Moonshiners (2011–…): Season 6, Episode 1 - Whiskey Rebellion - full transcript
It's moonshine season in Appalachia. Josh has hit the ground running but working solo can lead to catastrophic results. And former outlaw Tim Smith is training his son JT to help run his legal outfit.
ROAD.
>> [ BLEEP ]
♪♪
Digger: YOU KNOW, THERE'S
SOMETHING ABOUT MAKING LIQUOR
THAT GETS INTO YOU BLOOD.
YOU CAN'T GET A TRANSFUSION
AND GET IT OUT.
IT'S THE HISTORY.
IT'S THE ARTISAN CRAFTSMANSHIP
THAT'S INVOLVED IN IT.
Ramsey:
IT FRETS ME TERRIBLY TO THINK
THAT THIS TRADITION
MAY DISAPPEAR IN THE FUTURE.
I'M NOT ABOUT THAT.
Tim: YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU PUT
THE SEED IN THE GROUND
AND COOK THE MASH FROM
THAT SEED OF CORN THAT YOU PUT,
THAT'S ABOUT AS HANDCRAFTED
AS YOU CAN GET.
Josh: WITH THE MOONSHINER'S WAY
OF LIFE, WE'RE JUST PROVING
OUR CULTURE,
OUR HERITAGE,
OUR FAMILY TRADITIONS.
AND EVERY TIME I MAKE LIQUOR,
I GET BETTER AND BETTER
AND BETTER
AND BETTER AND BETTER.
Mark: YOU KNOW,
IT'S JUST PART OF LIFE.
I'LL DO THIS TILL I DIE.
Narrator: ACROSS APPALACHIA,
THE WARMTH OF SPRING
AND THE GLOW OF STILL FIRES
MEANS ONE THING --
SHINE SEASON IS BACK.
BUT THIS YEAR,
THOSE DETERMINED TO ADVANCE
THE CENTURIES-OLD CRAFT
ARE FIGHTING FOR ITS SURVIVAL.
IT'S NICE TO BE HUNTING FOR
A STILL SITE DRIVING A TRUCK.
IN TENNESSEE, TWO SHINERS
SEARCH FOR THE STARTING LINE.
-ONE THING I DON'T LIKE.
-WHAT'S THAT?
THEM RED PAINT MARKS.
Ramsey:
TIME IS CATCHING UP WITH US.
UH, WE NEED
TO ALREADY BE STARTED.
Tim: JUST A PROBLEM
TRYING TO DO EXPANSION
AND FINISH THE ORDER
GOING TO POLAND.
Narrator:
VIRGINIA'S NUMBER-ONE DISTILLER
REACHES OUT
TO HIS OLD RIGHT HAND.
THOUGHT YOU WERE
SITTING IN JAIL.
I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN
GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE.
Josh: WHAT THE HELL?
Narrator: AND ON THE PIEDMONT,
ONE SHINER'S PLANS
GO UP IN SMOKE.
Josh:
[BLEEP] STASH HOUSE!
♪ NO ONE CAN HOLD ME DOWN ♪
♪ OR MAKE ME CHANGE MY WAYS ♪
♪ SO DON'T WASTE YOUR BREATH
SAYING ♪
♪ CRIME NEVER PAYS ♪
♪ WE'RE GOING FOR A RIDE ♪
♪ RUNNING TO SURVIVE ♪
♪ AND LIVING OUTSIDE THE LAW ♪
♪ WE'RE LIVING
OUTSIDE THE LAW ♪
Man: THIS IS HOW
WE MAKE THE MOONSHINE!
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT
BEING OUT IN THE WOODS.
I LOVE TO HEAR THE BIRDS
CHIRPING AND THE --
THE BEES ARE FLYING AROUND
AND EVERYTHING'S COMING ALIVE
AND TURNING GREEN.
THERE'S SOMETHING REALLY JUST
ALMOST MAGICAL ABOUT BEING ABLE
TO GO INTO THE WOODS
AND TAKE A CREEK, SOME GRAINS,
SOME SUGAR AND SOME YEAST
AND TURN THAT INTO ALCOHOL
AND THEN TURN THAT INTO MONEY.
MAKING MOONSHINE'S
MORE THAN A JOB FOR ME.
IT'S ONLY A JOB
IF YOU HATE IT, RIGHT?
SO WHAT WE GOT GOING ON
IS ALL THESE BARRELS HERE
ARE FULL OF MASH RIGHT NOW.
THEY'RE ABOUT READY TO RUN.
WE'RE MAKING SOME
NEW MASH OVER HERE.
I GOT AN OPERATION THAT'S JUST
ROLLING, ROLLING, ROLLING.
SO YOU FINISH ONE BATCH,
YOU START ON ANOTHER.
Narrator: EVERY YEAR, A TOUGH
BREED OF MEN AND WOMEN
FROM ACROSS THE SOUTH
HEAD INTO THE HILLS
TO MIX GRAINS, WATER,
AND SUGAR INTO AMERICA'S
ORIGINAL SPIRIT.
THE LAW CALLS THEM CRIMINALS,
BUT IN APPALACHIA,
THEY'RE KNOWN AS MOONSHINERS.
A CENTURY AGO, THE PEAKS
AND HILLTOPS
OF AMERICA'S SOUTHERN HEARTLAND
WERE DOTTED BY STILL FIRES.
TODAY, MANY OF THOSE LIGHTS
HAVE DIED OUT,
AS FEWER AND FEWER TAKE UP
THE AGE-OLD TRADITION.
BUT RATHER THAN SEE THE ANCIENT
ART SNUFFED OUT FOREVER,
A NEW GENERATION,
DEDICATED TO THE CRAFT,
ARE FIGHTING TO KEEP THE FIRES
LIT AND THE WHISKEY FLOWING.
♪♪
ANYBODY EVER TELLS YOU LIQUOR
IS AN, UH, EASY JOB,
THEY'RE FULL OF CRAP.
THEY AIN'T NEVER MADE NONE.
I THINK IT'S TOUGH
TO LEARN A NEW TRADE.
IT -- IT'S GOOD
TO HAVE A -- A MENTOR.
BARNEY BARNWELL PRETTY MUCH
TAUGHT ME
EVERYTHING I KNOW
ABOUT MAKING LIQUOR.
HE WAS A LEGEND
IN THESE PARTS.
AND THE FIRST THING HE SAID WAS,
"BOY, YOU DON'T WANT TO
SET FOOT OUT ON THIS ROAD.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH WORK
THAT'S GONNA BE?"
HE WAS RIGHT.
BUT HE'S GONE NOW.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME
TO KEEP CARRYING ON
THE TRADITION
OF MAKING MOONSHINE.
WOW!
THAT'S HOT ENOUGH TO MAKE MASH.
THAT'S BOILING HOT.
Narrator:
BECAUSE MASH WON'T FERMENT
IN TEMPERATURES BELOW
50 DEGREES,
SHINE SEASON TYPICALLY LASTS
FROM SPRING TO FALL.
BUT IN SOUTH CAROLINA,
JOSH AVOIDED
OLD MAN WINTER'S BITE
WITH AN INSULATED STILL SITE.
Josh: IT'S SPRING NOW.
SO I'M GONNA TAKE THE INSULATION
OFF OF THESE MASH BARRELS
SO IT DON'T GET TOO HOT
AND KILL THE YEAST.
BUILDING THIS DAMN MASH ROOM
WAS THE BEST THING
I EVER DID FOR MY BUSINESS
BECAUSE I THINK I MADE 400
OR SO GALLONS OF LIQUOR
OVER THE WINTER,
BUT THIS YEAR I EXPECT
TO MAKE 1,000 GALLONS
WITHOUT ANY QUESTION.
THAT'S -- THAT'S BETTER
THAN I'VE EVER DONE BEFORE.
BUT PRETTY HARD
TO DO IT BY MYSELF.
Narrator: LAST YEAR...
Josh:
THIS IS GONNA BE KILLER.
...THE HIDDEN BUNKER SHIELDED
JOSH AND BILL FROM THE LAW.
THEY'RE LIABLE TO NEVER
EVEN SEE THIS THING.
[BLEEP]
Narrator: BUT IT COULDN'T
PROTECT THEM FROM EACH OTHER.
AFTER SPLITTING WITH BILL,
JOSH STRUGGLED ON ALONE.
BUT THANKS TO AN OLD
FAMILY RECIPE
AND HIS WINTERIZED BUNKER,
JOSH'S SOLO VENTURE TOOK FLIGHT.
DONE.
THAT'S THE LAST ONE.
Narrator: BY MAKING SHINE
THROUGH THE WINTER,
JOSH IS ALMOST HALFWAY TOWARD
HIS 1,000-GALLON SEASON GOAL.
AND HE'S NOT LETTING UP.
RIGHT NOW I'M JUST
TAKING THE HOT WATER
AND PUTTING IT
IN MY EMPTY MASH BARRELS.
TO MAKE MASH, YOU GOT TO TAKE
YOUR HOT WATER THAT YOU STEAM,
POUR IT IN YOUR BARRELS,
POUR YOUR GRAINS
AND YOUR SUGARS
IN THERE, LET THEM DISSOLVE.
AND THEN WHEN IT DIES
DOWN A LITTLE BIT,
THE TEMPERATURE DIES DOWN,
YOU'RE GON' POUR
YOUR YEAST IN IT.
OKAY.
-WELL, THAT'S A LIVE WIRE.
-WE HAVE TO STEAL THIS...
YEAH.
WE GOT A STEAL THAT'S THING
'CAUSE IT AIN'T GOT
NO KEY, SEE.
AND YOU GOT TO TOUCH
THESE WIRES TOGETHER
RIGHT HERE TO GET IT GOING.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Narrator: AT AMERICA'S OLDEST
CRAFT DISTILLERY,
VIRGINIA'S LEADING MOONSHINER
IS PAVING THE WAY
FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
COME ON BACK.
COME ON BACK.
THAT'S GOOD RIGHT THERE.
ALL RIGHT.
WATCH YOUR FINGERS THERE.
THERE YOU GO.
SO THIS IS THE WAY
YOU MAKE GOOD FRESH MOONSHINE,
YOU GOT TO HAVE FRESH --
FRESH CORN.
AND THE CORN STAYS THERE
TO KEEP IT DRY.
YOU ONLY GRIND IT
WHEN YOU'RE READY TO USE IT.
Tim: TODAY'S MY SON, J.T.'S,
FIRST DAY AT THE LEGAL
DISTILLERY.
HE WAS A LITTLE KID
A LONG TIME AGO
WHEN I WAS RUNNING IT
ILLEGAL THROUGH THE WOODS.
AND HE REMEMBER THOSE DAYS.
AND THAT'S ABOUT ALL HE KNOWS.
IT'S A LOT MORE WORK
THAN IT LOOK LIKE, AIN'T IT?
MY DAD, HE PASSED
ON THE ILLEGAL SIDE
OF MOONSHINE BUSINESS ONTO ME.
BUT MY SON IS
GETTING UP OF AGE NOW
AND GETTING INTERESTED
IN THE MOONSHINING BUSINESS.
SO IT'S GONNA TAKE
A LITTLE WHILE.
BUT, UH, I NEED J.T. TO COME IN.
SO HE CAN CARRY ON
THE LEGACY OF OUR NAME.
YOU KNOW,
BACK IN THE WOODS,
WE USED TO CALL IT
THE STILL SITE.
SO THIS IS
LIKE THE STILL SITE.
YOU GOT YOUR STILL.
-OKAY.
-AND YOU GOT THE DOUBLER.
-OKAY.
-AND THEN THIS IS A CONDENSER.
-MM-HMM.
INSIDE THAT TANK, THAT HAS
A COPPER COIL INSIDE OF IT.
AND IT'S COMING
OUT RIGHT HERE.
IT'S A WHOLE NEW ASPECT
OF MAKING MOONSHINE.
I MEAN, YOU DO EVERYTHING
BY THE BOOKS.
IT'S A LITTLE INTIMIDATING.
