays in our history when bloc"a'es were common) as were bloc"a'e runners.
%lso .a4e rise to the e$pression =bloc"a'e whis"ey.= 5lubber@the bubbles
which result when moonshine in the proof 4ial is sha"en 4iolently.
5rea"s at the 1orm @an e$pression use' at the moment when the whis"ey
comin. out of the <a"e stan' turns less than 00T proof) an' thus will no
lon.er hol' a bea'.
-ea' -e4ils @tiny bea's in the proof 4ial which in'icate that the whis"ey has
been proofe' suBciently. *top a''in. water or bac"in.s at the moment
sha"in. the proof 4ial pro'uces 'ea' 'e4ils. -o. hea's@when the beer is
almost rea'y to run) it will boil up of its own accor' in hu.e) con4ulsi4e
bubbles which follow each other one at a time.
-ouble' an' /wiste' @in the ol' stills) all the sin.lin.s were sa4e' an' then
run throu.h at the same time thus 'oublin. their stren.th. 1his"ey ma'e in
this fashion was calle' 'ouble' an' twiste'. aints@'ea' beer; or bac"in.s
that steam has been run throu.h in a thumper to stren.then a run. /hese are
'raine' an' replace' before each new run.
Goose 0ye @a .oo' bea' that hol's a lon. time in the 4ial. ,i.h *hots@
untempere') unproofe' whis"ey. %t times it is nearly as stron. as R00 proof.
(alt @corn meal ma'e from .rin'in. sproute' corn "ernels. 8t is a''e' to the
barrels of mash to ma"e the beer.
(ash @corn meal ma'e from .rin'in. unsproute' corn "ernels. 8t is put in the
barrels) mi$e' with water) allowe' to wor" until it is a suitable base for the
a''ition of the malt.
+ot-tail @see *lop.
+roof @see /emper.
% Lun @an e$pression meanin. to run the contents of the still throu.h the
whole operation once. 8t .a4e rise to e$pressions li"e) =/here2s .onna be a
runnin2 tomorrow)= =,e2ll ma"e us a run)= etc.
*in.lin.s @see 5ac"in.s.
*lop @that which is left in the still after the whis"ey will no lon.er hol' a
bea' at the en' of the worm. 8t is too wea" to pro'uce an' so it is 'umpe' at
once. >eft in the still) it will bum. *ome people use it for ho. fee') others in
mash.
*our (ash @mash ma'e with pot-tail.
*weet (ash @mash that has been ma'e with pure water. /he #rst run
throu.h the still is ma'e with sweet mash.
*plit 5ran'y @a mi$ture that is half whis"ey) half bran'y. 8t is ma'e by mi$in.
mash that is one-?uarter fruit content. /hen procee' as usual with the beer-
ma"in.) an' runnin..
/emper @the process of a''in. water or bac"in.s to the whis"ey to re'uce
its stren.th to about 00T proof.
Narious names are .i4en to moonshine inclu'e ruc"us juice Dpronounce'
=roo"us=G) con4ersation <ui' ) corn s?ueeAin2s ) corn ) white ) white li.htenin.
co4e juice ) thump whis"ey ) hea'ache whis"ey ) bloc"a'e whis"ey ) etc. =
5usthea' = an' = pops"ull = are names applie' to whis"ey which pro'uces
4iolent hea'aches 'ue to 4arious elements which ha4e not been remo4e'
'urin. the stillin. process.
% moonshine wor"in. mo'el
5uc" &ar4er "neels behin' a one-.allon still he ma'e for the 3o$#re museum.
/he moonshine still is authentic in e4ery 'etail from the <ue of the furnace to
the tin-loc"e' copper joints in the coo"er an' con'enser to the chestnut
barrels 5ill >amb ma'e for the mo'el.
,ow to 5uil' a (oonshine *till with +lans
3irst #n' the proper location for the operation. /he ne$t step is the
construction of the furnace. /he followin. pa.es inclu'e 'ia.rams an'
photo.raphs of two furnace styles which were e$tremely popular 'urin. the
'ays of +rohibition. 7nly a few of them are seen to'ay.
/he fuel use' was almost always a har' woo' such as oa" or hic"ory. /en-
an' twel4e-foot lo.s woul' be fe' into the bottom of the furnace with their
en's stic"in. out in front. /he #re was starte') an' as the lo.s burne') they
were slowly fe' into the furnace. *ince the furnace was ma'e to burn woo')
the #rebo$ was spacious.
/ra'itional moonshine furnace.R
D+late RPOG % moonshine furnace ma'e of roc" an' re' clay. % #re has been
starte' in the #rebo$) the cap has been seale' on with rye paste) an' the
operation is rea'y to .o.
% be'roc" platform abo4e the #rebo$ "ept the bottom of the still from e4er
comin. in 'irect contact with the #re. /his pre4ente' the contents of the still
from burnin. or becomin. scorche'.
%ll heatin. too" place aroun' the si'es of the still in an area that was
completely enclose' e$cept for the <ue. /he si'es of the furnace touche' the
still at only one point) an' that was abo4e the cape at the point where the
si'es of the furnace tapere' in to seal <ush a.ainst the top half of the still
D+late RP5G . /his area ha' to be seale' ti.htly to pre4ent heat escapin. from
below.
/he <ue was most carefully constructe' for ma$imum 'raw. 7ne man tol' us
of a furnace he ha' built in which the 'raft was so stron. that it woul' ='raw
out a torch.= Natural stone was use') chin"e' with re' clay. /he #rst furnace
illustrate' is the =return= or =bloc"a'e= 4ariety D+late RPFG . /he secon' is
calle' the =.roun'ho.= D+late RPPG .
-ia.ram of air <ow aroun' moonshine still.R -ia.ram of moonshine still.
+>%/0 RPF 8n both of the abo4e 'ia.rams: DG is the cap) DRG the <ue at the
front of the still throu.h which hot air from the #rebo$ escapes) DOG the
be'roc" platform built into the furnace wall on which the still rests. %s is
shown in -ia.ram %) the platform is not wi'e enou.h to e$ten' all the way to
the bac" of the furnace. % lar.e space is left to allow passa.e of heat from
the #rebo$ aroun' the si'es of the still. DFG is the #rebo$. 8n earlier 'ays) the
en's of har'woo' lo.s were use' to start the #re) an' as the en's burne'
away) the portions of the lo.s that e$ten'e' outsi'e the furnace were
.ra'ually fe' in to pro4i'e constant heat. /he arrows in -ia.ram % show the
'irection of the heat as it .oes aroun' both si'es of the still an' out the <ue.
D5G is the furnace wall. 8t was usually built of natural stone chin"e' with re'
clay which woul' har'en throu.h successi4e burnin.s. DPG is the still itself@
usually ma'e of copper.
%ban'one' moonshine furnace.
+>%/0 RP5 %n aban'one' furnace. 7ften the copper coo"er Dthe =pot=G
was remo4e' an' hi''en in a laurel thic"et after each run to pre4ent its
bein. stolen before the operator was rea'y to ma"e another run.
