Moonshine has always been around in “these here” parts. In fact, ‘shine has put Tennessee on the map with famous folks like Popcorn Sutton, a third generation moonshiner from Cocke County. According to the website about Sutton, Popcorn was “well known throughout the South and beyond for making the best damn ‘likker’ anyone had ever tasted.” Now, moonshine sells under the name of Popcorn Sutton’s Tennessee White Whiskey, but it’s still known as ‘shine!
From the website for Popcorn Sutton’s Tennessee White Whiskey: http://www.popcornsuttonswhiskey.com/about
Moonshine is now popping up all over East Tennessee, especially in the Gatlinburg area.
From the website of Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine: http://olesmoky.com/about/distillery
Folks take home a bottle or two, along with a t-shirt, coaster, refrigerator magnet — you name it. Seems like moonshine is pretty popular these days. Lots of folks taking a shine to it!
Keep Calm and Shine On t-shirt sold at Big Kahuna Wing Festival, Knoxville, TN
So, Ailsa, thanks for posting your Travel theme: Shine on your blog Where’s My Backpack. Just gives us a chance to think outside the box — or the still, if you will.
For more interpretations of this travel theme, click here.
Resources:
Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine: http://olesmoky.com/about/craft
Popcorn Sutton’s Tennessee White Whiskey: http://www.popcornsuttonswhiskey.com/about
Mountain Moonshine (West Virginia) : http://www.mountainmoonshine.com/
Article: “Moonshine is Growing in the U. S., and Big Whiskey Wants a Taste.” (May 27, 2013). TIME. Retrieved from: http://business.time.com/2013/05/27/moonshine-is-growing-in-the-u-s-and-big-whiskey-wants-a-taste/
My first taste of moonshine was a little snort that I had with my father-in-law. He, like me, was a bourbon man, but when it comes to libations, one must keep an open mind. My grandfather was also partial to shine, but he was so busy smokin’ Lucky Strikes and drinkin’ it, that I didn’t get to sample his brand. If you want to hear what an expert has to say about the history of distilled spirits (particularly bourbon), read a few posts by a friend of ours. Dianne wrote her master’s thesis on bourbon, and she knows more about the subject than anyone I know.
http://diannealforddotcom.wordpress.com/2014/06/25/the-whiskey-rebellion/
~James
Thanks for confessing your early life indulgences! And I’ll bet those Lucky Strikes were unfiltered — my dad’s were! Appreciate the link. Going there now. Bourbon is another Tennessee pride product, but not as much as it is in Kentucky where we’ve taken a partial tour of their Bourbon Trail. Oh, my. The South.
I bet people over there are pretty fogged up!
You could be right. Especially if they drank much of it!! Thanks for reading, Valentina!
I imagine they would, Rusha.
Tried some moonshine when we were in Tennessee. Took the back of my throat out!
And that’s the reason I’ve never tried any! Too many reports like yours stand in the way! Thanks for reading. I’ll try to write on more palatable subjects in the coming weeks!!
A nice little twist on the challenge :)
Thanks. I’m still getting my head around the fact that moonshine is legal and has storefronts and all the goods for sale. Never thought it would happen!
I like your take on the challenge. Very cool Rusha.
Thanks so much! It just came to me when I saw that t-shirt again.
Great choice for shine, Rusha! Keep calm and Shine on… very cool :)