BUT I'M GONNA TRY TO KEEP
THE FAMILY TRADITION ALIVE.
AND THIS IS
THE WHOLE OPERATION.
IT'S BIGGER.
THAT'S FOR SURE.
-SO YOU THINK YOU CAN RUN IT?
-WELL, I GOT AN IDEA.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, TOMORROW.
BUT MAYBE IN THE FUTURE.
Narrator: BUT IF TIM CAN'T
FINISH BUILDING HIS DISTILLERY,
THERE WILL BE
NO LEGACY TO PASS ON.
LAST YEAR, TIM PLANNED
A MAJOR EXPANSION
OF HIS SHINE BUSINESS.
BUT CONSTRUCTION WAS SIDELINED
AFTER HE LANDED A BIG ORDER
FROM A POLISH DISTRIBUTOR.
-YOU WANT TO BUY IT?
-10,000 BOXES.
Narrator: TIM AND CHUCK
WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK
TO MEET THE DEADLINE.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
TIM SAYS YOU BETTER HURRY UP.
BUT WHEN THE DUST SETTLED,
THEY WERE WORLD CHAMPIONS.
OH, TIM!
Tim: ALL RIGHT,
LET'S LET 'EM ROLL.
SO THESE ARE THE EMPTY BOTTLES.
AND WE'RE GONNA FILL 'EM.
CLIMAX MOONSHINE
IS AS BUSY AS IT'S EVER BEEN.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE SELLING ALL OVER
THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
THAT I BUILD THIS,
UH, EXPANSION
AND KIND OF HAVE
MY OWN DISTILLERY.
WELL, RIGHT NOW I GOT
THE SECOND ORDER
GOING TO POLAND,
6,000 CASES,
UH, WHICH WOULD PAY
FOR THE EXPANSION.
SO RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO
IS WE'RE GONNA PUMP
THIS MASH INTO OUR STILL.
THIS IS KIND OF HARD
TO DO BY MYSELF.
BUT WE'RE GONNA
MAKE IT WORK ANYWAY.
A LITTLE POWER...
OH, YEAH,
WE'RE PUMPING MASH.
Narrator: AS THE SUN SETS
IN SOUTH CAROLINA,
JOSH'S STILL IS PREPPED
AND READY TO GO.
THAT'S SWEET STUFF RIGHT THERE.
ALL RIGHT.
WE SHOULD BE READY
TO LIGHT THIS BABY.
HAVE A LITTLE GAS.
THERE WE GO.
GOOD DEAL.
Narrator:
MOST MOONSHINE STILLS
HAVE THE SAME
BASIC COMPONENTS --
THE BURNER, THE POT, THE DOUBLER
AND THE CONDENSER.
THE POT IS FILLED
WITH MASH AND HEATED.
ONCE IT REACHES
173 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,
THE ALCOHOL
IN THE MASH VAPORIZES
AND RISES INTO THE CAP.
FROM THERE IT TRAVELS
THROUGH A COPPER PIPE
CALLED THE ARM
AND INTO A BARREL KNOWN
AS THE DOUBLER.
IN THE DOUBLER,
EXTRA WATER CONDENSES
OUT OF THE ALCOHOL VAPOR
ONTO THE SIDES OF THE BARREL,
DOUBLING THE VAPOR'S
PURITY OR PROOF.
THE PURIFIED VAPOR THEN TRAVELS
TO A COPPER COIL
SET IN A BARREL
OF COOL RUNNING WATER
KNOWN AS THE CONDENSER OR WORM.
IT'S HERE WHERE
THE ALCOHOL VAPOR CONDENSES
INTO LIQUID MOONSHINE.
IT'S JUST A LOT OF WORK
FOR ONE PERSON.
IT WON'T BE LONG,
THIS ONE WILL BE READY.
WE'RE ABOUT TO START
STEAMING HERE BEFORE TOO LONG.
I'VE GOT TO KEEP THIS WORM
BARREL FILLED UP.
IT'S GOT A SLOW LEAK.
[ DOG BARKING ]
[BLEEP]
CUTIE-PIE!
CUTIE-PIE!
CUTIE-PIE!
CUTIE-PIE!
THERE'S A TON OF COYOTES
RUNNING AROUND HERE.
CUTIE-PIE!
COME ON, GIRL.
COME ON.
MAN...
Narrator:
THIS SEASON ON "MOONSHINERS"...
WE READY TO GO?
SON OF A BITCH, YOU.
[ GLASS SHATTERS ]
Ramsey: IF WE CAN TAKE IT
A STEP FARTHER,
MAYBE THAT WILL BE OUR LEGACY.
AND THIS CRANBERRY
MAY BE THE NEXT BIG THING.
SHOOT.
David: WE'RE GONNA MAKE THE BEST
THAT ANYBODY IN LOUISIANA'S
EVER SEEN THIS YEAR.
-WHOO!
TRYING A NEW LIQUOR
CALLED ABSINTHE.
[ RETCHING ]
-AT LEAST IT DIDN'T KILL YOU.
-WELL, WE DON'T KNOW YET.
Ramsey: WE'RE KIND OF OUT
OF OUR ELEMENT DOWN HERE.
THESE PEOPLE HAVE MONEY.
AND THEY WANT SOMETHING
THAT NOBODY ELSE CAN HAVE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
YOUR MOONSHINE'S WORTH?
-$500 A GALLON.
-WELCOME TO DUBLIN.
YOU JUST DRIVING ON
THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD.
Tim: IRELAND IS YEARS BEFORE
AMERICA IN MAKING THE MOONSHINE.
J.B. IS THE ONLY PERSON
IN THE WORLD I KNOW OF
THAT CAN OUTSHINE ME AND MARK.
IF I DON'T FIND A PARTNER,
THEN I CAN'T MAKE ANY SHINE.
WHAT'S SHAKING?
THERE HE IS.
THERE HE IS.
YOU DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH
YOU REALLY NEED PEOPLE
UNTIL YOU'RE BLOODY,
LAYING IN THE ROAD.
Josh: SOMEBODY STOLE
THE [BLEEP] STILL!
I CAN'T DO IT NO MORE.
I'M DONE.
Josh: CUTIE-PIE!
CUTIE-PIE!
THERE'S A TON OF COYOTES
RUNNING AROUND HERE.
COME ON, CUTIE-PIE!
CUTIE-PIE!
COME ON, GIRL.
COME ON.
CUTIE-PIE!
I'M GON' BEAT YOUR HIND END!
COME ON!
COME ON, CUTIE-PIE.
COME ON, BABY GIRL.
WHAT IN THE HECK
ARE YOU DOING RIGHT HERE?
I'VE BEEN LOOKING
ALL OVER FOR YOU.
WHEN DADDY CALLS YOU,
YOU NEED TO BE COMING.
GIVE ME A SCARE.
COME ON, CUTIE-PIE.
WHAT THE HELL?
GOD ALMIGHTY.
SON OF A BITCH!
I JUST LOST [BLEEP]
THIS ENTIRE RUN.
[BLEEP]
[ GRUNTS ]
IT'S EMPTY.
THERE'S NO WATER IN HERE.
Narrator: JOSH FAILED TO ADD
WATER TO THE CONDENSER BARREL.
WITHOUT AN OPERATING COIL
TO LIQUEFY THE ALCOHOL
FROM THE STILL,
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
IN POTENTIAL SHINE PROFITS
ARE VANISHING INTO THIN AIR.
THIS IS A BUNCH OF [BLEEP]
Ramsey: WELL, IF IT'S ANY
MORE HOTTER AND HUMID
THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR,
I DON'T KNOW IF ME AND THE
OLD BIG ONES CAN STAND IT.
Digger: GOING BACK TO MAKING
THE LIQUOR,
IT'S, UH, IT'S TOOK A LITTLE
OF THIS LARD OFF OF ME.
THERE AIN'T DANGER OF ME
OF LOSING NO WEIGHT.
Narrator:
IN THE TENNESSEE HILLS,
TWO SHINERS ARE SEARCHING
FOR A PLACE TO SET UP SHOP.
Ramsey: MOONSHINE, TO ME, IT
JUST MEANS A SENSE OF FREEDOM.
WE DON'T REALLY THINK OF IT
AS BREAKING THE LAW.
WE THINK OF IT
AS DOING SOMETHING
THAT'S OUR GOD-GIVEN
RIGHT TO DO.
YOU GOT A COUPLE
OF SITES IN MIND?
I HAVE ONE IN PARTICULAR
THAT I REALLY LIKE.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW
HOW OLD EXACTLY I WAS
WHEN I STARTED MOONSHINING.
BUT THEN, OF COURSE,
WHEN I BECAME FRIENDS WITH,
UH, THE LATE POPCORN SUTTON,
YOU KNOW,
HE WAS TRULY A LEGEND.
Popcorn: THIS IS GON' BE
SOME OF THE FINEST LIQUOR
TO EVER BEEN MADE IN THE WILD.
Digger: OVER THE YEARS,
POPCORN BROUGHT ME IN
AND SHOWED ME PRETTY MUCH
EVERYTHING FROM START TO FINISH.
HE TAUGHT ME IT'S NOT THE MONEY,
IT'S TAKING THE --
THE CRAFT TO ANOTHER LEVEL.
Narrator:
FOR THESE VETERAN CRAFTSMEN,
BREAKING BOUNDARIES
IS PART OF THE JOB.
LAST SEASON,
POPCORN SUTTON'S DISCIPLES
BET BIG ON FLAVORS,
STARTING WITH HELP FROM
THE GRAND OLE MAN OF SHINE...
YEAH!
...THEY PRODUCED APPLE RYE,
THEN WENT ON
TO PRODUCE HAZELNUT RUM.
THIS IS THE TASTE ME
AND DIGGER WAS LOOKING FOR.
IT'S NICE TO BE HUNTING FOR
A STILL SITE DRIVING A TRUCK.
YEAH, IT IS.
OLD-TIMERS HUNTED
FROM RIDING THE MULE.
WE SET OURSELVES
A VERY LOFTY GOAL
WITH 900 GALLONS THIS SEASON.
BUT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING
TO LEAVE A LEGACY.
SO WE'RE BREAKING TRADITION
BY TRYING THESE NEW FLAVORS.
BUT, BOTTOM LINE, YOU KNOW,
IT ALL STARTS WITH US
WITH CORN WHISKEY.
WE GOT PLENTY
OF COVER RIGHT HERE.
I TELL YOU WHAT, DIGGER,
PRETTY GOOD-LOOKING SPOT.
Ramsey: FOR A REALLY GOOD
STILL LOCATION,
FIRST AND FOREMOST IS, UH,
THE SECURITY AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
OH, MAN, THAT'S
A REAL STREAM OF WATER.
AND THEN YOU GOT TO HAVE VERY,
VERY GOOD WATER SUPPLY.
YOU GOT TO HAVE WATER
FOR MASH MAKING.
YOU GOT TO HAVE WATER
FOR THE CONDENSER.
BOY, THAT WATER'S
COLD, COLD.
SO SOMEWHERE UPSTREAM,
THERE SOME GOOD SPRINGS
A-FEEDING THIS.
MAN, THAT'S DANDY WATER.
I JUST SEE ONE THING
I DON'T LIKE.
WHAT'S THAT?
THEM RED PAINT MARKS.
-IS THAT, UH...
-THAT'S A PARK SERVICE BOUNDARY.
THAT'S A PARK SERVICE
BOUNDARY, AIN'T IT?
YEAH. WE CAN'T HAVE
NO PART OF THAT.
YOU DON'T WANT TO BE
ON FORESTRY LAND
OR EVEN NOWHERE CLOSE TO IT.
NO NEED WASTING
NO MORE TIME HERE.
NOW, LOOK, WE GOT TO
FLIP 'EM OVER, YA KNOW?
-YOU READY?
-I'M GOING THIS WAY.
HEADS UP.
JUST FLIP IT OVER.
-WHAT WE DOING?
-JUST FLIP IT OVER.
YOU'RE FLIPPING IT.