-ia.ram of Groun'ho. or ,o. *till.
+>%/0 RPP - -ia.ram % illustrates an interestin. 4ariation on furnace 'esi.n
which was once fairly popular. &alle' the =.roun'ho.= or =ho.= still) it was
uni?ue in that the still sat 'irectly on the .roun') an' the furnace of mu')
clay) an' roc"s was built up aroun' it with the <ue at the bac". DG is the cap)
DRG the still) DOG the #rebo$. /he heat was 'rawn to the <ue DFG an' circulate'
aroun' the still in the space left between the furnace an' the copper wall of
the still. /he arrows show the 'irection of heat. D5G is the bac" of the furnace
@sometimes this was a.ainst a ban") an' sometimes the furnace hole was
'u. 'irectly into a ban". /he surroun'in. earth) in the case of the latter
'esi.n) was e$tremely e6ecti4e insulation. 1hen cle4erly built) this furnace
coul' also be much easier to hi'e than the stone furnace which sat ri.ht out
in the open in most cases.
/he construction of the actual still was an e$actin. process. 04erythin. ha'
to #t correctly or the still woul' lea".
% retire' practitioner 'escribe' how the best moonshiners ma'e their forty-
#4e.allon stills:
/hree thin sheets of copper were purchase'. /he copper ha' to be absolutely
smooth an' of .oo' ?uality. /he sheets purchase' were appro$imately thirty
inches wi'e an' #4e feet lon.. %s money was at a premium) e4ery part of the
operation ha' to come out of these three sheets@still) cap) cap arm) slop
arm) con'enser walls an' caps) washers@e4erythin.. +lannin. before
cuttin.) therefore) was essential.
7n two sheets of copper) the top an' bottom hal4es of the still were 'rawn.
/his was accomplishe' with the use of a lon. strin. which was anchore' at a
point below the sheet bein. mar"e' D+late RPKG .
+late RPK for ma"in. moonshine stills.
+>%/0 RPK
% top arc was 'rawn so as to be tan.ent with the mi'-point of the top e'.e of
the sheet. /he lower arc was 'rawn so as to intersect the bottom e'.e of the
sheet at points ten inches from each bottom corner.
/he thir' sheet was use' for the bottom of the still) the arc from which the
cap woul' be ma'e) the cap hea') an' the sli.htly tapere' rectan.les from
which the arms woul' be rolle'.
1hen this was #nishe') any blan" areas on the sheets were use' for 'rawin.
small items such as washers. /hen e4erythin. was cut out. ,oles were also
cut in the cap) an' in the bottom half of the still to ma"e room for the arms
which woul' be attache' later.
Ne$t) the two hal4es of the still were assemble'. 8f the copper bein. use' was
too thic" to be pulle' aroun' by han') then it was ta"en to a place in the
woo's where people woul' be unli"ely to hear what was .oin. on. % lar.e
tree was felle' in the bottom of a hollow so that the soun's of the
construction woul' .o strai.ht up in the air instea' of out all o4er the
countrysi'e. /he stump of the tree was roun'e' out to a smooth) conca4e
surface) an' the sheet of copper was place' on top.
Ne$t) with a woo'en mallet ma'e of 'o.woo' that ha' been well-seasone')
the copper was beaten until the <at sheet curle' aroun' an' the two en's
touche'. 7ne e'.e was poun'e' more 4i.orously than the other so that the
sheet woul' curl une4enly to ma"e the taper. /hen holes were punche' alon.
the en's of the now-tapere' sheet) an' bra's were inserte' to fasten the
en's to.ether ti.htly. /he same was 'one to the other half. 7ften) to ensure
that there woul' be no lea"a.e at all) these joints woul' be tin loc"e'.
Now holes were punche' alon. the cape) an' the two hal4es mate' an'
bra''e' to.ether. /he cape e'.e of the bottom half was crimpe' sli.htly so
as to #t insi'e the cape e'.e of the top half. /he arc for the cap was curle' in
the same manner) an' the en's joine' as before.
Ne$t the bottom of the still was fastene' to the bottom half. D/his coul' also
be 'one before the two hal4es were mate'.G /he outsi'e e'.e of the bottom
piece was crimpe' up so that it woul' #t outsi'e the wall of the bottom half.
/he bottom half was set 'own insi'e the bottom piece) an' the two were
fastene' to.ether. /he tapere' slop arm was now rolle' an' fastene'. 8ts
wi'e en' was crimpe' up. /hen it was fe' into the still) narrow en' #rst) an'
out the hole pro4i'e' for it earlier.
/he crimpe'-up wi'e en' woul' catch insi'e the still wall. % washer ma'e of
copper sli' the len.th of the arm an' #tte' snu. at the wi'e en' of the arm)
but outsi'e the still wall. ,oles were punche' throu.h an' the bra's inserte')
thus mountin. the slop arm #rmly to the bottom half of the still. D/o taper
arm) it was wrappe' aroun' tapere' woo'en pole.G
8n li"e manner) the hea' of the cap was mounte') the cap arm) an' so on
until all the parts ha' been shape' an' fastene' in their proper places. /hen
all the joints were seale' with li?ui' metal so that they woul' not lea".
/he still was now rea'y to carry to the woo's an' mate with the furnace. /he
worm was ma'e there by coilin. the pipe aroun' a stump) then slippin. it o6.
/he followin. pa.es present a portfolio of 'ia.rams which illustrate most of
the still 4arieties we ha4e foun'. /hey are arran.e' in rou.hly chronolo.ical
or'er.
/he 4ery #rst illustration) for e$ample D+late RPMG ) shows the simplest still of
all) an' the ol'est of the ones we ha4e seen. /his is the 4ariety which
pro'uce' much of the best moonshine e4er ma'e.
-ia.ram of moonshine still set-up
+>%/0 RPM %bo4e: DG the still Dthe furnace) be'roc" platform) #rebo$ an' still
cap will be reco.niAe' from a pre4ious 'ia.ramG. DRG the cap arm.
/his copper pipe Doften four inches in 'iameter) but sometimes tapere' from
si$ inches at the cap en' to four or less at the otherG con4eys the steam from
the still to the copper worm. DOG the worm. /his pipe is about three ?uarters
of an inch to an inch in 'iameter) an' is coile' ti.htly to .et ma$imum len.th
of pipe into minimum space. /he steam con'enses into li?ui' in the worm.
*ometimes the worm is simply #$e' in mi'air) an' the steam coole' by a
water jac"et which surroun's the pipe an' into which fresh) col' water is
continually fe') but more often the worm is #$e' insi'e a water tan" of some
sort@in this case a #fty .allon barrel DFG @throu.h which col' water is
constantly circulate'. D5G the en' of the worm.
