alleghany

Most all of the whiskey makers are dead. Early on it was much easier to convert grain to whiskey and transport it than is was the grain it was made from. The quality of the whiskey was pretty good then.
Later on during the prohibition period, the whiskey trade really took off. Most of the product made in this area went North. The trade was so good that it was said that every official in every county from here to Chicago was bought off. The quality of the product declined, and was made by folks with little or no skills from anything that would ferment. The business flourished through the forties and it was said that there was a still in on every branch in the county. It was backbreaking work and if you ever worked a place or saw the condition of the operation, you would have been reluctant to consume the product. Most of this was known as rotgut. After the decline, a few of folks who knew how, produced some decent whiskey which was again made from grain and fruit.

Here I thought the moonshine was up in White Top......

Know someone who still makes it or sells it, not sure. will contact him about this new website. Only a few months ago I tasted some he had in a fruit jar and was goooood! I sold him a bunch of fruit jars. He made out like it was for canning. He is in his 70's. Will tell him to look at GoWilkes.

I remember when very young and we lived in Martinsville, VA, my stepdad made what we called 'home brew.' I can barely remember him making it and putting it in bottles, not jars and he had a device that he would use to cap the bottles. That was 60 some years ago and he has been gone for a number of years.

Know someone who swore he saw Bigfoot on Old 16 N. many years ago close to some property I still own. Have never seen it but wonder if some people dress up lke Bigfoot to scare people away from their liquor stills so they won't be found out? Not saying there isn't a real Bigfoot.

Well I see that went over at least two peoples heads.

I guess I've been a little slack on drunk posting fests lately. Jason, I may have to fix this error.

Moonshine is locally made grain alcohol that has not had any taxes paid on it. If it can be sold legally, it is not moonshine. Pet peeve of mine; continue as you were.

A term for non tax paid liquor.

What's moonshine?

I went to a church revival once. The first thing the minister from Taylorsville said was "Many a family would have starved to death had it not been for bootlegging. That's all I have to say about that."

He, then, preached his message.

exactly

People don't realize that before the poultry industry came along that liquor money was vital to the county. It fed a lot of families and even wound up in Church collection plates. Most of the old timers farmed or cut timber and counted on shine to make ends meet

Used to work with a man who was a mechanic, like his father had been..For the time his dad was one of the few in their community that had a portable welder in his workshop..Plenty of times someone would come by late in the day or "edge of dark" wanting something welded or brazed..He said what seemed strange was when someone would come by 9, 10 o'clock at night ? Sometimes when school was out, Dad would let me go with him on a "repair" job..The bootlegger had a still ready to be soldered up to start using..One person would go over to a certain house on hwy. 18 and see if 1 black Ford was at home and stay near by to see if it left home Load up the welder, and off we'd go to the still site..Of course very dark cept for lights and lanterns and when daddy cranked that welder sort of noisy..But when he would "strike an arc" with that welder, it was so bright it looked like the whole world was on fire it was so awfully bright ..No concern about neighbors that might see..No concern bout deputies..Daddy never got caught...

Will be glad to try to contribute

Now is the time, GW. This history is dying away...every day.

... videos would also be great, if someone doesn't want to write!

I have a good friend from Laos who moved here in 2000, and he's very interested in the concept of moonshine! they have a version in Laos made from rice that's similar, but a lot more harsh than Wilkes-county moonshine.

I know people strictly guard their family recipes, but I would be tickled to see a few get shared along the way, too You know, for educational purposes...

I will always remember the stories from Sam Cabe Retired ATF better known as old blue and my dad, They became friends late in life and used to give each other grief about the good ole days when they were on the opposite sides of the fence, These debates usually occurred while a fruit jar was being passed around. We were on the way to Nebraska on a bird hunting trip and Sam knew my dad had a half gallon of apple brandy for our host. We stopped at a rest area and he asked my dad if he could have a taste of it, Sam took a big swallow and got strangled and spit his upper plate back into the jar. Thought my dad was going to cry when we poured the brandy out to give Sam back his teeth. They cussed each other all the time but it was nice seeing old enemies wind up as good friends later in life. I miss them two contrary old coots

I think I have a good "Wilkes County" story about how for the most of us making moonshine was "accepted"?

Wow! You got me thinking about, and missing Ray Austin. The stories that man took to his grave would beat any reality TV show on TV.

The recent talk about moonshine got me thinking. Which is always dangerous.

Post some ideas here on what you'd like to see written, and whether you would want to write it, and maybe we can make it happen