Narrator:
OVER IN VIRGINIA,
TIM IS BUILDING THE FUTURE
ON THE FOUNDATION
HE LAID FOR THE NEW
CLIMAX MOONSHINE DISTILLERY.
OH, TIM,
THAT'S HEAVY FOR ME.
Tim: WE'VE BEEN GOING
INTERNATIONAL.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT I GET
THIS OTHER DISTILLERY BUILT.
BUT A NEW EXPANSION'S
GONNA BE PROBABLY, YOU KNOW,
DOUBLE THE SIZE OF WHAT
CHUCK'S WORKING WITH RIGHT NOW.
AND WE PUTTING A 4,000-GALLON,
UH, POT STILL IN IT.
I BORROWED A COUPLE HUNDRED
THOUSAND FOR THE EXPANSION.
UH, AS SOON AS I SHIP
6,000 CASES INTO POLAND,
I'LL PAY THE BANK, ALL GRAVY.
ALL RIGHT, NOW SET IT IN.
ALL RIGHT.
NOW, IT'S TAKING A --
A -- A WHOLE LOT
TO JUST GET
THIS EXPANSION DONE RIGHT NOW.
AND ME AND CHUCK
CAN'T GET THIS DONE.
BUT I KNOW -- I KNOW ANOTHER GUY
THAT KNOWS A LITTLE BIT
MORE THAN WE DO ABOUT CARPENTRY.
I SENT J.T. TO GO FIND HIM.
AND WE CAN GET HIM.
I KNOW HE CAN GET IT DONE.
NAIL IT RIGHT THERE.
AS THAT COMES OVER,
THE OTHER PERSON WILL BE
OVER THERE AND WE CATCH IT.
HUH, WELL, I CAN GET
THE FLOOR JACK
AND JUST PICK IT RIGHT UP.
TRUST ME, CHUCK.
TRUST ME.
Chuck: I'M TELLING YOU,
IT'S HOT OUT HERE.
UH, WE'RE SWEATING
A LOT LIKE THE DICKENS.
I'M ABOUT TO GET HEAT STROKE.
WE NEED HELP.
WELL, WE GOT TO GET A --
A BOARD TO GO HERE.
-OKAY.
-SO WE NEED, LIKE, A L--
LONG 2x4, MAYBE TWO.
AND WE GOT TO LIFT
THAT END UP ON FIRST
AND THEN PUSH THIS UP.
SOMEBODY'S GOT TO BE
ON THAT SIDE TO PULL THAT.
-TIM, LOOK.
-HEY, GUYS.
-HOW'S IT GOING, CHUCK?
-I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU.
-GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO, BUD.
-I'M GLAD J.T. FOUND YOU.
I WASN'T DOING NOTHING
BUT SITTING AROUND.
WELL, I THOUGHT
YOU WAS SITTING IN JAIL?
I WAS FOR A LITTLE BIT.
THEY LET ME OUT.
THEY TURNED ME LOOSE!
Tim: WE GOT TO LIFT
THAT END UP ON FIRST
AND THEN PUSH THIS UP.
-TIM, LOOK.
-HUH?
GLAD TO YOU SEE.
-GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO, BUD.
-I'M GLAD YOU COME BY.
-MAN, I'M GLAD I'M ABLE TO.
Tim: ACTUALLY, UH, YOU KNOW,
I GOT THIS CRAZY IDEA,
UH, THAT I COULD GET TICKLE
TO COME BACK TO WORK FOR ME.
I SENT J.T. TO GO FIND HIM
AND LET HIM KNOW
I REALLY NEED HIM.
AND, UH, HE SHOWS UP.
WELL, I THOUGHT YOU
WERE SITTING IN JAIL?
I WAS FOR A LITTLE BIT.
THEY TURNED ME LOOSE!
Tickle: IF YOU REALLY LOVE
YOUR COUNTRY...
SON OF A BITCH.
...YOU'RE GONNA HAVE
TO LOVE MOONSHINE.
Narrator: AS TIM'S PROTéGé,
TICKLE HAD A BRIGHT FUTURE
IN MOONSHINE.
BUT A WRONG TURN LED HIM
STRAIGHT INTO THE ARMS
OF THE LAW.
OH, NO.
IT'S, UH, NOT A GREAT DAY.
UM, I GOT CAUGHT WITH,
UH, SAWED-OFF SHOTGUNS.
Man: THE SENTENCING RANGE
ON A CLASS 4 FELONY IS
FROM 2 YEARS TO 10 YEARS
IN THE PENITENTIARY.
THAT'S A LONG TIME.
SO, YOU KNOW, UH,
I WAS IN JAIL FOR 6 WEEKS.
RIGHT OFF, SHE SAID 3 YEARS.
I SAID, "DAMN."
AND SHE SAID,
"I'M GONNA SUSPEND THAT.
WE'LL GIVE YOU
18 MONTHS PROBATION."
AND I TOOK IT...
WHAT WAS YOU DOING
IN THERE 6 WEEKS?
JUST HANGING OUT?
-EATING, GETTING FAT.
-EATING?
MAKING SOME WINE.
-MAKING WINE?
-YEAH.
I THOUGHT YOU COULDN'T DRINK
WHILE YOU WAS IN JAIL.
WELL, YOU AIN'T --
YOU AIN'T SUPPOSED TO.
[ LAUGHS ]
I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN
GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE.
AND I'M GON' TRY
TO MAKE THE BEST OF IT.
UH, YOU KNOW,
I WAS FACING 10 YEARS.
IF I WENT TO JAIL
FOR 10 YEARS,
WELL, YOU KNOW, I --
I -- I'VE GOT A DAUGHTER...
YOU WOULD'VE HAD GRANDKIDS
TIME YOU GOT BACK.
EXACTLY.
YES.
SHE'D BE 25 YEARS OLD BY
THE TIME I GOT OUT OF JAIL.
YEAH. YEAH.
WELL, YOU KNOW,
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU ALL THE WORK
I CAN GIVE YOU, BUT, UH...
UH, WELL, I, YOU KNOW,
I APPRECIATE THAT.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO GET
IN TROUBLE, THOUGH.
NO, NO. I GOT -- I CAN'T GET
IN NO TROUBLE.
WELL, WE GOT ONE MORE SECTION
OF WALL WE GOT TO PUT UP.
-WELL, WE CAN DO THAT.
-CAN WE DO ONE MORE?
-CAN WE DO ONE MORE?
-I THINK SO.
-ARE YOU GUYS READY?
-LET'S GO. HUH?
YOU LOOK AT TICKLE
AND YOU NEVER WOULD KNOW IT.
HE IS A MASTER CARPENTER.
I MEAN, THAT GUY KNOWS HOW
TO PUT A WALL UP, HUH?
Tim: YOU -- YOU TRUST
MY OPERATION, HUH?
I DO.
I TRUST YOU WITH MY LIFE.
ALL RIGHT.
HERE WE GO.
LET ME KNOW
HOW HIGH YOU WANT TO GO.
ALL RIGHT.
I'M REALLY ENJOYING
WORKING WITH TIM AGAIN.
I DON'T MIND AT ALL THESE
HOT DAYS IN THE HARD WORK
BECAUSE I'M WITH MY BROTHER.
AND I'M HELPING HIM OUT.
ALL RIGHT.
A LITTLE BIT MORE.
HOPEFULLY
I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN'T DO
ABOUT GETTING ANOTHER
TRAVEL PERMIT
FROM MY PROBATION OFFICER
AND GETTING BACK UP
HERE TO HELP.
NO.
I GOT IT.
LET ME GET THE LADDER
BACK UP THERE.
-I GOT HER.
-GET THE NAIL GUN.
I'M JUST GONNA SPAN IT
ACROSS THE TOP.
I REALLY DO CARE ABOUT TICKLE.
YOU KNOW, TICKLE'S A GOOD GUY.
HE JUST GOT OFF ON THE
WRONG -- WRONG TRACK, I GUESS.
AND RIGHT NOW I THINK WE NEED
TO JUST GET HIM BACK STRAIGHT.
AND, UH, I THINK THE BEST THING
IS TO PUT HIM TO WORK.
OOH, IT'S HOT.
I THINK WE DONE
GOT IT, AIN'T WE?
Man: GREAT JOB, GUYS.
Narrator:
ON A WINDING MOUNTAIN ROAD
IN GRAHAM COUNTY,
NORTH CAROLINA,
ONE SHINER IS LOOKING
TO STOCK UP ON CORN
FOR THE START OF THE SEASON
WITHOUT ATTRACTING
UNWANTED ATTENTION.
LAST YEAR, MARK
AND PARTNERS JEFF AND LANCE
PRODUCED SEVERAL
NEW WHISKEY RECIPES.
Jeff:
OUR GEORGE WASHINGTON LIQUOR
IS BETTER THAN GEORGE'S WAS
'CAUSE WE GOT THE BEST WATER
IN THE WORLD TO DO THIS.
Narrator: TRANSPORTING
THE TOP-SHELF LIQUOR
TO A BUYER NEARLY
COST THEM EVERYTHING.
BUT THEY ENDED
THE SEASON 100 GRAND RICHER.
THANK YOU, BOYS.
SEE YA.
BY REINVESTING THE MONEY
THEY MADE ON THAT SALE,
THEY'RE PLANNING
TO MORE THAN DOUBLE
THEIR OUTPUT THIS SEASON.
NOW, WE MADE A LOT
OF LIQUOR LAST YEAR.
AND WE'RE GON' TRY
TO BEAT THAT THIS YEAR.
WE'RE HOPING TO MAKE
AT LEAST 1,000 GALLONS.
JUST KEEP YA EYES PEELED.
AND IF YOU NEED ANYTHING,
JUST LET ME KNOW.
I APPRECIATE YOU, BUDDY.
Narrator: EVEN 80 YEARS AFTER
THE END OF PROHIBITION,
THE CAT AND MOUSE GAME
BETWEEN SHINERS
AND THE LAW GOES ON.
Reporter: A MASSIVE MOONSHINE
OPERATION GETS SHUT DOWN.
Narrator: IN 2015, THE STATE
OF VIRGINIA ALONE
MADE OVER
1,000 ARRESTS RELATED
TO ILLEGAL LIQUOR,
FORCING MOONSHINERS
TO KEEP OPERATING
IN THE SHADOWS.
THIS RIGHT HERE
IS MY ACE IN A HOLE.
I GOT MY MOONSHINE
BEHIND LOCK AND KEY.
THIS IS MY STASH HOUSE.
OVER THE WINTERTIME,
MADE, UH, 400 OR SO GALLONS.
AND, UH, ALL THE LIQUOR'S
RIGHT HERE.
WHO WOULD EVER THINK SHINE
WOULD BE UNDER A PICKUP TRUCK
LIKE THIS ANYWAY?
Narrator: AS SPRING'S RETURN HAS
SHINERS REVVING UP THEIR STILLS,
REGULAR CORN LIQUOR
IS FETCHING $100 A GALLON.
AND IN SOUTH CAROLINA,
JOSH IS ALREADY STOCKED UP.
HOW THIS WORKS IS THE SHINE
GOES IN RIGHT HERE,
FILLS THIS TANK UP.
THE PUMP WORKS OFF OF THESE
TWO BATTERIES RIGHT HERE.
RIGHT NOW, I'VE JUST
GOT IT UNHOOKED SO,
YOU KNOW, WHEN I COME OUT HERE,
I CAN HOOK IT UP.
THAT WAY IT DON'T
DRAW MY BATTERY DOWN
OR NOTHING LIKE THAT.
YEAH.
IT'S PRETTY HANDY DANDY.
Narrator:
JOSH'S SURPLUS MOONSHINE
IS STASHED INSIDE
TWO 300-GALLON PLASTIC TANKS
BURIED UNDERGROUND
BENEATH AN OLD PICKUP TRUCK.
THE TANKS ARE FILLED
THROUGH A PVC PIPE
LOCATED UNDER THE TRUCK'S HOOD.