/he alcohol which <ows out here is usually straine' throu.h hic"ory coals to
remo4e the fusel oils Dbar'a .reaseG@thus the funnel abo4e the ju. in the
'ia.ram at the en' of the worm. DPG the pipe) or trou.h from the col' water
source@usually a mountain stream. DKG the slop arm.
/he spent beer is 'raine' out this copper pipe Dwhich passes 'irectly throu.h
the furnace wallG after each run. DMG the plu. stic". /his is usually a hic"ory or
oa" limb with a wa' of ra.s attache' #rmly to the en' to "eep the beer from
'rainin. out 'urin. a run. DEG the container for the slop Dspent beerG.
7l' moonshine water trou.hR
+>%/0 RPE (ic"ey Sustice hol's a section of a woo'en water trou.h foun' at
the site of one of the earliest an' most famous stills in Labun &ounty. /he
trou.h carrie' fresh water from a sprin. far up the hill to the still2s con'enser.
-ia.ram of settin. up a moonshine still.
+>%/0 RK0 - 5>7&K%-0 */8>>
+>%/0 RK0 Le#ne' to the ultimate) this 4ersion@-ia.ram %@of the 5loc"a'e
*till wor"s as follows: /he steam DarrowsG from the beer boilin. in the still DG
mo4es into the cap DRG) throu.h the cap arm DOG) an' into the 'ry or =relay=
barrel D5G. 5eer which bubbles o4er or =pu"es= into the relay barrel is returne'
to the still 4ia the relay arm DFG. 3rom this barrel Dusually a #fty-.allon one
which is mounte' so that it slants sli.htly bac" towar' the stillG) the steam
mo4es into the lon. thump ro' DPG which carries it into the bottom of the #fty-
.allon thump barrel DKG an' releases it to bubble up throu.h the fresh beer)
which was place' there earlier 4ia inlet DMG@now close' to "eep the steam
enclose' in the system. /he beer in this barrel is 'raine' after each run an'
replace' with fresh beer before the ne$t. +ic"e' up a.ain at the top by the
short thump ro' DEG) the steam mo4es into the heater bo$ or =pre-heater=
D0G which is also #lle' with fresh beer. ,ere the steam is not set loose)
howe4er) but is force' throu.h a 'ouble-walle' rin. DG that stan's about
nine inches hi.h) is thirty-four to forty inches in 'iameter) an' mounte' so
that it stan's about a half inch o6 the <oor of the heater bo$. /he top an'
bottom of the rin. are seale' so that the steam cannot escape. ,eat from the
steam is transferre' to this cool) fresh beer thus heatin. it to ma"e it rea'y
for the ne$t run when it will be transferre' into the 'raine' still 4ia a woo'en
trou.h connectin. the two Dnot shown hereG. /he steam then mo4es 4ia
another connectin. ro' DRG into the <a"e stan' DOG an' into the con'enser
D5G@in this case another 'ouble-walle' rin.) hi.her an' narrower than the
pre4ious one. /he steam is con'ense' in this2rin. by the col' water <owin.
into the <a"e stan' from DFG an' e$itin. by outlet DMG. %s the steam is
con'ense' into alcohol) it <ows throu.h a strainer an' funnel DPG into the
container DKG.
5loc"a'e moonshine still system.
+>%/0 RK - 5loc"a'e (oonshine *till *ystem
/he still from which this 'ia.ram was 'rawn was a =#fty-.allon ri..= /he
still an' all three barrels each ha' a #fty-.allon capacity. /he heater bo$ was
twenty-ei.ht inches lon.) twenty-ei.ht inches wi'e) an' stoo' twenty-four
inches hi.h. /he relay barrel an' the heater bo$ were both tilte' sli.htly in
the 'irection of the still-coo"er for proper 'raina.e.
-ia.ram 5 shows the heater bo$ from the top) slice' in half. /he 'ots
represent beer; the steam is represente' by arrows. -ia.ram & shows the
<a"e stan' from the top. 8n this case the con'enser was hel' in place in the
center of the barrel by twi.s DROG which were cut .reen) then bent an'
we'.e' a.ainst its si'es. /he 'ots represent water.
%t the en' of each run) the plu. stic" DR0G is pushe' in) thus releasin. the
slop or =pot-tail= which <ows throu.h the tilte' slop arm DRG an' trou.h DRRG
into a buc"et. /he spent beer from the thump barrel DfaintsG is also 'raine'
an' replace'. /he plu. stic" is replace') the cap remo4e') the still #lle' with
hot beer from the heater bo$) the cap is replace') the heater bo$ is #lle' with
fresh col' beer a.ain) an' the process is be.un all o4er.
+>%/0* RK) RKR /he still shown in +late RK is another of the hi.hly re#ne'
5loc"a'e 4ariety. 8n this case) howe4er) rather than bein. stretche' out for
con4enience of illustration) the 'ia.ram2s shapes match those of +late RK so
that you can 'ecipher the photo.raph itself.
8t is basically the same as the pre4ious operation) but in this case it is
possible to see the trou.h which connects the heater bo$ with the still. +art
DMG is hin.e' to part DEG) an' when the operator is rea'y to mo4e the beer) he
ta"es the cap o6 the still) swin.s DMG 'own so that it is in line with its lower
half) pulls the .ate up 4ia the .ate han'le D0G) an' lets the beer <ow.
8n the 'ia.ram) the lo. supports which hol' up 4arious parts of the operation
an' which can be seen in the photo.raph) are not shown as they woul'
create too much confusion. 8nstea') they are in'icate' by 'otte' lines in
those places where they pass in front of a portion of the still.
/he <a"e stan') in this case) hol's not the con'enser which was use' in the
still on the pre4ious pa.es) but a ra'iator from a &he4rolet truc". /he ra'iator
is just as e6ecti4e a con'enser but often not ?uite as healthy.
/he numbers on the 'ia.ram refer to the followin. parts of the still shown:
G the furnace
RG the still
OG the cap
FG the cap arm
5G the relay arm
PG the relay) or 'ry barrel
KG the lon. thump ro'@its
connection with D5G is hi''en
MG top half of trou.h from heater
EG bottom half of trou.h
0G han'le for heater bo$ .ate
G heater bo$
RG copper connectin. ro'
OG <a"e stan'@water #lle'
FG outlet from con'ensin. unit
5G thumper) or thump barrel
PG buc"et for slop) or =pot-tail=
KG slop trou.h
MG slop arm from still
EG han'le of plu. stic"
-ia.ram of bloc"a'e moonshine still.
+>%/0 RKR
,eatin. the moonshine beer an' swabstic".
+>%/0 RKO /he beer in this coo"er is bein. heate' prior to sealin. on the cap.
/he swab stic" restin. in the coo"er is use' to stir the beer while it is heatin.
to "eep it from stic"in. to the si'es an' burnin.. 5oth this an' the ne$t three
photo.raphs were all ta"en at the same operation.
(oonshine heater bo$.
+>%/0 RKF /he thump barrel an' heater bo$. /he 'rain pipe) when lowere')
carries warm) fresh beer from the heater bo$ to the coo"er) the top of which
is 4isible in the fore.roun'.
