Appalachian Moonshine! Moonshine King Of West Virginia!

Dude, I barely sipped it. It's like you go numb. You make your babies be born naked. Oh my god. Does it all the time. This is Appalachia, and this is Moonshine in West Virginia. You're about to step into a world you've probably never seen before, where Moonshine has been crafted in the shadows of these mountains for centuries. This isn't just any drink. Moonshine became a symbol of rebellion and survival, fueling entire communities and defying the law. But as of June of this year, Moonshine is now legal in West Virginia. I'm digging deep into the story behind the potent brew, exploring the rich history, the secret techniques passed down through generations, and the people who keep this tradition alive. Get ready to uncover the real spirit of West Virginia, where every sip tells a tale of resilience and heritage. I'm here in the undisclosed location in West Virginia with Chris the Moonshiner. My man. How you doing, bud? How you doing? Good. I love the whole gear, man. Your whole thing is awesome. Gotta represent. Yeah, for sure. So what are we doing here today? I'm gonna make a little bit for you guys, show you the process, show you a little bit what's going on with it. And so how long have you been making Moonshine? Your whole life? I've been tinkering around with this stuff off and on my whole life. It's been in my family my whole life. I mean, whether we were making it, somebody, you know, knew somebody, it's always been around. It's part of this area. It's Appalachia. Yeah, it's Appalachia, man. Yeah. What is Moonshine? Moonshine, it can be many different things. So many different things. Some people like to get their own that's already made, and they'll make concoctions up with apples, pineapples, fruits, and mix it all up, jar it up, and they're like, I made some Moonshine. Well, that's Moonshine. But you can make Moonshine Moonshine. You get some grains together, get you some sugar if you want to, or you can leave that out, go all natural, make you a real whiskey. There's a lot of things can be Moonshine. So it's a distilled spirit. Yeah, distilled spirit. Yeah. And so I've seen it done in Italy in terms of grappa, rocky in Albania. That's a little different. That's grapes. Here we're talking about grains. Grains, actually fruits too as well. Brandies with grapes. That's an Appalachia favorite. If you had grapes back in the day, you were the man. That's a David's been here favorite. Yeah. Grapes are good, man. And there's all sorts of grapes. And each kind of grape makes something different. That's the cool part about Moonshine. So I understand now, it's past June 7th, it's legal to produce this. Yeah. So it wasn't legal before, now it is. No. But you've been doing it, and obviously it's been happening in West Virginia since our forefathers, correct? In your bloodline. If you're in West Virginia, typically you know somebody that's either into Moonshine, logging, or into coal, or something to do with either one of them or all of them. That's just what you got. You said your grandfather also did it? My grandfather was the man, I was told. He passed away a long time ago. I didn't get to meet him. I'm sorry. That's what inspired me to get in this. Eventually, I'm taking some whiskey across this whole map. I'm going to get legal, have some legal stuff going on, and I'm proud of it. And all these folks now, they're coming out and they're getting legal. It's a celebration. My biggest motto, man, Jack, Jim, and George, they've made enough damn money. Let some good old boys get in there. You know what I'm saying? I love it. We know what we're doing. You know what I mean? Yeah. Like, how do you think they get that? For sure. Where do you think it starts, bro? I know. And it's old, little old hillbilly up in the woods normally, typically, not all the time, because they're all sorts now. I mean, everybody's in it. It's just intriguing, man. You can change one thing about one thing, and you got something new. And so what you're wearing, like the whole outfit, is this something, is this how all moonshiners look? Not typically, because not a lot of them are as brazen about being about. A lot of it's secret, you know. They keep it to their self and protect it. A lot of it's family. They don't ever let it out. You won't ever taste some of the best liquor that's out there, just for that reason. Unless you just know, oh boy, it's got it. It's how it is. But some people's brazen about it. I'm proud of it, because I want to help everybody come out. Because my papa, probably, you