AN ELECTRIC PUMP
CAN BE ACTIVATED
TO MOVE THE STORED WHISKEY
FROM THE TANKS
THROUGH AN UNDERGROUND PIPE
TO A NEARBY WATERSPOUT
PUTTING A MOONSHINE
MOTHER LODE
AT JOSH'S FINGERTIPS.
Josh: WE'RE GONNA GO
MAKE SOME SALES,
BE STACKING BACK SOME FAT CASH.
Narrator: IT'LL BE SEVERAL DAYS
BEFORE JOSH'S NEXT BATCH
OF MASH IS FINISHED FERMENTING.
BUT INSTEAD OF RESTING,
HE'S USING THE DOWNTIME
TO MAKE A SALE.
Josh: MY OPERATION'S TAKING UP
SO MUCH OF MY TIME,
THERE'S VERY LITTLE TIME
FOR ME TO DO ANYTHING
BUT MAKE SALES,
MAKE MASH, MAKE SHINE.
YOU READY TO MAKE
SOME MONEY?
WE'RE ON OUR WAY
OVER HERE TO DROP OFF
ABOUT 75 GALLONS OF LIQUOR.
IT'S JUST
A CONTINUOUS OPERATION,
GOING, GOING, GOING.
NOW, I MAY BE WORKING
FROM 6:00 IN THE MORNING
TO DAMN 2:00
OR 3:00 IN THE MORNING.
BUT I'M JUST MAKING
AS MANY SALES
AND MAKING AS MANY RUNS
AND AS MANY BATCHES
OF SHINE AS I CAN.
Narrator: COMING UP...
Tim: THIS IS TERRIBLE.
Narrator: ...BAD NEWS
THREATENS TO TAKE
TIM'S OPERATION OFF THE RAILS.
WE GOT A PROBLEM.
Josh: AH [BLEEP]
Narrator: AND JOSH'S LIQUOR
HAS NEVER BEEN HOTTER.
I'M EAGER FOR US TO GET UP HERE
AT THIS STILL SITE.
YOU'VE ALWAYS COME THROUGH
FOR US IN THE PAST,
THERE AIN'T REASON
TO DOUBT YOU NOW, CUZ.
I'D BE ALMOST CERTAIN
THAT NOBODY WOULD EVER
COME IN THERE
AFTER DARK ON US.
THAT'S COOL.
Narrator: IN THE DARK HEART
OF TENNESSEE'S SMOKEY MOUNTAINS,
TWO OLD PROS ARE STILL
ON THE HUNT FOR A NEW SITE.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING UP
TOWARDS THE WEAVERS BEND FOR?
WE MIGHT BE GOING UP
IN THIS DIRECTION TO WORK.
WELL, WEAVERS BEND
WOULD BE ALL RIGHT.
WEAVERS BEND'S
A GOOD SITE.
THIS LOCATION'S OUTSTANDING.
THE WATER'S GREAT.
I'VE HUNTED AND CAMPED UP
IN HERE MANY A TIME.
AND IT'LL MAKE GOOD LIQUOR.
OH THIS IS
ALMOST FAR ENOUGH.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
"ALMOST FAR ENOUGH"?
NO. NO.
NO. NO.
WHAT?
THIS AIN'T
THE WEAVERS BEND.
WHEN DID -- WHEN --
WHEN DID YOU EVEN THINK
ABOUT THIS PLACE?
'CAUSE THERE AIN'T
NOBODY GONNA COME IN HERE
AND MESS WITH US.
I MEAN, GRANTED, DON'T GET ME
WRONG, I UNDERSTAND.
YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT ONE THING.
-WHAT'S THAT?
THERE AIN'T NO LOCAL PEOPLE
GONNA BE WANDERING
AROUND UP HERE.
THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
OLD WHITEY.
HISTORICALLY,
WE'RE A VERY SUPERSTITIOUS
BUNCH OF PEOPLE HERE
IN THE APPALACHIAN AREA.
OLD WHITEY LEGEND HAS IT
IS A FELLA OF THE NAME
OF TRIP FINCHUM
THAT WAS IN HERE
MAKING LIQUOR.
UH, THERE WAS A COUPLE
OF CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS
COMING THROUGH HERE
AND CAME ACROSS OLD TRIP.
AND THEY GOT IN A SQUABBLE
AND WRESTLED AROUND.
WELL, HE DROWNED WHITEY,
OR TRIP,
IN THIS CREEK RIGHT HERE.
AND SUPPOSEDLY THE KNIFE
THAT TRIP TRIED
TO ATTACK HIM WITH,
HE TOOK AWAY FROM HIM
AND CUT HIS HEAD OFF.
UH, THE REASON THAT LEGEND
CAME ABOUT WAS THE SAME REASON
THAT WE'RE WANTING IT
TO STAND THE WAY IT IS.
WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE
IN HERE LOOKING AROUND.
SEE, WE GOT
A GOOD FLOW OF WATER.
IT AIN'T NO BIG
ROARING CREEK.
BUT IT'S PLENTY OF WATER.
IT'S COLD.
THERE'S MINNOWS IN IT.
YEAH.
DON'T SEE NO SNAPDRAGONS
OR MILKWEED, UH,
GROWING RIGHT UP IN IT.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY IT --
WHY YOU CAN'T FEEL
NO AIR STIR DOWN IN HERE MUCH.
YOU CAN SEE THE LEAVES MOVING.
BUT I SWEAR,
I CAN'T FEEL NO AIR.
I JUST DON'T LIKE IT HERE.
WELL, WE AIN'T GOT
MANY OPTIONS THERE, CUZ.
AND WE NEED TO BE,
UH, WE --
WE, RIGHT NOW,
NEED MASH BARRELS FILLED UP.
AND I'M A WHOLE LOT
LESS AFRAID OF WHITEY
THAN I AM THE SHERIFF.
I -- I AIN'T REALLY
THAT GOOD WITH IT.
BUT TIME IS CATCHING UP WITH US.
UH, WE NEED
TO ALREADY BE STARTED.
IT'S A VERY WARM
SPRING ALREADY.
AND MASH WOULD DONE
BE FERMENTING WELL.
WE SET IT UP AND WE MAKE
A RUN OF LIQUOR.
AND IF IT AIN'T NO CAMP,
WE PACK UP AND TRAVEL ON.
I'LL --
I'LL AGREE TO THAT.
Narrator: MARK AND DIGGER
AREN'T THE FIRST SHINERS
TO MASK THEIR ACTIVITIES
BEHIND A MYTH.
IN RURAL VIRGINIA,
EARLY 20th-CENTURY SHINERS
PLAYED ON RESIDENTS' FEAR
OF AN ANTLERED BEAST
CALLED THE GLUTTON BUCK,
FAKING THUNDEROUS HOOF BEATS
AND UNEARTHLY SOUNDS
TO DRIVE AWAY CURIOUS LOCALS.
AND A 1920s POLICE RAID
ON A HAUNTED HOUSE
IN ATLANTIC CITY
REVEALED THE HOME'S
ONLY SPIRITS WERE ENCASED
IN A 100-GALLON WHISKEY STILL.
AND ALONG THE CANADIAN BORDER
REGION OF EASTERN MICHIGAN,
APPARITIONS GLIDING OVER
THE FROZEN WATERS
OF THE ST. CLAIR RIVER TURNED
OUT TO BE GHOST WALKERS,
LIQUOR SMUGGLERS
WHO DONNED ICE SKATES
AND WHITE SHEETS
TO PUT THE BOO IN BOOTLEGGER.
IN NORTH CAROLINA, JEFF,
MARK AND LANCE
ARE READY FOR THE FIRST RUN
THAT WILL LAUNCH THEIR
1,000-GALLON SEASON.
Narrator: THEIR REPUTATION
FOR TOP-NOTCH LIQUOR
HAS HELPED JEFF,
MARK AND LANCE
SECURE MOST
OF GRAHAM COUNTY,
NORTH CAROLINA,
A TERRITORY STRETCHING
FROM LAKE SANTEETLAH WEST
TO THE TENNESSEE BORDER.
BY PUSHING OVER THE HIGH RIDGE
OF MOUNTAINS ALONG
THE STATE LINE
INTO EASTERN TENNESSEE,
THEY WOULD ESTABLISH
AN INTERSTATE TERRITORY,
POTENTIALLY DOUBLING
THEIR PROFITS FOR THE SEASON.
THE FIRST FEW OUNCES
TO POUR OUT OF THE WORM,
CALLED THE HEADS,
CONTAIN TOXIC METHANOL
AND ARE PROMPTLY
THROWN OUT.
Chuck: ALL RIGHT.
THERE YOU GO, HUH?
HOW'S IT GOING NOW,
CHERYL, ANY BETTER?
ARE WE READY FOR WEDNESDAY,
DO SOME MORE WORK TO IT?
SURE.
Narrator: BACK AT VIRGINIA'S
BELMONT FARM,
THE SECOND POLAND
ORDER NEARS THE FINISH LINE.
BUT TIM'S FAR
FROM CELEBRATING.
THERE'S MOONSHINE
SITTING EVERYWHERE,
JUST GOT TO GO IN A BOTTLE.
SEE THIS TANK?
1,500 GALLONS
OF CLIMAX MOONSHINE.
THAT'S 1,500 GALLONS
THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE BOTTLED.
THERE'S 800 GALLONS HERE.
THERE'S 700 GALLONS.
SO THERE'S 3,000 GALLONS
OF MOONSHINE RIGHT THERE.
CHUCK!
WE GOT A PROBLEM.
I GOT AN E-MAIL
FROM POLAND.
GUY CANCELED THE ORDER.
Chuck: CAN YOU DO IT?
THERE'S A BIG ASS --
THAT'S A BIG-ASS THING, NOW.
YEAH.
RUN IT ALL THE WAY OUT.
YEAH.
THERE WE GO.
-THAT'S IT.
-SEE, CHUCK,
THAT'S WHERE
THIS COMES IN HANDY.
YOU JUST SET THAT WALL
RIGHT DOWN ON THAT.
Y'ALL TALKING SO MUCH,
I CAN'T GET NO HELP HERE.
IT'S KIND OF FUN
WORKING WITH TICKLE.
YOU KNOW, HE CAN CRACK A JOKE
EVERY ONCE AND A WHILE.
IT'S JUST THE WAY
HE WALKS AND TALKS AND --
AND DOES THINGS, UH,
IT KIND OF GETS YOU MOTIVATED.
A LOT OF TIMES I CALL
THAT MY TOOL SHED, CHUCK.
-YOUR TOOL SHED?
-YEAH.
IT KEEPS MY TOOLS
DRY WHEN IT RAINS.
YEAH, HE GAINED,
LIKE, 20 POUNDS.
CHUCK!
WE GOT A PROBLEM.
I GOT AN E-MAIL
FROM POLAND.
AND THE GUY
CANCELED THE ORDER.
YEAH.
AND I --
I TRIED TO CALL HIM.
I TRIED TO E-MAIL HIM.
I DON'T GET NO, UH, FEEDBACK.
UH...
-BUT THE WHISKEY'S
SELLING GOOD OVER THERE.
YEAH. I KNOW.
UH, SOMETHING HAPPENED.
BUT, TIM,
WE -- WE'RE RUNNING
AT FULL CAPACITY.
WE GOT ALL THESE PEOPLE
WORKING HERE.
I KNOW.
IT'S A LOT...
WE GOT MONEY TIED UP
IN THE ORDER.
-IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE.
-MONEY TIED UP
IN NEW CONSTRUCTION.
YEAH. I KNOW.
I KNOW.
AND YOU TELL ME THEY CANCELED
THIS GIGANTIC ORDER ON US.
I KNOW.
UH, I MEAN,
I KNOW WE GOT
TO STOP PRODUCTION
FOR A MOMENT UNTIL
WE FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO.
Tim: THIS IS A BIG ORDER.
IT'S HARD TO FIND SOMEONE
THAT'S GONNA TAKE 6,000 CASES
OF MOONSHINE JUST LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW THE --
THE -- THE MONEY
I BORROWED FROM THE BANK,
THE BANK'S GONNA
WANT THAT MONEY.