,eater bo$ for ma"in. moonshine at home.
+>%/0 RK5 /he heater bo$ from the other si'e) showin. the connection
between the heater bo$ an' the con'enser which is mounte' in the metal
'rum.
,omema'e moonshine still.
+>%/0 RKP /he whole operation from the heater bo$) con'enser
en'. /he woo'en barrels on the ri.ht are #lle' with fermentin. mash.
/he furnace is hi''en behin' the heater bo$. /he plastic .allon mil"
jar in the fore.roun' is often use' in place of .lass jars for the #nishe'
pro'uct.
(oonshine heater bo$ an' thump barrel.
+>%/0 RKK /his pa.e re4eals a heater bo$ an' a thump barrel in more 'etail.
/he barrel in the fore.roun' of the photo.raph is the thumper. /he pipe
e$ten'in. in the fore.roun' is the lon. thump ro' comin. from the cap of the
still. D/his particular still 'i' not ha4e a 'ry or relay barrelG. /he lar.e woo'en
bo$ behin' the thumper is the heater bo$. %rrow 8 points to the outlet which
is bloc"e' by the .ate behin' it. %rrow R points to the han'le of this .ate.
%rrow O points to the woo'en trou.h which is mounte' into place when the
operator is rea'y to transfer his preheate' beer to the still for a new run. 8n
the bac".roun') behin' the thump barrel Dbearin. the number FG can be seen
the corner of the <a"e stan'.
+>%/0 RKM DG is the cap@usually a #fty-.allon barrel.
DRG is a hu.e barrel Dthe stillG which sits ri.ht on the .roun'. 8t has) in this
case) a capacity of #4e hun're' .allons. /he si'es are ma'e of hu.e sheets
of aluminum or copper) an' both the top an' bottom are ma'e of plywoo'.
/here are three R by F supports insi'e the walls of the still which help support
its .reat siAe DPG.
DOG is the #rebo$. /he source of heat) in this case) is a hu.e .as burner
mounte' so that the <ames point towar' the still.
,eat is 'rawn in) aroun' the lower walls of the still) an' out the <ue DFG.
D5G is the furnace which in this case is a 'ouble row of concrete bloc"s seale'
o4er D'otte' lineG with clay) or some other form of ti.ht insulation. *pace) of
course) is left between the insi'e wall of the bloc"s an' the outsi'e bottom
wall of the still for the passa.e of heat. /he cap arm connects to a lar.e
thump barrel which connects 'irectly with the <a"e stan'. /here was no
heater bo$ in this particular mo'el.
8t is possible) by the way) to use a #fty-.allon barrel as the housin. for the
.as jets DOG. 8t woul' be turne' on its si'e with its en' towar' the still) an'
seale' to the concrete-bloc" wall of the furnace with the insulatin. roc"s)
mu') an' concrete.
/hose who use them say that the .roun'ho. stills are much hotter than the
other 4arieties) an' thus ma"e better stills.
5asic moonshine still plans - -ea' (an2s *till.
+>%/0 RKE /hese 'ia.rams illustrate perhaps the simplest still of them all@
the ='ea' man= or =<at moonshine still.= 8n all cases D-ia.rams % an' 5G : DG
is the cap) DRG the still itself@a rectan.ular bo$) DOG the bottom of the bo$ Dthe
'ia.onally sha'e' areaG) DFG the #rebo$ or source of heat) an' D5G the <ue.
/here are se4eral 'i6erences between them) howe4er) that ma"e them
interestin..
8n %) the cap is a twenty-#4e-.allon barrel) an' in 5) a #fty-.allon one.
/he #rebo$ in % is simply a channel cut into the earth. /he still sits on the
.roun' 'irectly o4er this channel. % hole is left at the bac" to ser4e as the
<ue.
8n 5) howe4er) two K inch pipes sit insi'e the still bo$) surroun'e' by beer)
with their en's protru'in. out both en's of the bo$. % lon. .as line is fe' into
each of these pipes) an' its top surface is perforate' in the manner of .as
burners on sto4es. /his 'esi.n supplies heat 'irectly to the beer thus ma"in.
a faster operation.
8n %) the still stan's two feet hi.h) an' si$ to ei.ht feet lon.. % thin sheet
of copper lines the outsi'e of the bottom) an' rises up two to three inches all
aroun' the si'es. /he rest of the bo$ is ma'e of woo'.
8n 5) the bo$ is ma'e of two F-foot-s?uare woo'en bo$es. /hey are mounte'
si'e to si'e) an' the common wall is remo4e' lea4in. a bo$ four feet hi.h)
four feet wi'e) an' ei.ht feet lon.. /he bottom is line' with copper as before.
-ia.ram % at the bottom shows how concrete bloc"s coul' be use' in lieu of
'i..in. a trench in the .roun'. /he 'otte' lines represent the insulation
Dmu') roc"s) cement) etc.G.
8t was also the most time-consumin. of all the operations) an' yiel'e' the
smallest return for the time in4ol4e'. %ll the beer was run throu.h) a stillful at
a time) an' the results of each run D=sin.lin.s=G sa4e' at the other en'. 1hen
all the beer ha' been run throu.h once) the still was thorou.hly cleane') an'
then all the sin.lin.s place' into the still at one time. /hen the stillful of
sin.lin.s was run throu.h.
/he result was the 'oublin.s) or .oo' whis"ey. 8t was also calle' ='ouble'
an' twiste'= whis"ey) the #rst because it was 'ouble stren.th) an' the
secon') because it twiste' sli.htly as it came out of the worm. Usin. this ri.)
a man coul' .et about two .allons of whis"ey per bushel of corn) or a #nal
yiel' of about twel4e .allons after proo#n..
5y way of contrast) there are operations runnin. to'ay which yiel' as much
as three hun're' .allons per run@a far cry from the ol' 'ays.
/he two pre4ious stills show what happene' as moonshiners .ot more an'
more impatient with the slowness of the #rst operation 'escribe'.
+erhaps the most re4olutionary a''ition was the thump barrel. *team
bubblin. up throu.h the fresh beer in this barrel was automatically 'ouble'
thus remo4in. fore4er the necessity of sa4in. the sin.lin.s an'. runnin.
them throu.h a.ain to 'ouble their stren.th.
/he still in +late RKM illustrates e6ecti4ely what happens as man2s 'esire for
?uantity o4erta"es his 'esire for ?uality. /he yiel' from this still is immense;
the ?uality) ?uestionable. % truc" ra'iator ser4es as the con'enser.
/he 'ea' man still in +late RKE is a purely mo'ern 4ariety with a tremen'ous
yiel'. /he beer) rather than bein. ma'e in separate bo$es) can be ma'e ri.ht
in the still in this case. /wenty ba.s of su.ar are use'. 7ne run can pro'uce
forty-#4e cases. /here are si$ .allons in each case) so the total yiel' is RK0
.allons. 0arly this year) the whis"ey from this still was comman'in. QO0 to
QO5 a case from the bootle..er2s hauler. 8f the operator ha' ha' to haul it to
the bootle..er) he woul' ha4e a''e' Q0 more to the #nal price of each
case.
