Moonshine nation: the art of creating cornbread in a bottle PDF
Preview Moonshine nation: the art of creating cornbread in a bottle
The Art of Creating Cornbread in a Bottle MARK SPIVAK Copyright © 2014 Mark Spivak ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Globe Pequot Press, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437. Lyons Press is an imprint of Globe Pequot Press. Part opener jar photo by Kelsey Pouk Editor: Amy Lyons Project Editor: Meredith Dias Text Design/Layout: Maggie Peterson Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Spivak, Mark (Mark Allen), author. Moonshine nation : the art of creating cornbread in a bottle / Mark Spivak. pages cm Summary: “Moonshine Nation is the story of Moonshine’s history andorigins alongside profiles of modern moonshiners (and a collection ofdrinks from each)”— Provided by publisher. eISBN 978-1-4930-1245-9 (ePub) 1. Distilling industries—Piedmont (U.S. : Region) 2. Distilleries—Piedmont (U.S. : Region) 3. Distilling, Illicit—Piedmont (U.S. : Region)—History. I. Title. TP590.6.U6S65 2014 338.4'7663500973—dc23 2014011011 For Carolann All roads, rivers, and hurricanes Contents Title Page Copyright Page Introduction P 1: L L ART EGACY AND EGEND Marching on Pennsylvania General Grant’s Whiskey Robin Hood of the Dark Corner Baptists and Bootleggers King of the Moonshiners Bootlegging, Inc. Heads, Tails, and Hearts Moonshine and the Law Dixie Mafia P 2: T M M ART HE ODERN OONSHINERS Piedmont Distillers and the Legacy of Junior Johnson Recipes Spencer Balentine’s Silver Trail Distillery Recipes MB Roland Recipes Troy & Sons Recipes Howling Moon Recipes Popcorn Sutton: Fiction and Fact American Moonshine Producers About the Author Index Introduction Like many consumers, I believed that bourbon was the true American spirit. It’s a good story, and distillers in Kentucky are adept at telling it. Bourbon, however, is basically aged corn whiskey, and corn whiskey was made in this country from the earliest days of the colonial settlers: Scots-Irish immigrants who traveled to the New World and brought their distilling skills with them. After the Whiskey Rebellion of 1791–94, those folks went underground and concocted their product in thousands of improvised stills throughout the Appalachian South. Their whiskey—unregulated, untaxed, and illegal—was made by the light of the moon and became known as moonshine. As I researched the Whiskey Rebellion, I realized it was the source of many of the social and cultural divisions we see in America today. The widespread mistrust of the government throughout the South, as well as the resentment of the moneyed classes on the part of hardworking, rural citizens, is directly traceable to the events of 1791–94. Moonshining in the Appalachian South became both a source of sustenance and a way of life. In addition to being the only way to survive, it also became a symbol of the individual’s resistance against forces beyond his or her control. Moonshine today is legal in many states, and mason jars filled with corn whiskey populate the shelves of retail stores across the country. Even so, the attitudes of moonshiners haven’t changed much. Many of these men and women are descendants of generations of people who hid stills in remote spots in the backwoods and risked prison time to support their families. They are proud of their heritage and are committed to making sure that their ancestors’ way of life doesn’t disappear. The first part of this book traces the history of moonshine from the Whiskey Rebellion through the tax wars of the nineteenth century, and onward to Prohibition toward the present day. The second half consists of profiles of latter- day, legal moonshiners. These people welcomed me into their houses, sheds, and distilleries, shared their stories and their hospitality, and I’m grateful for it: It gave me a glimpse into a freewheeling period of American history that is now being glamorized in popular culture. As I listened, I realized that many of the memories were bittersweet. Moonshining and bootlegging were hard and dangerous work; while a handful of people did get rich, most were engaged in a desperate effort to eke out a living. The widespread appeal of moonshine today goes way beyond the product itself. Certainly, most modern moonshine is far better than the illegal corn whiskey once produced in backwoods stills. More importantly, it symbolizes a lost America—a place free of commutes and urban blight, where people can defy the system and occasionally make the authorities look ridiculous. As I note in my profile of notorious moonshiner Popcorn Sutton, we all yearn at times to be the guy sticking his middle finger at society, and immersing ourselves in their stories helps us to play out that fantasy in our minds. Of course, the current popularity of moonshine is connected to more than myth. Modern distillers are turning out a pure and carefully crafted product, and one that is extremely mixable. For those who want something to sip on, many flavored moonshines are delightful, especially since producers have become pickier about the quality of the fruit used for their infusions. Most importantly—for me, at least—is the fact that these are simply great stories. I hope I’ve done them justice. Open a mason jar, make yourself comfortable, and settle in for some amazing tales.
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