UH, I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY
TO PAY FOR THE --
FOR THE LOAN,
FOR THE EXPANSION.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE IT'S GONNA BE
A DISASTER FOR THE WHOLE COMPANY
TRYING TO BUILD SOMETHING
FOR MY SON TO TAKE OVER.
IF -- IF ALL THIS FALLS THROUGH,
I WOULD FEEL LIKE I FAILED,
YOU KNOW, MY FAMILY.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, HERE WE ARE,
GOT BILLS OUT THE YIN YANG.
AND NOW YOU SAY
WE'RE NOT SHIPPING.
I'M ON IT.
BUT I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU.
YOU GONNA HAVE TO
COME UP WITH SOMETHING.
Josh:
HEY, BUDDY, WHERE YOU AT?
WHERE DO YOU WANT ME
TO MEET YOU AT?
YEAH. YEAH.
I'M ABOUT TO PULL IN RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: A FEW MILES FROM
THE SOUTH CAROLINA BORDER...
Josh: WE'RE ON OUR WAY
OVER HERE TO DROP OFF
ABOUT 75 GALLONS OF LIQUOR.
Narrator:
...JOSH IS ABOUT TO MAKE
HIS FIRST SALE OF THE SEASON.
STAY THERE, CUTIE-PIE.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
AT 100 BUCKS A GALLON,
JOSH'S 75-GALLON SALE
SHOULD EARN HIM
A TIDY $7,500 TAX FREE.
WHATCHA BEEN UP TO, MAN?
WORKING HARD?
TAKE YOU LONG TO
GET RID OF THIS?
THAT'S A DANG
GOOD THING.
YOU JUST LET ME KNOW
AND I'LL HAVE SOME MORE.
THANK YOU, MAN.
APPRECIATE IT.
ALL RIGHT, MAN.
HOLLER WHEN YOU NEED SOME MORE.
THAT COULDN'T HAVE
WENT ANY BETTER.
IT FEELS GOOD TO BE ON TOP.
I'M EXHAUSTED.
I'M HEADING TO THE STASH
HOUSE RIGHT NOW.
I'M JUST GONNA LEAVE
THIS TRUCK THERE.
WHAT THE...
WHAT THE HELL?
[BLEEP]
AH [BLEEP]
[BLEEP] STASH HOUSE!
[ THUNDER RUMBLES ]
[ SIRENS WAILING ]
[ LIGHTNING CRASHES ]
Narrator:
NEXT TIME ON "MOONSHINERS"...
MARK LOSES HIS HEAD.
Ramsey:
I'M NOT COMFORTABLE HERE.
OH!
YOU SON OF A BITCH, YOU.
LOUISIANA SHINERS
PATTI AND DAVID
TURN FRESH FRUIT
INTO A CASH CROP.
David: WE GON' HAND PICK
THE FRESHEST FRUIT.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE THE BEST
THAT ANYBODY IN LOUISIANA'S
EVER SEEN THIS YEAR.
Josh: IT'S HARD TO FIND
A PARTNER IN CRIME
BECAUSE YOU GOT TO BE ABLE
TO TRUST 'EM WITH YOUR LIFE.
Narrator:
AND JOSH LOOKS UP AN OLD FRIEND.
WHAT'S SHAKING?
>> [ BLEEP ]
♪♪
Digger: YOU KNOW, THERE'S
SOMETHING ABOUT MAKING LIQUOR
THAT GETS INTO YOU BLOOD.
YOU CAN'T GET A TRANSFUSION
AND GET IT OUT.
IT'S THE HISTORY.
IT'S THE ARTISAN CRAFTSMANSHIP
THAT'S INVOLVED IN IT.
Ramsey:
IT FRETS ME TERRIBLY TO THINK
THAT THIS TRADITION
MAY DISAPPEAR IN THE FUTURE.
I'M NOT ABOUT THAT.
Tim: YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU PUT
THE SEED IN THE GROUND
AND COOK THE MASH FROM
THAT SEED OF CORN THAT YOU PUT,
THAT'S ABOUT AS HANDCRAFTED
AS YOU CAN GET.
Josh: WITH THE MOONSHINER'S WAY
OF LIFE, WE'RE JUST PROVING
OUR CULTURE,
OUR HERITAGE,
OUR FAMILY TRADITIONS.
AND EVERY TIME I MAKE LIQUOR,
I GET BETTER AND BETTER
AND BETTER
AND BETTER AND BETTER.
Mark: YOU KNOW,
IT'S JUST PART OF LIFE.
I'LL DO THIS TILL I DIE.
Narrator: ACROSS APPALACHIA,
THE WARMTH OF SPRING
AND THE GLOW OF STILL FIRES
MEANS ONE THING --
SHINE SEASON IS BACK.
BUT THIS YEAR,
THOSE DETERMINED TO ADVANCE
THE CENTURIES-OLD CRAFT
ARE FIGHTING FOR ITS SURVIVAL.
IT'S NICE TO BE HUNTING FOR
A STILL SITE DRIVING A TRUCK.
IN TENNESSEE, TWO SHINERS
SEARCH FOR THE STARTING LINE.
-ONE THING I DON'T LIKE.
-WHAT'S THAT?
THEM RED PAINT MARKS.
Ramsey:
TIME IS CATCHING UP WITH US.
UH, WE NEED
TO ALREADY BE STARTED.
Tim: JUST A PROBLEM
TRYING TO DO EXPANSION
AND FINISH THE ORDER
GOING TO POLAND.
Narrator:
VIRGINIA'S NUMBER-ONE DISTILLER
REACHES OUT
TO HIS OLD RIGHT HAND.
THOUGHT YOU WERE
SITTING IN JAIL.
I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN
GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE.
Josh: WHAT THE HELL?
Narrator: AND ON THE PIEDMONT,
ONE SHINER'S PLANS
GO UP IN SMOKE.
Josh:
[BLEEP] STASH HOUSE!
♪ NO ONE CAN HOLD ME DOWN ♪
♪ OR MAKE ME CHANGE MY WAYS ♪
♪ SO DON'T WASTE YOUR BREATH
SAYING ♪
♪ CRIME NEVER PAYS ♪
♪ WE'RE GOING FOR A RIDE ♪
♪ RUNNING TO SURVIVE ♪
♪ AND LIVING OUTSIDE THE LAW ♪
♪ WE'RE LIVING
OUTSIDE THE LAW ♪
Man: THIS IS HOW
WE MAKE THE MOONSHINE!
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT
BEING OUT IN THE WOODS.
I LOVE TO HEAR THE BIRDS
CHIRPING AND THE --
THE BEES ARE FLYING AROUND
AND EVERYTHING'S COMING ALIVE
AND TURNING GREEN.
THERE'S SOMETHING REALLY JUST
ALMOST MAGICAL ABOUT BEING ABLE
TO GO INTO THE WOODS
AND TAKE A CREEK, SOME GRAINS,
SOME SUGAR AND SOME YEAST
AND TURN THAT INTO ALCOHOL
AND THEN TURN THAT INTO MONEY.
MAKING MOONSHINE'S
MORE THAN A JOB FOR ME.
IT'S ONLY A JOB
IF YOU HATE IT, RIGHT?
SO WHAT WE GOT GOING ON
IS ALL THESE BARRELS HERE
ARE FULL OF MASH RIGHT NOW.
THEY'RE ABOUT READY TO RUN.
WE'RE MAKING SOME
NEW MASH OVER HERE.
I GOT AN OPERATION THAT'S JUST
ROLLING, ROLLING, ROLLING.
SO YOU FINISH ONE BATCH,
YOU START ON ANOTHER.
Narrator: EVERY YEAR, A TOUGH
BREED OF MEN AND WOMEN
FROM ACROSS THE SOUTH
HEAD INTO THE HILLS
TO MIX GRAINS, WATER,
AND SUGAR INTO AMERICA'S
ORIGINAL SPIRIT.
THE LAW CALLS THEM CRIMINALS,
BUT IN APPALACHIA,
THEY'RE KNOWN AS MOONSHINERS.
A CENTURY AGO, THE PEAKS
AND HILLTOPS
OF AMERICA'S SOUTHERN HEARTLAND
WERE DOTTED BY STILL FIRES.
TODAY, MANY OF THOSE LIGHTS
HAVE DIED OUT,
AS FEWER AND FEWER TAKE UP
THE AGE-OLD TRADITION.
BUT RATHER THAN SEE THE ANCIENT
ART SNUFFED OUT FOREVER,
A NEW GENERATION,
DEDICATED TO THE CRAFT,
ARE FIGHTING TO KEEP THE FIRES
LIT AND THE WHISKEY FLOWING.
♪♪
ANYBODY EVER TELLS YOU LIQUOR
IS AN, UH, EASY JOB,
THEY'RE FULL OF CRAP.
THEY AIN'T NEVER MADE NONE.
I THINK IT'S TOUGH
TO LEARN A NEW TRADE.
IT -- IT'S GOOD
TO HAVE A -- A MENTOR.
BARNEY BARNWELL PRETTY MUCH
TAUGHT ME
EVERYTHING I KNOW
ABOUT MAKING LIQUOR.
HE WAS A LEGEND
IN THESE PARTS.
AND THE FIRST THING HE SAID WAS,
"BOY, YOU DON'T WANT TO
SET FOOT OUT ON THIS ROAD.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH WORK
THAT'S GONNA BE?"
HE WAS RIGHT.
BUT HE'S GONE NOW.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME
TO KEEP CARRYING ON
THE TRADITION
OF MAKING MOONSHINE.
WOW!
THAT'S HOT ENOUGH TO MAKE MASH.
THAT'S BOILING HOT.
Narrator:
BECAUSE MASH WON'T FERMENT
IN TEMPERATURES BELOW
50 DEGREES,
SHINE SEASON TYPICALLY LASTS
FROM SPRING TO FALL.
BUT IN SOUTH CAROLINA,
JOSH AVOIDED
OLD MAN WINTER'S BITE
WITH AN INSULATED STILL SITE.
Josh: IT'S SPRING NOW.
SO I'M GONNA TAKE THE INSULATION
OFF OF THESE MASH BARRELS
SO IT DON'T GET TOO HOT
AND KILL THE YEAST.
BUILDING THIS DAMN MASH ROOM
WAS THE BEST THING
I EVER DID FOR MY BUSINESS
BECAUSE I THINK I MADE 400
OR SO GALLONS OF LIQUOR
OVER THE WINTER,
BUT THIS YEAR I EXPECT
TO MAKE 1,000 GALLONS
WITHOUT ANY QUESTION.
THAT'S -- THAT'S BETTER
THAN I'VE EVER DONE BEFORE.
BUT PRETTY HARD
TO DO IT BY MYSELF.
Narrator: LAST YEAR...
Josh:
THIS IS GONNA BE KILLER.
...THE HIDDEN BUNKER SHIELDED
JOSH AND BILL FROM THE LAW.
THEY'RE LIABLE TO NEVER
EVEN SEE THIS THING.
[BLEEP]
Narrator: BUT IT COULDN'T
PROTECT THEM FROM EACH OTHER.
AFTER SPLITTING WITH BILL,
JOSH STRUGGLED ON ALONE.
BUT THANKS TO AN OLD
FAMILY RECIPE
AND HIS WINTERIZED BUNKER,
JOSH'S SOLO VENTURE TOOK FLIGHT.
DONE.
THAT'S THE LAST ONE.
Narrator: BY MAKING SHINE
THROUGH THE WINTER,
JOSH IS ALMOST HALFWAY TOWARD
HIS 1,000-GALLON SEASON GOAL.
AND HE'S NOT LETTING UP.
RIGHT NOW I'M JUST
TAKING THE HOT WATER
AND PUTTING IT
IN MY EMPTY MASH BARRELS.