/he operation of a steamer still similar to the one in +late RM0 was 'escribe'
thus by one operator: =8t ta"es four men@a chief) a helper-pumper) an' two
haulers. 1e ma"e our beer in si$ F2 by M2 bo$es) an' use two thousan'
poun's of su.ar for e4ery loa'. 8f we 'on2t .et twel4e cases out of e4ery bo$)
somethin.2s wron.. %n' that2s only se4enty-two cases a 'ay. /hat2s not ba')
but when 8 was runnin. ei.ht bo$es 8 .ot ninety-si$ cases a 'ay. %n'
sometimes 8 coul' sell it for QP0 a case. Not now. +rice .oes up an' 'own@it
'epen's.
=1e use what we call 2mule fee'2 for malt) an' we a'' bea'in. oil to ma"e it
bea' .oo'. 1e use a ra'iator out of a -o'.e truc" in th2 <a"e stan') cleane'
out .oo') of course. =8 just want to mo4e th2stu6 out@.et it to th2bootle..er
?uic" as it2s ma'e. /hat2s why 8 use haulers. 8 a'mit it2s not .oo' li?uor. 8t2ll
.i4e you a hea'ache. 5ut it won2t hurt you. 824e 'run" it myself before.=
*e4eral thin.s ma"e a steamer still 'iBcult. 7ne is the amount of beer that
must be on han' to be.in with. 3rom each E0 .allons in the ,o'.es 5arrel)
the yiel' will be appro$imately se4en cases. /hus) in or'er to run o6 the
ninety or more cases that can be run in a 'ay) the main barrel has to be
emptie' an' re#lle' about ten times.
7ne man we tal"e' to accomplishe' this with a pump an' hose apparatus
that he ha' ri..e' up. &ontrast this with the ol' metho' of 'ippin. the beer
into the still with #4e .allon buc"ets an' one can see how much thin.s ha4e
chan.e'. 8t still ta"es time) howe4er) to prepare the beer. /hus a still li"e this
one must lie unuse' for 'ays at a time waitin. for the beer to be rea'y to
run.
*u.ar presents another problem. *ince anythin. o4er a hun're' poun's must
be si.ne' for) su.ar has to be bootle..e' just li"e the whis"ey.
8n a''ition) the 4ery siAe of the operation ma"es it more 'an.erous to run.
04ery e6ort is ma'e to minimiAe the ris".
7ne man) for e$ample) tol' us that he ne4er uses pe.s in the outlet holes of
his barrels. ,e has con4erte' e4erythin. to 4al4es. /he reason: =(en who use
pe.s .et in th2 habit of hittin. them three times whene4er they2re puttin.
them bac" in th2 holes. /hey hit that pe. soft th2 #rst time) a little har'er th2
ne$t time) an' on th2 thir' time they really whac" it. :ou can hear those three
lic"s on th2 thumper pe. for miles.=
7nce two men were #$in. a lea" in th2 si'e of their still. 7ne of th2 men was
insi'e th2 still) crouche' 'own) .i4in. support from th2 insi'e; th2 other was
outsi'e with a hammer poun'in. away at th2 patch he was a''in.. *u''enly
th2 man on th2 outsi'e saw th2 law hea'e' strai.ht for him. 1ithout a wor' to
his partner insi'e th2 still) he turne' an' <e' into th2 woo's.
/h2 fe'eral man came up to th2 still. Unaware that anyone was insi'e it) he
too" th2 pic" with which he 'emolishe' stills an' .a4e it a terrible whac")
piercin. the si'e. =Now you24e ruine' it)= th2 man on th2 insi'e screame' in
an.er.
,ow the 5est of the 5est (oonshine was (a'e - ,ow to (a"e /ra'itional
(oonshine
%s tol' by the men who ma'e it.
3or this section) two men who are repute' to ha4e ma'e some of the best
moonshine to come out of Geor.ia tell e$actly how they 'i' it. /he process
for ma"in. =pure corn= is the base of the 'iscussion. Use of su.ar in a run to
increase the yiel' is also inclu'e') but in parentheses) as the a''ition of
su.ar woul' not allow the mi$ture to be labele' as pure corn whis"ey. Use of
a thump barrel is inclu'e' for it 'oes not 'iminish the ?uality of the pro'uct)
an' thump barrels were use' 'urin. the ol' 'ays.
5oth of the men are now retire') an' watch pro'uction to'ay with increasin.
'is'ain. ,ere2s how they ma'e moonshine) from be.innin. to en') usin. a
#fty-.allon still an' se4en 50-.allon barrels:
. Go to the woo's an' #n' a .oo' place. (a"e a mu'hole which contains
plenty of .oo') thic" re' clay for use in the furnace. %lso construct any water
lines nee'e' for the <a"e stan'.
R. &hoose the corn. -o not use a hybri' or yellow corn. Use a .oo') fresh)
pure white corn li"e ,olcomb +roli#c which will pro'uce about three ?uarts of
whis"ey per bushel. 8nferior bran's will only pro'uce about two an' a half
?uarts per bushel. Get nine an' a half bushels.
O. +ut at least a bushel an' a half of corn Dbut not more than twoG asi'e to
sprout. 8n winter) put this corn in a barrel or tub) a'' warm water) an' lea4e it
for twenty-four hours. /hen 'rain it an' mo4e it to the sproutin. tub. &o4er it
with pretty warm water) lea4e it for #fteen minutes) an' 'rain the water o6.
+ut the tub close to a sto4e) an' turn the col' si'e to the sto4e at least once
a 'ay. 0ach 'ay a'' warm water a.ain) lea4e it for #fteen minutes) an' 'rain
it o6 a.ain lea4in. the tub close to the sto4e. %lso transfer the corn on the
bottom of the tub to the top of the tub at least once a 'ay to ma"e sure it all
.ets the same amount of heat.
:ou shoul' ha4e .oo' malt in four or #4e 'ays with shoots about two inches
lon.) an' .oo' roots.
8n summer) simply put the corn to be sproute' out in the sun in two sac"s.
*prin"le warm water o4er them once a 'ay) an' <ip the sac"s o4er. 8t is also
possible to sprout the corn in sac"s un'er either saw'ust or mule manure@
both hol' heat well.
5e careful) howe4er) not to let the corn .et too hot or it will .o slic". 1hen it
starts .ettin. too hot) stir it up an' .i4e it air to cool it.
F. /he 'ay before the sproute' corn is rea'y) ta"e the remainin. ei.ht
bushels of corn to the miller to be .roun' up. -on2t let him crush the corn or
you2ll ha4e some hea4y material left that will sin" to the bottom of the still
an' burn. (a"e sure he .rin's it all up #ne. /a"e this meal to the woo's.
