Tennessee`s alcohol laws are somewhat unusual, as they vary greatly from county to county. In addition to so-called “dry,” “wet,” and “wet” counties, Tennessee also enacted new laws in 2009 that changed the distillation landscape. One of the biggest effects of this legislation has been a legal moon explosion in the state. In retrospect, the glow always seemed to find a higher cause. When settlers arrived in Appalachia, they managed to stock up on whiskey (okay, not entirely altruistic). During prohibition, he responded to the demand of a market that had been closed. In the 20th century, as infrastructure developed to serve people with specialized skills in cities, rural communities fell into oblivion. The moonshiner network was more important than ever because it served a higher purpose. When explaining the general process, he sometimes smiles as if remembering something important. Then he leans a little towards me to explain how it should be done, as if revealing a secret that he and I are the only people who know.
If moonshine itself is his forbidden art, it is the ingredients that are his signature brushstrokes. As Big Liquor continues its expansion in the moonlight, illegal immobilists remain silent, continue to produce and remember where the real recipe comes from. Bender believes that legal things will eventually prevail: “What we benefit from in the legal industry is quality control. You get a consistent moonlight experience every time you open the jar. It will always taste the same. He will always have the same proof. You always know what you`re getting. And therein lies the problem with laws like those around moonshine. This chain of events is not uncommon. As soon as the word of profit comes into play, those with influence become aware of it. The process begins with the discovery of a product made by a disadvantaged community, making it a commodity, and then making it available to the public under the guise of originality or, in this case, honor. But to be as transparent as moonshine itself, be warned.
If you buy a liter of Sutton`s moonshine popcorn from a liquor store, its technique is not the one that lingers on your lips. His machine left this world in the same Ford Fairlane in which he committed suicide. And the very law that killed him is the one that allows big business to profit from his legacy. While it is legal to possess a still, the actual use to distill alcohol, especially if there is an intention to avoid taxes, is a crime punishable by a fine of up to $10,000, up to five years in prison, or both under 26 U.S.C. 5602. Those considering moonlight production should consider the cost of the home distillation permit before deciding whether or not to go this route. Do not sell your alcohol under the name “Tennessee Moonshine” unless the liquor was distilled in Tennessee. Brian believes in the strength and authenticity of small lots. So you can control the quality. Meanwhile, Jim works with nearly 100 pounds of corn chemistry at a time.
This is where a bit of intergenerational confusion comes in. Can you really get a high-quality moonshine from such a vast and unregulated process? Know: Moonshine Jim is not a drunkard. He loves his product. He`s known to meander through a twelve-piece noodle when Sunday morning turns into an evening, but he`s not drunk, and he`s not one to show up. Billy Jo glances under a baseball cap and his light brown eyes focus as he explains where Moonshine Jim is. Behind the barrel of oil, it produces a glass of moonlight. He takes a sip and hands it to Angela, the woman sitting next to him in a folding chair. This is how Bender sees Ole Smoky`s presence in East Tennessee.
He explains: “Most [of the people we hire] have had moonlight in the past, and they`re steeped in this moonlight culture. Not just moonlight culture, but Appalachian culture. You know, I have people working for us and I need subtitles to understand what they`re saying. They are so much woods. At the top of the hill, attached to a stand of chickens and rabbits, there is a small shed. Unlike ninety-five percent of the other stalls at the flea market, this one has a screen door with a sign saying “Burglars and thieves watch for flying objects” and a drawing of a gun pointed directly at its reader. If you want to buy a chicken, you should go to the other side. This is an entrance for friends. Friends looking for something they can`t (really) get at a liquor store: authentic, old-fashioned Tennessee moonlight. The shed is usually home to one of the few people who make and sell it in the authentic and old-fashioned Tennessee way. Brian also has some peculiarities in his process. But unlike Jim`s exterior style, Brian does everything in his basement.
Part of the change that took place in the late 1970s, when the ATF came under new management, is that many moonshiners brought their spacecraft underground underground. Installing permanent stills in forests became riskier as patrols increased for those who violated distillation laws. At this point in our conversation, Brian also relaxed. Maneuvering between composure and moderation, leaning back in a recliner to lean forward carefully as he explains the government`s methods: “All the about the ATF or the sheriff flying a helicopter. This is real. They`re looking for you again. Because it`s all about money. The government wants their damn money.
In the short time I was allowed to spend with Jim, his reaction now seems completely predictable; He is absolutely not worried. He says that if you`re truly authentic, your moonshine should naturally be of high quality, as no confident Stiller will allow his product into the community if it`s a crappy product. And the crappy product is not good. A dangerous product is worse. There is an old legend that says that a bad load of moonlight will blind you. That`s. A genre. After a little talk about the horror of Tennessee football this year, he anticipates the conversation by saying, “I don`t even do moonshine.
I make “alternative fuel” for your lawn mower. In fact, I have an alternative fuel manufacturing license, and I do things to get you to work your lawn mower. If you drink it, it`s up to you. It is not for me to decide. Brian is clearly smart and clearly a smartace. He proudly wears this badge as one of the new guys who has found a loophole that frees him from the laws and regulations that have plagued the Moonshiners for decades. If the government nods and claims that inedible ethanol production is a concession to moonshiners, Brian will immediately nod.