TO MAKE MASH, YOU GOT TO TAKE
YOUR HOT WATER THAT YOU STEAM,
POUR IT IN YOUR BARRELS,
POUR YOUR GRAINS
AND YOUR SUGARS
IN THERE, LET THEM DISSOLVE.
AND THEN WHEN IT DIES
DOWN A LITTLE BIT,
THE TEMPERATURE DIES DOWN,
YOU'RE GON' POUR
YOUR YEAST IN IT.
OKAY.
-WELL, THAT'S A LIVE WIRE.
-WE HAVE TO STEAL THIS...
YEAH.
WE GOT A STEAL THAT'S THING
'CAUSE IT AIN'T GOT
NO KEY, SEE.
AND YOU GOT TO TOUCH
THESE WIRES TOGETHER
RIGHT HERE TO GET IT GOING.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Narrator: AT AMERICA'S OLDEST
CRAFT DISTILLERY,
VIRGINIA'S LEADING MOONSHINER
IS PAVING THE WAY
FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
COME ON BACK.
COME ON BACK.
THAT'S GOOD RIGHT THERE.
ALL RIGHT.
WATCH YOUR FINGERS THERE.
THERE YOU GO.
SO THIS IS THE WAY
YOU MAKE GOOD FRESH MOONSHINE,
YOU GOT TO HAVE FRESH --
FRESH CORN.
AND THE CORN STAYS THERE
TO KEEP IT DRY.
YOU ONLY GRIND IT
WHEN YOU'RE READY TO USE IT.
Tim: TODAY'S MY SON, J.T.'S,
FIRST DAY AT THE LEGAL
DISTILLERY.
HE WAS A LITTLE KID
A LONG TIME AGO
WHEN I WAS RUNNING IT
ILLEGAL THROUGH THE WOODS.
AND HE REMEMBER THOSE DAYS.
AND THAT'S ABOUT ALL HE KNOWS.
IT'S A LOT MORE WORK
THAN IT LOOK LIKE, AIN'T IT?
MY DAD, HE PASSED
ON THE ILLEGAL SIDE
OF MOONSHINE BUSINESS ONTO ME.
BUT MY SON IS
GETTING UP OF AGE NOW
AND GETTING INTERESTED
IN THE MOONSHINING BUSINESS.
SO IT'S GONNA TAKE
A LITTLE WHILE.
BUT, UH, I NEED J.T. TO COME IN.
SO HE CAN CARRY ON
THE LEGACY OF OUR NAME.
YOU KNOW,
BACK IN THE WOODS,
WE USED TO CALL IT
THE STILL SITE.
SO THIS IS
LIKE THE STILL SITE.
YOU GOT YOUR STILL.
-OKAY.
-AND YOU GOT THE DOUBLER.
-OKAY.
-AND THEN THIS IS A CONDENSER.
-MM-HMM.
INSIDE THAT TANK, THAT HAS
A COPPER COIL INSIDE OF IT.
AND IT'S COMING
OUT RIGHT HERE.
IT'S A WHOLE NEW ASPECT
OF MAKING MOONSHINE.
I MEAN, YOU DO EVERYTHING
BY THE BOOKS.
IT'S A LITTLE INTIMIDATING.
BUT I'M GONNA TRY TO KEEP
THE FAMILY TRADITION ALIVE.
AND THIS IS
THE WHOLE OPERATION.
IT'S BIGGER.
THAT'S FOR SURE.
-SO YOU THINK YOU CAN RUN IT?
-WELL, I GOT AN IDEA.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, TOMORROW.
BUT MAYBE IN THE FUTURE.
Narrator: BUT IF TIM CAN'T
FINISH BUILDING HIS DISTILLERY,
THERE WILL BE
NO LEGACY TO PASS ON.
LAST YEAR, TIM PLANNED
A MAJOR EXPANSION
OF HIS SHINE BUSINESS.
BUT CONSTRUCTION WAS SIDELINED
AFTER HE LANDED A BIG ORDER
FROM A POLISH DISTRIBUTOR.
-YOU WANT TO BUY IT?
-10,000 BOXES.
Narrator: TIM AND CHUCK
WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK
TO MEET THE DEADLINE.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
TIM SAYS YOU BETTER HURRY UP.
BUT WHEN THE DUST SETTLED,
THEY WERE WORLD CHAMPIONS.
OH, TIM!
Tim: ALL RIGHT,
LET'S LET 'EM ROLL.
SO THESE ARE THE EMPTY BOTTLES.
AND WE'RE GONNA FILL 'EM.
CLIMAX MOONSHINE
IS AS BUSY AS IT'S EVER BEEN.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE SELLING ALL OVER
THE UNITED STATES RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
THAT I BUILD THIS,
UH, EXPANSION
AND KIND OF HAVE
MY OWN DISTILLERY.
WELL, RIGHT NOW I GOT
THE SECOND ORDER
GOING TO POLAND,
6,000 CASES,
UH, WHICH WOULD PAY
FOR THE EXPANSION.
SO RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO
IS WE'RE GONNA PUMP
THIS MASH INTO OUR STILL.
THIS IS KIND OF HARD
TO DO BY MYSELF.
BUT WE'RE GONNA
MAKE IT WORK ANYWAY.
A LITTLE POWER...
OH, YEAH,
WE'RE PUMPING MASH.
Narrator: AS THE SUN SETS
IN SOUTH CAROLINA,
JOSH'S STILL IS PREPPED
AND READY TO GO.
THAT'S SWEET STUFF RIGHT THERE.
ALL RIGHT.
WE SHOULD BE READY
TO LIGHT THIS BABY.
HAVE A LITTLE GAS.
THERE WE GO.
GOOD DEAL.
Narrator:
MOST MOONSHINE STILLS
HAVE THE SAME
BASIC COMPONENTS --
THE BURNER, THE POT, THE DOUBLER
AND THE CONDENSER.
THE POT IS FILLED
WITH MASH AND HEATED.
ONCE IT REACHES
173 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,
THE ALCOHOL
IN THE MASH VAPORIZES
AND RISES INTO THE CAP.
FROM THERE IT TRAVELS
THROUGH A COPPER PIPE
CALLED THE ARM
AND INTO A BARREL KNOWN
AS THE DOUBLER.
IN THE DOUBLER,
EXTRA WATER CONDENSES
OUT OF THE ALCOHOL VAPOR
ONTO THE SIDES OF THE BARREL,
DOUBLING THE VAPOR'S
PURITY OR PROOF.
THE PURIFIED VAPOR THEN TRAVELS
TO A COPPER COIL
SET IN A BARREL
OF COOL RUNNING WATER
KNOWN AS THE CONDENSER OR WORM.
IT'S HERE WHERE
THE ALCOHOL VAPOR CONDENSES
INTO LIQUID MOONSHINE.
IT'S JUST A LOT OF WORK
FOR ONE PERSON.
IT WON'T BE LONG,
THIS ONE WILL BE READY.
WE'RE ABOUT TO START
STEAMING HERE BEFORE TOO LONG.
I'VE GOT TO KEEP THIS WORM
BARREL FILLED UP.
IT'S GOT A SLOW LEAK.
[ DOG BARKING ]
[BLEEP]
CUTIE-PIE!
CUTIE-PIE!
CUTIE-PIE!
CUTIE-PIE!
THERE'S A TON OF COYOTES
RUNNING AROUND HERE.
CUTIE-PIE!
COME ON, GIRL.
COME ON.
MAN...
Narrator:
THIS SEASON ON "MOONSHINERS"...
WE READY TO GO?
SON OF A BITCH, YOU.
[ GLASS SHATTERS ]
Ramsey: IF WE CAN TAKE IT
A STEP FARTHER,
MAYBE THAT WILL BE OUR LEGACY.
AND THIS CRANBERRY
MAY BE THE NEXT BIG THING.
SHOOT.
David: WE'RE GONNA MAKE THE BEST
THAT ANYBODY IN LOUISIANA'S
EVER SEEN THIS YEAR.
-WHOO!
TRYING A NEW LIQUOR
CALLED ABSINTHE.
[ RETCHING ]
-AT LEAST IT DIDN'T KILL YOU.
-WELL, WE DON'T KNOW YET.
Ramsey: WE'RE KIND OF OUT
OF OUR ELEMENT DOWN HERE.
THESE PEOPLE HAVE MONEY.
AND THEY WANT SOMETHING
THAT NOBODY ELSE CAN HAVE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
YOUR MOONSHINE'S WORTH?
-$500 A GALLON.
-WELCOME TO DUBLIN.
YOU JUST DRIVING ON
THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD.
Tim: IRELAND IS YEARS BEFORE
AMERICA IN MAKING THE MOONSHINE.
J.B. IS THE ONLY PERSON
IN THE WORLD I KNOW OF
THAT CAN OUTSHINE ME AND MARK.
IF I DON'T FIND A PARTNER,
THEN I CAN'T MAKE ANY SHINE.
WHAT'S SHAKING?
THERE HE IS.
THERE HE IS.
YOU DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH
YOU REALLY NEED PEOPLE
UNTIL YOU'RE BLOODY,
LAYING IN THE ROAD.
Josh: SOMEBODY STOLE
THE [BLEEP] STILL!
I CAN'T DO IT NO MORE.
I'M DONE.
Josh: CUTIE-PIE!
CUTIE-PIE!
THERE'S A TON OF COYOTES
RUNNING AROUND HERE.
COME ON, CUTIE-PIE!
CUTIE-PIE!
COME ON, GIRL.
COME ON.
CUTIE-PIE!
I'M GON' BEAT YOUR HIND END!
COME ON!
COME ON, CUTIE-PIE.
COME ON, BABY GIRL.
WHAT IN THE HECK
ARE YOU DOING RIGHT HERE?
I'VE BEEN LOOKING
ALL OVER FOR YOU.
WHEN DADDY CALLS YOU,
YOU NEED TO BE COMING.
GIVE ME A SCARE.
COME ON, CUTIE-PIE.
WHAT THE HELL?
GOD ALMIGHTY.
SON OF A BITCH!
I JUST LOST [BLEEP]
THIS ENTIRE RUN.
[BLEEP]
[ GRUNTS ]
IT'S EMPTY.
THERE'S NO WATER IN HERE.
Narrator: JOSH FAILED TO ADD
WATER TO THE CONDENSER BARREL.
WITHOUT AN OPERATING COIL
TO LIQUEFY THE ALCOHOL
FROM THE STILL,
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
IN POTENTIAL SHINE PROFITS
ARE VANISHING INTO THIN AIR.
THIS IS A BUNCH OF [BLEEP]
Ramsey: WELL, IF IT'S ANY
MORE HOTTER AND HUMID
THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR,
I DON'T KNOW IF ME AND THE
OLD BIG ONES CAN STAND IT.
Digger: GOING BACK TO MAKING
THE LIQUOR,
IT'S, UH, IT'S TOOK A LITTLE
OF THIS LARD OFF OF ME.
THERE AIN'T DANGER OF ME
OF LOSING NO WEIGHT.
Narrator:
IN THE TENNESSEE HILLS,
TWO SHINERS ARE SEARCHING
FOR A PLACE TO SET UP SHOP.
Ramsey: MOONSHINE, TO ME, IT
JUST MEANS A SENSE OF FREEDOM.
WE DON'T REALLY THINK OF IT
AS BREAKING THE LAW.
WE THINK OF IT
AS DOING SOMETHING
THAT'S OUR GOD-GIVEN
RIGHT TO DO.
YOU GOT A COUPLE
OF SITES IN MIND?
I HAVE ONE IN PARTICULAR
THAT I REALLY LIKE.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW
HOW OLD EXACTLY I WAS
WHEN I STARTED MOONSHINING.
BUT THEN, OF COURSE,
WHEN I BECAME FRIENDS WITH,
UH, THE LATE POPCORN SUTTON,
YOU KNOW,
HE WAS TRULY A LEGEND.
Popcorn: THIS IS GON' BE
SOME OF THE FINEST LIQUOR
TO EVER BEEN MADE IN THE WILD.