/he last three or four 'ays shoul' ha4e been spent buil'in. the furnace an'
installin. the still. 8t shoul' be rea'y to wor" now. 5uil' a #re un'er the still.
3ill it nearly full with water) an' stir in a half-bushel of corn meal. 1hen it
comes to a boil) let it bubble for thirty-#4e to forty minutes. &oo" it well or it
will pu"e too much when coo"in. later.
1hen it has coo"e' suBciently) brin. one of the barrels o4er) put it un'er the
slop arm of the still) push in the plu. stic") an' let the contents of the still #ll
the barrel. %'' a .allon of yet uncoo"e' meal an' let the hot contents of the
barrel coo" it alone. (a"e sure it is stirre' in well. (o4e the barrel asi'e) an'
repeat the whole process until all the meal is coo"e') an' all se4en barrels
are #lle'. Leturn home.
5. /he ne$t 'ay) .et the sproute' corn DmaltG .roun' up at the mill an' ta"e it
to the woo's. Use a miller who "nows you an' will "eep your acti4ities secret.
,e will ta"e no toll for .rin'in. your malt. ,e2ll ta"e his toll out later when you
are .rin'in. strai.ht corn a.ain. :ou can also use a sausa.e mill.
8n the woo's) thin out the mash you ma'e yester'ay. /his is 'one by stan'in.
the mash stic" upri.ht in each barrel. %'' water an' stir it in until the mash
stic" falls o4er a.ainst the si'e easily of its own wei.ht.
1hen all are thinne') a'' a .allon of malt to each barrel an' stir it in. %t the
same time) a'' a 'ouble han'ful of raw rye to each barrel) sprin"lin. it
aroun' o4er the top. /his helps to ma"e the cap) helps the mi$ture be.in
wor"in.) an' helps the #nal pro'uct hol' a .oo' bea'. D8f usin. su.ar) a''
ten poun's to each barrel at the same time you a'' the malt.G &o4er the
barrels. 8f they .et raine' into) your wor" is ruine'. Leturn home.
P. /he ne$t 'ay) the mi$tures shoul' be wor"in.. 8f one or two of them aren2t)
then mi$ them bac" an' forth with those that are) usin. a 'ipper. :ou want
them all to be wor"in. at the same time so that they2ll all be rea'y to run at
the same time. /his li?ui' is now "nown as beer. Leturn home.
K. /he ne$t 'ay) return to the site an' stir up the mi$ture in each of the
barrels to spee' up their wor"in.. ,ome a.ain.
M. %bout two 'ays later) chec" a.ain. %t the same time) .ather the woo' you
will nee') brin. in "e.s) fruit jars) an' whate4er else you may nee'. D7n this
fourth 'ay) if you2re usin. su.ar) a'' a half .allon of malt to each barrel an'
thirty-#4e to forty poun's of su.ar to each barrel. *tir in an' let the mi$ture
wor" for #4e more 'ays.G
E. 8f you are not usin. su.ar) then the whole mi$ture shoul' be rea'y to run
on the #fth 'ay of its wor"in.. D1ith su.ar) it ta"es about nine or ten 'ays.G
:ou can tell when it2s rea'y to run by stu'yin. the cap that has forme' o4er
the beer. *ometimes this cap will be two inches thic". *ometimes it will only
be a half inch thic") an' sometimes it will just be su's an' blubber) calle' a
=blossom cap.= %ll of these are #ne.
1hen the cap is nearly .one) or only a few remnants are left scattere' o4er
the top) the mi$ture is rea'y to run. /he alcohol has eaten the cap o6 the
beer. -on2t wait to run it at this point or the mi$ture will turn to 4ine.ar) an'
the 4ine.ar will eat the alcohol thus ruinin. your beer. 8t is better to run the
whole thin. a 'ay early than a 'ay late@you2ll still .et mil') .oo' whis"ey.
%ppearance of ='o. hea's= also in'icates that it2s rea'y to run. INote@one
4ariation on the abo4e process was also popular. /wo bushels of mash were
put in each #fty-.allon barrel) an' col' water a''e'. No coo"in. was use'.
/his mi$ture woul' sour in three or four 'ays an' pro'uce a crust. /his woul'
be bro"en up) stirre' in) an' the mi$ture left for another two or three 'ays
until it ha' soure' a.ain. /hen a .allon an' a half of malt was a''e' to each
barrel) an' the mi$ture allowe' to wor" another wee". %t this point) it was
rea'y to run in the same manner as the other we ha4e been 'escribin..J
0. Now all connections on the still are seale' up with a sti6 rye paste sa4e
for the cap an' cap arm. /he plu. stic" is inserte' throu.h the top of the still)
han'le #rst) an' the han'le pulle' out throu.h the slop arm until the ball of
ra.s at the other en' jams the openin.. 3ill the still almost to the top Dlea4e
about three .allons o6 for e$pansion 'ue to heatG with the beer. +ut ten
.allons of beer in the thump barrel.
5uil' up the #re un'erneath) an' as the beer heats) stir it constantly with the
swab stic" to "eep it from stic"in. to the bottom an' si'es of the still. Keep
this up until it has come to a rollin. boil an' can thus "eep itself stirre'. /hen
paste on the cap an' cap arm usin. the rye 'ou.h.
. &hun" the #re easy) startin. slowly) an' .ra'ually buil'in. it up in
intensity. %bout #fteen minutes after the beer starts boilin. in the still) the
steam will hit the col' beer in the thump barrel an' start it bubblin. an'
thumpin..
7n col' 'ays) this thumpin. can be hear' for se4eral hun're' yar's throu.h
the woo's. 1hen the thumpin. ?uiets) the beer is boilin. smoothly in the still
an' 'oin. #ne. +lace a container un'er the en' of the con'enser. % funnel
shoul' be inserte' in the container which is line' with a clean) #ne white
cloth on the bottom) a yarn cloth on top of that) an' a 'ouble han'ful of
washe' hic"ory coals on top of that. /he coals remo4e the =har'y .rease= Dit
shows up as an oil slic" on top of the whis"ey if not 'raine' o6G which can
ma"e one 4ery ill.
R. 1hen the thumpin. stops) the whis"ey starts. % .ush or two of steam will
prece'e it at the con'enser en'. /his will be followe' by a stron. sur.e of
li?ui' which ?uic"ly subsi'es to a tric"le. 7n the secon' sur.e) =she2s comin.
for .oo')= as one man sai'. 5e.in catchin. the alcohol on the secon' sur.e.
D8f it is bein. ma'e with su.ar) this #rst run will not hol' a bea'. *a4e it
anyway. Keep runnin. the still as lon. as there is any taste of alcohol in the
li?ui' bein. pro'uce'.
/hen 'rain the thump barrel. %'' the results of the #rst run@ about ten
.allons of bac"in.s. /hen 'rain the still throu.h the slop arm an' #ll it a.ain
with beer as before.
