PICK YOUR POISON
Now that it’s been several years since the first legal jars of moonshine hit the shelves, the selection can be a little overwhelming. And then once you’ve decided on what to buy, then what do you do with it? Here’s a little advice from the experts:
North Carolina
Asheville Distilling Company
12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Asheville, NC 28803
Claiming to be the only distillery in the world using Crooked Creek Corn, Asheville Distilling Company distills Troy & Sons Platinum, classic corn ‘shine.
Broadslab Distillery
4834 State Hwy 50 S., Benson, NC 27504
it doesn’t come in a mason jar, but that doesn’t make it any less moonshine. There’s the classic clear ‘shine, plus the Broadslab Legacy Reserve, which is lightly aged in traditional charred oak.
Copper Barrel Distillery
508 Main St., North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
Other areas in the region may disagree, but Wilkes County considers itself the “moonshine capital of America,” and Copper Barrel keeps it old school, using all grains and produce from North Carolina farms.
Elevated Mountain Distilling Company
3732 Soco Road, Maggie Valley, N.C. 28751
Appalachia's newest distillery, slated to open late this year or early 2017, Elevated Mountain distillery will brew moonshine, craft vodka, biurbons, and flavored whiskeys.
Howling Moon Moonshine
42 Old Elk Mountain Road, Asheville, NC 28804
For now they’re keeping it simple with 100 proof, apple pie and strawberry and their products are only available in North Carolina, but they’re planning on growing.
Catdaddy Spiced Moonshine
3960 US 220 Hwy, Madison, NC, 2705
It’s still made from corn, but the guys behind Catdaddy Spiced make it clear that it’s smooth and clean, without some of the harsh bite that may come with the illegal stuff.
Piedmont Distillers
3960 US Hwy 220, Madison, NC 27025
Moonshine runs in Junior Johnson's blood, which is precisely why Piedmont Distillers created a line of the hooch in his name. Sadly the NASCAR legend won't deliver it to your door anymore, but you can try it in flavors like blackberry, cranberry, blueberry and peach.
“You don’t wanna drink 100 proof straight, it’s just too strong. It’s just about getting the taste, not getting drunk. A lot of people will throw water or fruit in it. Everybody loves the apple pie, and that’s my favorite.” --Junior Johnson
South Carolina
Carolina Moon Distillery
116 Court House Square, Edgefield, SC 29824
Owner Cal Bowie is a lifelong Edgefield resident with an agriculture degree, and whiskey-making has been in his family for years. In addition to classic clear moonshine, Carolina Moon also churns out aged spirits like the Black Betty Whiskey.
Dark Corner Distillery
14 S. Main St., Greenville, SC
They call it The World’s Best Moonshine, and if you don’t drink it straight, they recommend it in a Roost’s Raspberry Julep: mint-infused moonshine, raspberries and lemon-lime soda.
Palmetto Distillery
200 W. Benson St., Anderson, SC 29624
Like a lot of folks in the business, the team at Palmetto Distillery come from a long line of moonshiners. One of the first legal moonshine distilleries in South Carolina, they produce flavors like strawberry and peach, plus whiskey.
Copperhead Mountain Distillery
14 S. Main St., Travelers Rest, SC 29690
Ever had chocolate moonshine? It’s made with semi-sweet dark chocolate, and they recommend mixing it with maraschino cherry juice or pouring it straight over ice cream. Copperhead Mountain also makes other flavors, but did we mention the chocolate?
Sugar Tit Moonshine
330 Main St., Reidville, SC 29375
The name may make you chuckle, but the ‘shine is no joke. Varieties include good ol’ 100 proof, 120 proof for those who can handle it, plum-raspberry, pineapple and blueberry.
Tennessee
Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine
903 Parkway #128,Gatlinburg, TN 37738
One of the first legal distilleries in the area, Ole Smoky produces more than two dozen flavors of moonshine, including holiday specials like pumpkin pie and shine nog, plus options that are only available in the tasting room like huckleberry and margarita.
Sugarlands Distilling Company
805 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Root beer? Blueberry muffin? Peanut butter and jelly? Yep, those are all moonshine flavors at Sugarlands, a distillery that often hosts live music, storytelling events and other outdoor activities.
Old Forge Distillery
170 Old Mill Ave, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
The original unaged moonshine recipe is made with premium Tennessee corn and Smoky Mountain spring water. They recommend using it in a Bloody Mary instead of vodka.
Doc Collier Moonshine
519 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Located at the third stoplight on the Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg, Doc Collier’s specialty is its moonshine brandy, which uses local wine from the nearby Rocky Top Wine Trail.
East Tennessee Distillery
220 Piney Flats Road, Piney Flats, TN 37686
When owner Tiny Roberson received an order for 400 cases of his homemade moonshine, it was clear that it was time to open his own distillery. Flavors include coconut, banana and honey ginseng.
Popcorn Sutton Distillery
830 W. Hwy 25/70, Newport, TN 37821
The distillery itself is only a few miles from the legendary moonshiner Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton’s home. They’re using the same recipe to produce the 88 proof hooch.
Short Mountain Distillery
8280 Short Mountain Road, Woodbury, TN 37190
This 400-acre farm offers tastings and tours, plus food and moonshine mixology classes every weekend.
Hook & Ladder Distillery
315 Broad St. #100, Kingsport, TN 37660
Owner Drew Draper turned 21 right when distilling moonshine became legal in Tennessee, so of course he had to open up his own distillery. Varieties include honey, salted caramel and “cinnaburn.”