never know. I mean, they said he was the man. It's been told there's a jar of his liquor in a wall right now. And I would love to be able to go over and get in that wall and find it. It's been there about 60 years. It ought to be pretty good. So anybody here in Bluefield, if you know where the liquor is, let us know. Yeah. If you tear your wall down and you find a few jars, put them up. Holler at your boy. Amazing. And so what are we doing right now? We're distilling. We're getting started here. I got to make a paste. I'm going to come around you right here. Make a paste I use myself. I mean, a lot of people use a lot of things. I'll take oatmeal and flour. It makes a real good form. Mix it all up with your hand. And then we got to seal it up. And that starts the steaming process, which is the distillation. Everything got to be locked up tight. Can't be no leaks. You got leaks in the woods back in the day, that's money going in the air. You don't want no leaks. That's losing liquor. And to them boys, that was all of it, man. They saved up to make that stuff, to make the money they needed to make it to get by. So they didn't want to waste nothing. And they could take a damn grain of anything and make something out of it. It's amazing, really. I'd love to be hanging out with some of them dudes that used to be here. Just for the knowledge. This stuff's medicinal too. I keep a jar in there in the closet. And I got a few ingredients like spices and stuff I throw in there. And get a cold, you take you a drink of that ----. It'll knock it out of you. It's COVID killer. For real COVID killer. And guess what? You can drink this ----. Nobody's going to make you. You can still go to work. You don't have to get forced to drink this to go to work. Like, you know, other stuff people get forced to do. It's funny you say that. Because when I went to Albania, I went during COVID times. And everybody was like, just put just put Rocky all over your head if you get a cold. Like, they literally do that to the kids. It's a real medicine. No, dude, what's the percentage on the Spoon Shine when it's done? It just depends on what you're running. It can be up to 180, 190 proof. You don't want to play with that. And we're trying 18 today? Typically, 100 proof is about where you want to be at. 100 proof safety wise. So this is boiling process, cooling, and then it goes through and it's done. Yes, sir. Correct. And let me ask you in terms of dangers, because sometimes if you do this wrong, you know, it can kill you. It can make you go blind. There's cases of other things too. You got to know what you're really doing, man. If you're thinking about getting into it, I suggest read your ass off for like three months. And then talk to everybody you can talk to that has done it. Even if you got to go to a distillery, just be straight up. Because it's scary stuff. You don't want to play with it and not really know what you're doing. Because you can mess up. You got to do cuts right and stuff and all that. You got different, you know, things you need to do to keep up with. Know what it looks like when it's not good. And don't just try anything. You need to know all that stuff, you know. It can be dangerous. And what way would it be dangerous? Is that the container would explode or? It can. It can explode. The content in it can have too much methane or anything like that. Yeah, the methane, that's the problem. It can make you go blind. You got to know what you're doing. It's nothing to play with. But it's definitely something that once you get it in you. You can't get it out of you, man. It's definitely enjoyable. I haven't had moonshine before. We got to get you a seal. Let's do it. Let's do this. Let me seal this up. Yeah, he's gonna seal it now. Now I'm old school. They got all that fancy stuff now, man. And they do. I make me a big old big old dough worm. Press it up on that seal. And it'll cook to it. It makes it airtight. So you got to seal the whole thing? It takes typically about an hour and a half. She'll start spitting some stuff out. This is Betsy. I'm proud of her. I made her myself. I think a real moonshiner should make his first deal himself. I think that's part of keeping it alive. I can order anything. If I had all the money in the world, you can order anything. Them boys didn't do that. I want to learn the hard way. You've got trial and error. You're really learning. You know, it's real. I can go buy a Lamborghini and beat anybody racing. But give me a Chevette. Let me put a pipe on it and pass your ass. I'm doing something