O. 7n the secon' run throu.h) you2ll ha4e .oo' whis"ey because the steam
has .one throu.h the bac"in.s in the thumper. 8t will be 'ouble stren.th.
Keep chec"in. it with the proof 4ial) catchin. it as it comes out of the
con'enser) thumpin. it in the palm of your han') an' watchin. the bubbles.
1hen it2s 'ea') pull the container away.
:ou shoul' ha4e two to three .allons of whis"ey) the bea' on which will be
half un'er the li?ui' an' half o4er it. D8f you2re runnin. su.ar whis"ey) the
results from the #rst run on will be whis"ey) an' the bea' will be two-thir's
un'er the surface an' one-thir' o4er it.G &atch the remain'er of the secon'
run in another container. /hese are the new bac"in.s for the thir' run.
%nother way to tell whether or not the whis"ey is still stron. enou.h to catch
in the container of .oo' stu6 is by ta"in. some of the alcohol) 'ashin. it on
the hot still cap) an' hol'in. a match to the resultin. steam. 8f it burns) "eep
it runnin..
F. 3rom the secon' runnin.) you shoul' ha4e two or three .allons of .oo'
whis"ey an' se4en or ei.ht .allons of bac"in.s. -rain the faints out of the
thumper an' =let them hit the .roun' an' run away.= /hey are no .oo' for
anythin.. %'' the new bac"in.s to the thumper.
-rain the still) #ll it a.ain with fresh beer) an' run it the thir' time. /his time)
since there are fewer bac"in.s) you2ll .et less li?uor) but more bac"in.s for
the fourth run. 7n the fourth run) you2ll .et more li?uor because you ha4e
more bac"in.s) but you2ll also .et fewer bac"in.s for the #fth run; an' so on.
/he yiel' will 4ary up an' 'own with each stillful.
Keep runnin. until all the beer has been use' up. 1ithout a thumper) all the
bac"in.s woul' ha4e been sa4e') an' all run throu.h the still to.ether on the
last run.
5. %fter about se4en runs) the net result will be se4en to ten .allons of pure
corn Dunsu.are'G whis"ey) for an a4era.e of about a .allon to a .allon an' a
half per bushel of corn. D1ith su.ar) the result shoul' be about si$ .allons to
the bushel.G
/hese are calle' the =hi.h shots.= /hey are about R00 proof an' must be cut
to be 'rin"able. /o cut) either a'' about one-thir' bac"in.s from the last run)
or water. (any prefer water.
%'' the li?ui' you are cuttin. the alcohol with until it hol's a .oo' stea'y
bea' in the proof 4ial. 8f the bea' will hol' stea'y after three .oo' thumps in
the palm of your han') then it will stan' any amount of joltin. an' bumpin.
in shipment.
3rom nine .allons of hi.h shots) you shoul' .et about twel4e .allons of #ne
whis"ey.
7ther (oonshinin. /ips an' ,ints:
. 8f a woo' fuel is bein. use') ash is the best of all. 8t .i4es a .oo') stea'y
heat) an' little smo"e. %lso .oo' are hic"ory an' mountain oa".
R. %lways use copper. 5eer 'oesn2t stic" to it so ba'ly) an' there
is less chance of any "in' of metal poisonin..
O. Ne4er let the whis"ey run too fast. %lways "eep it col' while it2s runnin.. 8f
it is "ept as col' as the water it is bein. con'ense' by) it will remain smooth
an' mil' an' not harsh to the taste. %bout si$ty 'e.rees is normal.
F. Use the best water a4ailable Dmany prefer streams runnin. west o6 the
north si'e of a hillG. /he water can ma"e a 'i6erence of se4eral .allons in the
#nal yiel'.
5. 04erythin. must be "ept spotless. /he copper insi'e the still shoul' shine
li"e .ol'. 5arrels Dor bo$esG too must be "ept clean. *mo"e them out after
each use with se4eral han'fuls of corn meal bran set a#re.
P. %'' three or four 'rops of rye <a4orin. to each .allon of whis"ey to .i4e it
a yellow tint an' a 'istinct rye <a4or.
K. /he place to ma"e the whis"ey is in the bo$es. 8f it2s not ri.ht there) no
amount of boilin. an' coo"in. can sa4e it.
,ow Goo' 1his"ey is 5ein. Luine'
. *tills are often ma'e of sheet iron or 4alley tin instea' of copper. /hese
metals often burn the beer an' .i4e it a stran.e taste.
R. /he beer is often run too early before it has a chance to sour properly.
O. /he whis"ey is sometimes con'ense' in a strai.ht worm which 'oes not let
it slow 'own enou.h to cool o6 properly. /his .i4es it a harsh) hot taste.
F. 7ften whis"ey is scorche' because it is not watche' properly) not stirre'
while heatin.) or because the #re un'er the still is too hot.
5. 8f whis"ey is not straine' properly) it will contain elements that can ma"e
one 4iolently ill.
P. La'iators use' as con'ensers are e$tremely 'an.erous. /hey can ne4er be
cleane' out completely) an' the en' result is sometimes whis"ey that can
cause lea' poisonin..
K. +otash is sometimes use' to =fa"e= a hi.h bea'. /his is the same material
soap is ma'e out of) an' it can be poisonous.
M. *ometimes potash an' .roun' up 8rish potatoes are a''e' to the malt to
ma"e it wor" o6 ?uic"er an' yiel' more.
E. 7ften 4essels are left 'irty) an' pro'uce =pops"ull= li?uor.
0. 8nstea' of pure corn malt) some use yeast.
. 8nstea' of pure corn meal) some use =wheat shorts= so it won2t stic" to
the still.
R. (any cut the #nal pro'uct to P0@K0 proof an' a'' bea'in. oil to fa"e
?uality an' hi.h proof.
O. 8t is rumore' that some people set batteries 'own in the mash bo$es to
ma"e it wor" more ?uic"ly; but another we tal"e' to hinte' that that mi.ht
just ha4e been a rumor put out by fe'eral a.ents to hurt the sale of whis"ey.
1e coul' .et nothin. concrete on this one way or another.
F. 7ne of our contacts "nows a man who uses a .roun'ho. still which he
#lls two-thir's full of water which he then heats. /hen he a''s #fty poun's of
wheat bran) four 00-poun' sac"s of su.ar) an' two cans of yeast. /hat2s it.
No sourin.@nothin.. %pparently it ma"es =pretty= whis"ey which hol's a
.oo' bea') but has a funny =whan.= <a4or.
/he bi..est problem) of course) is as we ha4e hinte' se4eral times before@
the 'esire for ?uantity rather than ?uality. 7ne retire' moonshiner sai')
=1hen 8 was wor"in. for th2 forest ser4ice an' saw th2 #lth an' th2 nature of
most of th2 stills in th2 woo's to'ay) th2 prou'er 8 was that 8 ?uit 'rin"in2 th2
stu6. 8 'on2t see how more people 'on2t .et "ille'.=

%nother claime' that he ha' often ha' people who ma"e whis"ey themsel4es
come to him to buy the li?uor they were .oin. to 'rin". /hey were afrai' to
'rin" their own.