Digger: OVER THE YEARS,
POPCORN BROUGHT ME IN
AND SHOWED ME PRETTY MUCH
EVERYTHING FROM START TO FINISH.
HE TAUGHT ME IT'S NOT THE MONEY,
IT'S TAKING THE --
THE CRAFT TO ANOTHER LEVEL.
Narrator:
FOR THESE VETERAN CRAFTSMEN,
BREAKING BOUNDARIES
IS PART OF THE JOB.
LAST SEASON,
POPCORN SUTTON'S DISCIPLES
BET BIG ON FLAVORS,
STARTING WITH HELP FROM
THE GRAND OLE MAN OF SHINE...
YEAH!
...THEY PRODUCED APPLE RYE,
THEN WENT ON
TO PRODUCE HAZELNUT RUM.
THIS IS THE TASTE ME
AND DIGGER WAS LOOKING FOR.
IT'S NICE TO BE HUNTING FOR
A STILL SITE DRIVING A TRUCK.
YEAH, IT IS.
OLD-TIMERS HUNTED
FROM RIDING THE MULE.
WE SET OURSELVES
A VERY LOFTY GOAL
WITH 900 GALLONS THIS SEASON.
BUT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING
TO LEAVE A LEGACY.
SO WE'RE BREAKING TRADITION
BY TRYING THESE NEW FLAVORS.
BUT, BOTTOM LINE, YOU KNOW,
IT ALL STARTS WITH US
WITH CORN WHISKEY.
WE GOT PLENTY
OF COVER RIGHT HERE.
I TELL YOU WHAT, DIGGER,
PRETTY GOOD-LOOKING SPOT.
Ramsey: FOR A REALLY GOOD
STILL LOCATION,
FIRST AND FOREMOST IS, UH,
THE SECURITY AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
OH, MAN, THAT'S
A REAL STREAM OF WATER.
AND THEN YOU GOT TO HAVE VERY,
VERY GOOD WATER SUPPLY.
YOU GOT TO HAVE WATER
FOR MASH MAKING.
YOU GOT TO HAVE WATER
FOR THE CONDENSER.
BOY, THAT WATER'S
COLD, COLD.
SO SOMEWHERE UPSTREAM,
THERE SOME GOOD SPRINGS
A-FEEDING THIS.
MAN, THAT'S DANDY WATER.
I JUST SEE ONE THING
I DON'T LIKE.
WHAT'S THAT?
THEM RED PAINT MARKS.
-IS THAT, UH...
-THAT'S A PARK SERVICE BOUNDARY.
THAT'S A PARK SERVICE
BOUNDARY, AIN'T IT?
YEAH. WE CAN'T HAVE
NO PART OF THAT.
YOU DON'T WANT TO BE
ON FORESTRY LAND
OR EVEN NOWHERE CLOSE TO IT.
NO NEED WASTING
NO MORE TIME HERE.
NOW, LOOK, WE GOT TO
FLIP 'EM OVER, YA KNOW?
-YOU READY?
-I'M GOING THIS WAY.
HEADS UP.
JUST FLIP IT OVER.
-WHAT WE DOING?
-JUST FLIP IT OVER.
YOU'RE FLIPPING IT.
Narrator:
OVER IN VIRGINIA,
TIM IS BUILDING THE FUTURE
ON THE FOUNDATION
HE LAID FOR THE NEW
CLIMAX MOONSHINE DISTILLERY.
OH, TIM,
THAT'S HEAVY FOR ME.
Tim: WE'VE BEEN GOING
INTERNATIONAL.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT I GET
THIS OTHER DISTILLERY BUILT.
BUT A NEW EXPANSION'S
GONNA BE PROBABLY, YOU KNOW,
DOUBLE THE SIZE OF WHAT
CHUCK'S WORKING WITH RIGHT NOW.
AND WE PUTTING A 4,000-GALLON,
UH, POT STILL IN IT.
I BORROWED A COUPLE HUNDRED
THOUSAND FOR THE EXPANSION.
UH, AS SOON AS I SHIP
6,000 CASES INTO POLAND,
I'LL PAY THE BANK, ALL GRAVY.
ALL RIGHT, NOW SET IT IN.
ALL RIGHT.
NOW, IT'S TAKING A --
A -- A WHOLE LOT
TO JUST GET
THIS EXPANSION DONE RIGHT NOW.
AND ME AND CHUCK
CAN'T GET THIS DONE.
BUT I KNOW -- I KNOW ANOTHER GUY
THAT KNOWS A LITTLE BIT
MORE THAN WE DO ABOUT CARPENTRY.
I SENT J.T. TO GO FIND HIM.
AND WE CAN GET HIM.
I KNOW HE CAN GET IT DONE.
NAIL IT RIGHT THERE.
AS THAT COMES OVER,
THE OTHER PERSON WILL BE
OVER THERE AND WE CATCH IT.
HUH, WELL, I CAN GET
THE FLOOR JACK
AND JUST PICK IT RIGHT UP.
TRUST ME, CHUCK.
TRUST ME.
Chuck: I'M TELLING YOU,
IT'S HOT OUT HERE.
UH, WE'RE SWEATING
A LOT LIKE THE DICKENS.
I'M ABOUT TO GET HEAT STROKE.
WE NEED HELP.
WELL, WE GOT TO GET A --
A BOARD TO GO HERE.
-OKAY.
-SO WE NEED, LIKE, A L--
LONG 2x4, MAYBE TWO.
AND WE GOT TO LIFT
THAT END UP ON FIRST
AND THEN PUSH THIS UP.
SOMEBODY'S GOT TO BE
ON THAT SIDE TO PULL THAT.
-TIM, LOOK.
-HEY, GUYS.
-HOW'S IT GOING, CHUCK?
-I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU.
-GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO, BUD.
-I'M GLAD J.T. FOUND YOU.
I WASN'T DOING NOTHING
BUT SITTING AROUND.
WELL, I THOUGHT
YOU WAS SITTING IN JAIL?
I WAS FOR A LITTLE BIT.
THEY LET ME OUT.
THEY TURNED ME LOOSE!
Tim: WE GOT TO LIFT
THAT END UP ON FIRST
AND THEN PUSH THIS UP.
-TIM, LOOK.
-HUH?
GLAD TO YOU SEE.
-GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO, BUD.
-I'M GLAD YOU COME BY.
-MAN, I'M GLAD I'M ABLE TO.
Tim: ACTUALLY, UH, YOU KNOW,
I GOT THIS CRAZY IDEA,
UH, THAT I COULD GET TICKLE
TO COME BACK TO WORK FOR ME.
I SENT J.T. TO GO FIND HIM
AND LET HIM KNOW
I REALLY NEED HIM.
AND, UH, HE SHOWS UP.
WELL, I THOUGHT YOU
WERE SITTING IN JAIL?
I WAS FOR A LITTLE BIT.
THEY TURNED ME LOOSE!
Tickle: IF YOU REALLY LOVE
YOUR COUNTRY...
SON OF A BITCH.
...YOU'RE GONNA HAVE
TO LOVE MOONSHINE.
Narrator: AS TIM'S PROTéGé,
TICKLE HAD A BRIGHT FUTURE
IN MOONSHINE.
BUT A WRONG TURN LED HIM
STRAIGHT INTO THE ARMS
OF THE LAW.
OH, NO.
IT'S, UH, NOT A GREAT DAY.
UM, I GOT CAUGHT WITH,
UH, SAWED-OFF SHOTGUNS.
Man: THE SENTENCING RANGE
ON A CLASS 4 FELONY IS
FROM 2 YEARS TO 10 YEARS
IN THE PENITENTIARY.
THAT'S A LONG TIME.
SO, YOU KNOW, UH,
I WAS IN JAIL FOR 6 WEEKS.
RIGHT OFF, SHE SAID 3 YEARS.
I SAID, "DAMN."
AND SHE SAID,
"I'M GONNA SUSPEND THAT.
WE'LL GIVE YOU
18 MONTHS PROBATION."
AND I TOOK IT...
WHAT WAS YOU DOING
IN THERE 6 WEEKS?
JUST HANGING OUT?
-EATING, GETTING FAT.
-EATING?
MAKING SOME WINE.
-MAKING WINE?
-YEAH.
I THOUGHT YOU COULDN'T DRINK
WHILE YOU WAS IN JAIL.
WELL, YOU AIN'T --
YOU AIN'T SUPPOSED TO.
[ LAUGHS ]
I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN
GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE.
AND I'M GON' TRY
TO MAKE THE BEST OF IT.
UH, YOU KNOW,
I WAS FACING 10 YEARS.
IF I WENT TO JAIL
FOR 10 YEARS,
WELL, YOU KNOW, I --
I -- I'VE GOT A DAUGHTER...
YOU WOULD'VE HAD GRANDKIDS
TIME YOU GOT BACK.
EXACTLY.
YES.
SHE'D BE 25 YEARS OLD BY
THE TIME I GOT OUT OF JAIL.
YEAH. YEAH.
WELL, YOU KNOW,
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU ALL THE WORK
I CAN GIVE YOU, BUT, UH...
UH, WELL, I, YOU KNOW,
I APPRECIATE THAT.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO GET
IN TROUBLE, THOUGH.
NO, NO. I GOT -- I CAN'T GET
IN NO TROUBLE.
WELL, WE GOT ONE MORE SECTION
OF WALL WE GOT TO PUT UP.
-WELL, WE CAN DO THAT.
-CAN WE DO ONE MORE?
-CAN WE DO ONE MORE?
-I THINK SO.
-ARE YOU GUYS READY?
-LET'S GO. HUH?
YOU LOOK AT TICKLE
AND YOU NEVER WOULD KNOW IT.
HE IS A MASTER CARPENTER.
I MEAN, THAT GUY KNOWS HOW
TO PUT A WALL UP, HUH?
Tim: YOU -- YOU TRUST
MY OPERATION, HUH?
I DO.
I TRUST YOU WITH MY LIFE.
ALL RIGHT.
HERE WE GO.
LET ME KNOW
HOW HIGH YOU WANT TO GO.
ALL RIGHT.
I'M REALLY ENJOYING
WORKING WITH TIM AGAIN.
I DON'T MIND AT ALL THESE
HOT DAYS IN THE HARD WORK
BECAUSE I'M WITH MY BROTHER.
AND I'M HELPING HIM OUT.
ALL RIGHT.
A LITTLE BIT MORE.
HOPEFULLY
I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN'T DO
ABOUT GETTING ANOTHER
TRAVEL PERMIT
FROM MY PROBATION OFFICER
AND GETTING BACK UP
HERE TO HELP.
NO.
I GOT IT.
LET ME GET THE LADDER
BACK UP THERE.
-I GOT HER.
-GET THE NAIL GUN.
I'M JUST GONNA SPAN IT
ACROSS THE TOP.
I REALLY DO CARE ABOUT TICKLE.
YOU KNOW, TICKLE'S A GOOD GUY.
HE JUST GOT OFF ON THE
WRONG -- WRONG TRACK, I GUESS.
AND RIGHT NOW I THINK WE NEED
TO JUST GET HIM BACK STRAIGHT.
AND, UH, I THINK THE BEST THING
IS TO PUT HIM TO WORK.
OOH, IT'S HOT.
I THINK WE DONE
GOT IT, AIN'T WE?
Man: GREAT JOB, GUYS.
Narrator:
ON A WINDING MOUNTAIN ROAD
IN GRAHAM COUNTY,
NORTH CAROLINA,
ONE SHINER IS LOOKING
TO STOCK UP ON CORN
FOR THE START OF THE SEASON
WITHOUT ATTRACTING
UNWANTED ATTENTION.
LAST YEAR, MARK
AND PARTNERS JEFF AND LANCE
PRODUCED SEVERAL
NEW WHISKEY RECIPES.
Jeff:
OUR GEORGE WASHINGTON LIQUOR
IS BETTER THAN GEORGE'S WAS
'CAUSE WE GOT THE BEST WATER
IN THE WORLD TO DO THIS.
Narrator: TRANSPORTING
THE TOP-SHELF LIQUOR
TO A BUYER NEARLY
COST THEM EVERYTHING.