Bootleggers Distillery
3567 Hartford Road, Hartford, TN 37753
Moonshine isn’t the only thing you can buy in a mason jar at Bootleggers Distillery. You can also walk out of there with a half pint of jams made with moonshine, like firecracker pepper jam, peach and blackberry jams.
Tennessee Hills Distillery
Jonesborough, Tenn.
Located in Tennessee's oldest town, Tennessee Hills is one of Appalachia’s newest distilleries. They use locally grown dent corn and barley and stone grind it in an antique mill to produce heritage spirits, including Angry Pecker, Lemon Drop, and Pineapple Upside-Down. tnhillsdistillery.com
Ole Smoky Moonshine
903 Parkway #128, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
They recommend cocktails like the Dirty Shirley, featuring Ole Smoky Moonshine Cherries Juice, lemon-lime soda and cherries over ice, or the Apple Ginger, with Ole Smoky Apple Pie Moonshine, ginger ale and fresh lime juice served over ice with an apple slice.
“I’m not one that does a lot of mixing. I like our corn whiskey neat.” --Joe Baker, founder/owner
Georgia
Dawsonville Distillery
415 Hwy 53 E, Suite 120, Dawsonville, GA 30534
Endorsed by NASCAR driver Bill Elliott, Dawsonville’s moonshine comes in flavors like apple pie, apple brandy and good ol’ 100 proof white lightning.
dawsonvillemoonshiendistillery.com
Grandaddy Mimms
161 Pappy's Plaza, Blairsville, GA 30512
The recipe comes from the days of Jack McClure “Mimm” distilling in the 1930s, and flavors include peach cobbler and cherry cobbler.
Moonrise Distillery
31 Webb Rd., Clayton, GA 30525
Since 2012, Moonrise Distillery has been serving up whiskey, bourbon and fruit brandy--and, of course, corn-based moonshine.
moonrisedistillery.artisangrown.com
Still Pond Distillers
1575 Still Pond Rd., Arlington, GA 39813
The owners had to jump through some legal hoops, but even being located in a dry county in the Bible Belt hasn’t stopped Still Pond Distillers from successfully (and legally) producing classic corn-based moonshine.
Virginia
Belle Isle Craft Spirits
615 Maury St., Richmond, VA 23224
Moonshine isn’t just for country folk. Located in the heart of Richmond, Belle Isle Craft Spirits offers unusual flavors like ruby red grapefruit and honey habanero.
Belmont Farm Distillery
13490 Cedar Run Rd., Culpeper, VA 22701
Makers of Climax Moonshine, these are the guys you may have seen on TV. Flavors include cherry, peach and butterscotch.
Virginia Sweetwater Distillery
760 Walkers Creek Rd., Marion, VA 24354
They’re confident enough in their moonshine that they only make one. The recipe was passed down from generation to generation, and while you’re at the tasting room you can also sample their whisky.
Call Family Distillers
1611 Industrial Dr. Wilkesboro, VA 28697
The owner comes from a long line of moonshiners, and he proudly displays his father’s 1930s car at the distillery. In addition to the classic 101-proof moonshine, varieties include apple pie, strawberry and cherry.
“I like just drinkin’ the cherry straight, it’s extremely smooth, and I’ll also make cherry Coke out of my cherry moonshine. Coffee and the apple pie [flavor] is real good, and with the strawberry, instead of using vodka or rum, you can use it to make a strawberry daiquiri. With the clear, you can soak cherries in it, leave it overnight, and then dip ‘em in chocolate.” --Brian Call, founder/owner
Five Mile Mountain Distillery
489 Floyd Hwy S., Floyd, VA 24091
They were so serious about making moonshine that they had the local liquor laws changed so they could open up the tasting room.
facebook.com/fivemilemountaindistillery
“We’ve made sangria, mixing a bottle of our moonshine with a bottle of white wine and some fruit juice. It also mixes really well with lemonade, which seems to be a favorite, or ginger ale, soda water or fruit juice of any kind. It’s also very good on the rocks--that’s the way I recommend it.” --Kerry Underwood, founder/owner
West Virginia
Appalachian Moonshine
3875 Cedar Lakes Dr., Ripley, WV 25271
Founded by two former coal miners, Appalachian Moonshine is all things West Virginia. There’s the classic, of course, plus flavors like strawberry lemonade and paw-paw.
Black Draft Distillery
1140 Island Rd., Martinsburg, WV 25405
Made with corn grown less than 10 miles away, it doesn’t get much more local than this. And hey, the fact that they make coffee-flavored moonshine means it’s acceptable to drink in the morning, right?
Bloomery SweetShine
16357 Charles Town Rd., Charles Town, WV 25414
Cherry walnut Coke float? Yes, please. Bloomery Sweetshine offers 10 different flavors, including black walnut, which they recommend mixing with fresh cherries, vanilla ice cream and Coke for a sweet, boozy twist on a classic treat.
Hatfield & McCoy Moonshine
297 James Ave., Gilbert, WV 25621
They call it the “Drink of the Devil,” and the recipe is 150 years old. It’s 90-proof, and flavors include blackberry cobbler, apple pie and peach.
Heston Farm/ Pinchgut Hollow Distillery
1602 Tulip Lane Fairmont WV 26554 US
The distillery is located on a farm, and with the restaurant, brewery and winery nearby, you can make a whole weekend out of it. The moonshine is inspired by the old-school recipes, but this particular one is made from buckwheat.