8t apparently is not that 'iBcult to .et away with ma"in. ba' whis"ey)
because most of it is sol' throu.h bootle..ers who themsel4es 'on2t "now
where it came from. 8n a''ition) much of it is shippe' to the poorer 'istricts
of some of the bi..er cities) an' the people who buy it there ha4e no means
of #n'in. out who ma'e it. /hus the operator of the still is reasonably safe)
rarely ha4in. to pay for his sloppiness.
,e earns little respect amon. his nei.hbors) howe4er. %s one sai') =% man
ou.ht to be put in a chain .an. with a ball tie' to him if he uses potash to
ma"e whis"ey. 25out all you can call that is low-'own meanness. ,e ain2t
ma"in2 it t2'rin" himself) an' he ain2t ma"in2 it #t for anyone else to 'rin"
neither.=
(ar"etin. (oonshine: ,ow to Get Li' of the 3inal +ro'uct
8n the early 'ays of moonshinin.) it was a relati4ely easy matter to 'ispose of
the whis"ey. 8n the #rst place) there wasn2t that much of it. %lso) most of the
nei.hbors "new who in the area was busy in that pursuit) an' so they "new
where to .o when they nee'e' to ma"e a purchase.
/he moonshiner "new his nei.hbors) usually "new who coul' be truste') an'
so e4erythin. wor"e' out well. /here were no bi. business o4ertones) no hi.h
pressure sales) just ?uiet) behin'-the scenes) low-"ey transactions 'urin.
which no one as"e' unnecessary ?uestions.
/hin.s be.an to chan.e) howe4er) 'urin. +rohibition. 7ne man we tal"e' to
coul' remember hu.e trailer truc"s comin. 'own o6 his mountain loa'e'
with thousan's of .allons of whis"ey an' hea'e' north. /he operation has
remaine' the realm of the relati4ely bi. operators.
/he .reat majority of the whis"ey pro'uce' is 'istribute' throu.h bootle..ers
who buy it 'irectly from the ma"ers. /hey usually hire their own haulers so
that they 'on2t ha4e to pay the owner of the still for mo4in. it for them. /he
bootle..er usually .ets it from his haulers) waters it 'own) puts it in jars) an'
then 'istributes it to his re.ular customers) ma"in. 'eli4eries to re.ular
customers on a re.ular sche'ule. *ometimes these customers are store
owners who sell it a.ain to their customers.
8t is a ti.ht) sha'owy operation) sometimes run by men who are amon. the
most hi.hly respecte' citiAens in the community. 3or these men) their 'ouble
life also pays o6 in a han'some 'ouble income. *ometimes bootle..ers ha4e
in.enious ways of hi'in. their wares while waitin. for them to be 'ispose' of.
7ne we hear' of has a clothesline strun. across a la"e in his bac"yar'. /he
line is circular) an' runs on a pulley system. /he bottom half of the line
contains clips which are) in turn) hoo"e' to the tops of fruit jars that are full of
whis"ey. /hese jars remain submer.e' un'er the la"e all the time. 7nce
customers show up) the correct number of jars is pulle' up an' ol'.
%nother operator) this one relati4ely small) "ept the pro'uct he was sellin. in
the slee4es of the clothin. which hun. in his closet. /he men who run the real
ris"s) howe4er) are the haulers) who ha4e perfecte' hun're's of ways of
mo4in. whis"ey.
*ome of these:
. 7ne man haule' only on *un'ays. 7n these 'ays) he woul' ha4e ei.ht
cases conceale' in the trun") two un'er the hoo') an' his wife an' little .irl
in the car with him. /he car was =shoc"e' up= so that no e$cess wei.ht
showe') an' he ro'e aroun' enou.h so that no one suspecte' that he was in
a hurry to .et anywhere. ,e was ne4er cau.ht.
R. %nother #lle' the be' of his pic"up truc" two cases hi.h) an' then put a
blac" plywoo' form on top so that at ni.ht it loo"e' empty. /he truc" hel'
twenty cases.
O. 7thers ha4e bi. truc"s with false be's in which they can #t a sin.le layer
of cases.
F. *ome haul) e4en to'ay) in 'ump truc"s or cabba.e truc"s which ha4e such
hi.h si'es that they can2t be seen into from the roa'. 8f they are afrai' of
.ettin. cau.ht) they sometimes stac" all the cases of moonshine in the
center of the be' an' co4er it completely top an' si'es with ears of corn.
5. *ome remo4e the bac" seats from their cars an' loa' them full from the
front seat all the way throu.h to the tailli.hts. 1e hear' about one man who
e4en too" out the front seat an' ro'e sittin. on a case) with se4eral more
besi'e him.
P. *till another metho' is to hire a =hot= lea' car. /he car containin. the
whis"ey follows this lea' car at a leisurely pace. 1hen the lea' car spots an
oBcer) it ta"es o6 at a .reat rate of spee') ob4iously 'ri4in. rec"lessly. /he
oBcer .i4es chase) an' the 'ri4er in the car containin. the whis"ey procee's
unhin'ere' to its 'estination.
K. 7thers steal se4eral cars) repaint them) switch their motors) an' ha4e
three license ta.s for each car@North &arolina) *outh &arolina) an' Geor.ia.
/he ta.s ha4e hoo"s) an' are interchan.e' accor'in. to which state the
hauler is wor"in..
/he &onclusion to (oonshinin.
5y any stan'ar's) moonshinin. has to be counte' as one of the most
fascinatin. mountain en'ea4ors. 3ew occupations can lay claim to funnier
stories@or sa''er stories@than this.
-espite the .lamor of it all) howe4er) it remains one of the most 'iBcult
acti4ities aroun'. 7Bcers are .ettin. more concerne' an' more pro#cient
'aily an' are pressin. har'er for more cripplin. penalties.
8n a''ition) the cash outlay re?uire' to .et into business) the lo.istics of
mo4in. 4ast amounts of su.ar an' .rain aroun') the 'iBculty of hi'in. the
operation) the impossibility of protection a.ainst informers) the lon. hours
re?uire' of hot) 'irty wor"@it all a''s up to a rather unattracti4e way to
spen' an afternoon.
%n' as any moonshiner will tell you) there is no burn on earth li"e the burn
one .ets from comin. in contact with boilin. hot meal. 8t stic"s to the s"in
an' remo4es it sur.ically in one neat piece.
/he sheer fact of its ceaseless an' unrelentin. 'iBculty perhaps a''s to the
.lamor rather than 'etracts. /his 'iBculty) howe4er)couple' with the fact
that there really are easier jobs to be ha' nowa'ays) may also be the most
successful element in 'estroyin. the practice as it e$ists to'ay.
8t at least 'i' a te$tboo" job of 'emolishin. the craft as a #ne art. +erhaps we
ha4e succee'e' in preser4in. some particle of that art for history.
1e hope so.