then. You know what I mean? I love it, bro. I love it. Somebody. Yeah, it's one thing we've seen is people on Appalachia are very hard workers. Yeah. Yeah, man. Nothing comes easy. Even our easy days for most people that's not from around here would be like dreadful for a lot of people. I love this ----. I've been in the woods for the past, I don't know. All my life since I was big enough to get in the woods. I've been in the woods or on the river. I actually was. I wore a business suit for about five, six years of my life. But every evening when I got home, I took that son of a bitch off. I hit the river. My shoes was off. I'm real. I swear. Anybody that knows me will tell you I'm real. I haven't had a cell phone for about seven years. Wow. I don't want one. People call you. Stop calling us. The world's too busy, man. I know, I know. And you don't get to enjoy anything. You have to slow down. A real enjoyable anything never happens. Everybody's scrolling, which is awesome. Because, hey, if it wasn't for some scrolling, I wouldn't have this knowledge. Yeah, yeah. My papa was gone, man. And this is something like you can't just go and ask people before now it's legal. You can't just go, hey, man, I'm wanting to make some shine. Let me go up to this old guy because he's going to look at you. Hey, you know, I know anything about shine. Where'd you come from? But now it's exciting because it's damn sure going to stay alive. I really believe it will. Yeah, for sure. I forgot to do this. Shame on me. It gets pressured, man. All them safety things. That's seven and a half pounds. You don't put weight on your lid. It will push that lid off. Let's explode. Yeah, man. And that's alcohol that gets in flames. You got a bad deal going on. So like, don't play around with it. And he forgot. I just see if y'all can't. Hey, we're too busy. We're too busy. But yeah, I'll go grab you a jar or whatever. Let's do it. And we're going to try some. Yeah, awesome. Be right back. All right, man. This is the final product. It's 100 proof right here. 100 proof. Corn liquor. Mountain water. Oh my gosh. Mountain dew you ain't never drank. Here we go. I'm ready. Now you can pour it in your car and drive home too if you want. Wow. Dude, I barely sipped it. It's like you go numb. You make your babies be born naked. Oh my god. Does it all the time. Dude, it is so strong. Everybody likes to filter their shine. I filter mine with my mustache. Got something for later. I use mine too. We look like brothers, right? Cousins. Dude, this is amazing. You like that? Congrats. Yeah, it's 100, man. This moonshine, I've never tasted moonshine. That is so strong. But you know what? It's actually enjoyable. It wasn't like... It didn't kill me. That's the bearded gentleman, man. It's nice. I call that the bearded gentleman. Yeah. Whenever you have spirits. I got my leg up as soon as I got it. Oh my god. And I have a question. So what's the true history back here in terms of like... When prohibition happened, did everybody stop? Or did this get even more? Like did it... Quiet. The real ones kept quiet, man. Crawled up in the hills. Just stopped talking. Just came really, you know, quiet. Secretive. Underground. Just like you got to know somebody to know somebody. And like now it's kind of exciting because... A lot of distilleries has got old blood in them. Running them. Doing traditional recipes, man. And it's like... It's so cool. Jack, Jim and George has been like giving everybody drinks. And these good old boys can make some good liquor, man. So I mean you could talk... Go to a different state. They make a different kind of alcohol. It's different people. A different process. Just... But they're all brothers. It's all like a brotherhood. They all love each other. We watch out for one another. It's just what you do. It's... Love it. Upside down cake. Pineapple upside down cake. That's in the stores. Oh my gosh, it's amazing. That's what South Mountain Distillery's got. That's the distillery I work for. Nice. And this is how they sell it in these jars. Look at that. So I'm gonna keep this. So what are we trying? Have you ever heard of that guy? Colt Ford? No, but you did mention him. I think you mentioned him. Yeah. I go around and promote and help these folks, man. That's Patty from Louisiana. Her papa took her in his belt and taught her everything. She's good. Sweetheart of a lady. To the pineapple upside down cake. You can try it. If you want a cup, I've got little cups. You have a cup? Yes. All right, so I'm gonna try this one. And this is from Kelly's Moonshiner. Pineapple upside down cake. Oh my gosh. No, this thing smells great. Hey, that one, about a second after you drink it, you're gonna taste the cake. Wow. That's good, man. Pineapple upside down cake. This is delicious, actually. That's Kelly Williamson's. He won Master Distiller with that one right there. Yeah, and it's way less. This is only 25%. Yeah, 54 proof. This is not bad. Sip on this. Fantastic. It's almost like a pineapple cake. Literally what it is. It's a pineapple cake. This one's fantastic. Chris, I love this one. I feel bad spilling it too, you know. Look how clear this is. Now, but if you put a shot or two of that in your lemonade before you cut your grass. His jokes, killing me. This is like peach rocky. You can taste the buzz on it, man. It comes off almost hot at first until you figure out it's actually peach. I'd actually be scared to have this at my home, man. This is like too good. You like cinnamon? Yeah, I like cinnamon. All right, maybe one more. I'll let you try the best thing. That's popcorn Sutton's niece. You can buy these from the store. Well, you can buy them from the stores. This is the best, I swear. This is the best one. Cinnamon-wise, this is the best cinnamon on the market. That fireball stuff is garbage. It looks like pancakes. This is amazing. This is so good. I'm moving out here, bro. Come on. In this undisclosed location. We'll find you a holler. Somewhere. Yeah, find me a holler. I'll put my name on it. Hoffman's Holler. I've been going through a back issue. And with that, it was like, I can fly now. So what is this? That's Big Nick Callow's Peanut Butter Banana Moonshine. He won Master Distiller with that. Peanut Butter Banana. In terms of a spirit, this is absolutely phenomenal. Hey, Big Nick. Thank you. Master Distiller. Bro, it's like the most decadent spirit of all time. It's sweet, man. Which one did you taste first? The Peanut Butter Banana? The Peanut Butter. Some people get the banana first. It's weird, but. It's weird, yeah. The way it was distilled. This liquor right here ain't going nowhere ever. It's on the shelf. This is J.B. Raider, a living legend. That was Popcorn Sutton's right hand man back in the day. It's won two national honey board titles. Where are these guys? Are these all in West Virginia? No, these are Tennessee, North Carolina. It's just people that. But this is Appalachian culture, though. Yeah, all of it. This is copper pot distilled the way it's supposed to be. In a cleaner environment. Done the same way. Just cleaner. Wow. Now, you're going to love this, dude. It's Honeycrisp Apples. No, right away I smell apple. Dude, I'm telling you, if you like apple, you're going to fall in love right now. 60 proof. I don't know what can beat the other one, bro. I don't know. That's good, too. They're all good. Oh, yeah, but this one, you would feel it's a little stronger. The stronger, I feel more alcohol, you know? Yeah, this is more like I am. It's got the apples in it. Apple, Apple Rocky. It goes in there and they cut the apples up and put them in there. When you get to the apples, you have had a good evening. I had a good day. That was amazing. Good, good. We're almost done over here? Yeah, it should be. So, it's almost done, guys. If you put your hand here. Woo, it's hot. It is hot. Oh, wow, there it is. There it is. There it's coming, man. Coming through. Look how it hits. So, they are real professionals. They can tell the proof. They can tell if it's good by when it hits. The best thing is you got to wait for it. It's like you got to have a little bit of wait. But old school was the best school. I'm going to try to keep that school alive. And that's how you make moonshine here in the Appalachian Mountains. My man. Chris, thank you so much. Moonshine brother for life. For sure, for sure. Remember where you come to. Come back. We'll do this again. Yeah, and next time I'll go with you to the woods to find one of those peckers. Absolutely. Also, the elusive coon pecker out there. It's killing me, dude. Killing me. It's not every day I get a nice pecker. Exactly. You can pick out which pecker you want. Each pecker is unique. And I want you to take this on your travels, man. And if somebody says, hey man, what's that? Tell them about me. Oh, well. Tell them where you got it from. Tell them what it's about. You know what it's about now. Pick you whatever. Let's see, let's see. You don't know about a good pecker until it's in your hand, you know what I mean? I love you, bro. Thank you. This is great. So guys, Chris Moonshiner. Soon you can hit him up.