BUT THEY ENDED
THE SEASON 100 GRAND RICHER.
THANK YOU, BOYS.
SEE YA.
BY REINVESTING THE MONEY
THEY MADE ON THAT SALE,
THEY'RE PLANNING
TO MORE THAN DOUBLE
THEIR OUTPUT THIS SEASON.
NOW, WE MADE A LOT
OF LIQUOR LAST YEAR.
AND WE'RE GON' TRY
TO BEAT THAT THIS YEAR.
WE'RE HOPING TO MAKE
AT LEAST 1,000 GALLONS.
JUST KEEP YA EYES PEELED.
AND IF YOU NEED ANYTHING,
JUST LET ME KNOW.
I APPRECIATE YOU, BUDDY.
Narrator: EVEN 80 YEARS AFTER
THE END OF PROHIBITION,
THE CAT AND MOUSE GAME
BETWEEN SHINERS
AND THE LAW GOES ON.
Reporter: A MASSIVE MOONSHINE
OPERATION GETS SHUT DOWN.
Narrator: IN 2015, THE STATE
OF VIRGINIA ALONE
MADE OVER
1,000 ARRESTS RELATED
TO ILLEGAL LIQUOR,
FORCING MOONSHINERS
TO KEEP OPERATING
IN THE SHADOWS.
THIS RIGHT HERE
IS MY ACE IN A HOLE.
I GOT MY MOONSHINE
BEHIND LOCK AND KEY.
THIS IS MY STASH HOUSE.
OVER THE WINTERTIME,
MADE, UH, 400 OR SO GALLONS.
AND, UH, ALL THE LIQUOR'S
RIGHT HERE.
WHO WOULD EVER THINK SHINE
WOULD BE UNDER A PICKUP TRUCK
LIKE THIS ANYWAY?
Narrator: AS SPRING'S RETURN HAS
SHINERS REVVING UP THEIR STILLS,
REGULAR CORN LIQUOR
IS FETCHING $100 A GALLON.
AND IN SOUTH CAROLINA,
JOSH IS ALREADY STOCKED UP.
HOW THIS WORKS IS THE SHINE
GOES IN RIGHT HERE,
FILLS THIS TANK UP.
THE PUMP WORKS OFF OF THESE
TWO BATTERIES RIGHT HERE.
RIGHT NOW, I'VE JUST
GOT IT UNHOOKED SO,
YOU KNOW, WHEN I COME OUT HERE,
I CAN HOOK IT UP.
THAT WAY IT DON'T
DRAW MY BATTERY DOWN
OR NOTHING LIKE THAT.
YEAH.
IT'S PRETTY HANDY DANDY.
Narrator:
JOSH'S SURPLUS MOONSHINE
IS STASHED INSIDE
TWO 300-GALLON PLASTIC TANKS
BURIED UNDERGROUND
BENEATH AN OLD PICKUP TRUCK.
THE TANKS ARE FILLED
THROUGH A PVC PIPE
LOCATED UNDER THE TRUCK'S HOOD.
AN ELECTRIC PUMP
CAN BE ACTIVATED
TO MOVE THE STORED WHISKEY
FROM THE TANKS
THROUGH AN UNDERGROUND PIPE
TO A NEARBY WATERSPOUT
PUTTING A MOONSHINE
MOTHER LODE
AT JOSH'S FINGERTIPS.
Josh: WE'RE GONNA GO
MAKE SOME SALES,
BE STACKING BACK SOME FAT CASH.
Narrator: IT'LL BE SEVERAL DAYS
BEFORE JOSH'S NEXT BATCH
OF MASH IS FINISHED FERMENTING.
BUT INSTEAD OF RESTING,
HE'S USING THE DOWNTIME
TO MAKE A SALE.
Josh: MY OPERATION'S TAKING UP
SO MUCH OF MY TIME,
THERE'S VERY LITTLE TIME
FOR ME TO DO ANYTHING
BUT MAKE SALES,
MAKE MASH, MAKE SHINE.
YOU READY TO MAKE
SOME MONEY?
WE'RE ON OUR WAY
OVER HERE TO DROP OFF
ABOUT 75 GALLONS OF LIQUOR.
IT'S JUST
A CONTINUOUS OPERATION,
GOING, GOING, GOING.
NOW, I MAY BE WORKING
FROM 6:00 IN THE MORNING
TO DAMN 2:00
OR 3:00 IN THE MORNING.
BUT I'M JUST MAKING
AS MANY SALES
AND MAKING AS MANY RUNS
AND AS MANY BATCHES
OF SHINE AS I CAN.
Narrator: COMING UP...
Tim: THIS IS TERRIBLE.
Narrator: ...BAD NEWS
THREATENS TO TAKE
TIM'S OPERATION OFF THE RAILS.
WE GOT A PROBLEM.
Josh: AH [BLEEP]
Narrator: AND JOSH'S LIQUOR
HAS NEVER BEEN HOTTER.
I'M EAGER FOR US TO GET UP HERE
AT THIS STILL SITE.
YOU'VE ALWAYS COME THROUGH
FOR US IN THE PAST,
THERE AIN'T REASON
TO DOUBT YOU NOW, CUZ.
I'D BE ALMOST CERTAIN
THAT NOBODY WOULD EVER
COME IN THERE
AFTER DARK ON US.
THAT'S COOL.
Narrator: IN THE DARK HEART
OF TENNESSEE'S SMOKEY MOUNTAINS,
TWO OLD PROS ARE STILL
ON THE HUNT FOR A NEW SITE.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING UP
TOWARDS THE WEAVERS BEND FOR?
WE MIGHT BE GOING UP
IN THIS DIRECTION TO WORK.
WELL, WEAVERS BEND
WOULD BE ALL RIGHT.
WEAVERS BEND'S
A GOOD SITE.
THIS LOCATION'S OUTSTANDING.
THE WATER'S GREAT.
I'VE HUNTED AND CAMPED UP
IN HERE MANY A TIME.
AND IT'LL MAKE GOOD LIQUOR.
OH THIS IS
ALMOST FAR ENOUGH.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
"ALMOST FAR ENOUGH"?
NO. NO.
NO. NO.
WHAT?
THIS AIN'T
THE WEAVERS BEND.
WHEN DID -- WHEN --
WHEN DID YOU EVEN THINK
ABOUT THIS PLACE?
'CAUSE THERE AIN'T
NOBODY GONNA COME IN HERE
AND MESS WITH US.
I MEAN, GRANTED, DON'T GET ME
WRONG, I UNDERSTAND.
YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT ONE THING.
-WHAT'S THAT?
THERE AIN'T NO LOCAL PEOPLE
GONNA BE WANDERING
AROUND UP HERE.
THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
OLD WHITEY.
HISTORICALLY,
WE'RE A VERY SUPERSTITIOUS
BUNCH OF PEOPLE HERE
IN THE APPALACHIAN AREA.
OLD WHITEY LEGEND HAS IT
IS A FELLA OF THE NAME
OF TRIP FINCHUM
THAT WAS IN HERE
MAKING LIQUOR.
UH, THERE WAS A COUPLE
OF CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS
COMING THROUGH HERE
AND CAME ACROSS OLD TRIP.
AND THEY GOT IN A SQUABBLE
AND WRESTLED AROUND.
WELL, HE DROWNED WHITEY,
OR TRIP,
IN THIS CREEK RIGHT HERE.
AND SUPPOSEDLY THE KNIFE
THAT TRIP TRIED
TO ATTACK HIM WITH,
HE TOOK AWAY FROM HIM
AND CUT HIS HEAD OFF.
UH, THE REASON THAT LEGEND
CAME ABOUT WAS THE SAME REASON
THAT WE'RE WANTING IT
TO STAND THE WAY IT IS.
WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE
IN HERE LOOKING AROUND.
SEE, WE GOT
A GOOD FLOW OF WATER.
IT AIN'T NO BIG
ROARING CREEK.
BUT IT'S PLENTY OF WATER.
IT'S COLD.
THERE'S MINNOWS IN IT.
YEAH.
DON'T SEE NO SNAPDRAGONS
OR MILKWEED, UH,
GROWING RIGHT UP IN IT.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY IT --
WHY YOU CAN'T FEEL
NO AIR STIR DOWN IN HERE MUCH.
YOU CAN SEE THE LEAVES MOVING.
BUT I SWEAR,
I CAN'T FEEL NO AIR.
I JUST DON'T LIKE IT HERE.
WELL, WE AIN'T GOT
MANY OPTIONS THERE, CUZ.
AND WE NEED TO BE,
UH, WE --
WE, RIGHT NOW,
NEED MASH BARRELS FILLED UP.
AND I'M A WHOLE LOT
LESS AFRAID OF WHITEY
THAN I AM THE SHERIFF.
I -- I AIN'T REALLY
THAT GOOD WITH IT.
BUT TIME IS CATCHING UP WITH US.
UH, WE NEED
TO ALREADY BE STARTED.
IT'S A VERY WARM
SPRING ALREADY.
AND MASH WOULD DONE
BE FERMENTING WELL.
WE SET IT UP AND WE MAKE
A RUN OF LIQUOR.
AND IF IT AIN'T NO CAMP,
WE PACK UP AND TRAVEL ON.
I'LL --
I'LL AGREE TO THAT.
Narrator: MARK AND DIGGER
AREN'T THE FIRST SHINERS
TO MASK THEIR ACTIVITIES
BEHIND A MYTH.
IN RURAL VIRGINIA,
EARLY 20th-CENTURY SHINERS
PLAYED ON RESIDENTS' FEAR
OF AN ANTLERED BEAST
CALLED THE GLUTTON BUCK,
FAKING THUNDEROUS HOOF BEATS
AND UNEARTHLY SOUNDS
TO DRIVE AWAY CURIOUS LOCALS.
AND A 1920s POLICE RAID
ON A HAUNTED HOUSE
IN ATLANTIC CITY
REVEALED THE HOME'S
ONLY SPIRITS WERE ENCASED
IN A 100-GALLON WHISKEY STILL.
AND ALONG THE CANADIAN BORDER
REGION OF EASTERN MICHIGAN,
APPARITIONS GLIDING OVER
THE FROZEN WATERS
OF THE ST. CLAIR RIVER TURNED
OUT TO BE GHOST WALKERS,
LIQUOR SMUGGLERS
WHO DONNED ICE SKATES
AND WHITE SHEETS
TO PUT THE BOO IN BOOTLEGGER.
IN NORTH CAROLINA, JEFF,
MARK AND LANCE
ARE READY FOR THE FIRST RUN
THAT WILL LAUNCH THEIR
1,000-GALLON SEASON.
Narrator: THEIR REPUTATION
FOR TOP-NOTCH LIQUOR
HAS HELPED JEFF,
MARK AND LANCE
SECURE MOST
OF GRAHAM COUNTY,
NORTH CAROLINA,
A TERRITORY STRETCHING
FROM LAKE SANTEETLAH WEST
TO THE TENNESSEE BORDER.
BY PUSHING OVER THE HIGH RIDGE
OF MOUNTAINS ALONG
THE STATE LINE
INTO EASTERN TENNESSEE,
THEY WOULD ESTABLISH
AN INTERSTATE TERRITORY,
POTENTIALLY DOUBLING
THEIR PROFITS FOR THE SEASON.
THE FIRST FEW OUNCES
TO POUR OUT OF THE WORM,
CALLED THE HEADS,
CONTAIN TOXIC METHANOL
AND ARE PROMPTLY
THROWN OUT.
Chuck: ALL RIGHT.
THERE YOU GO, HUH?
HOW'S IT GOING NOW,
CHERYL, ANY BETTER?
ARE WE READY FOR WEDNESDAY,
DO SOME MORE WORK TO IT?
SURE.
Narrator: BACK AT VIRGINIA'S
BELMONT FARM,
THE SECOND POLAND
ORDER NEARS THE FINISH LINE.
BUT TIM'S FAR
FROM CELEBRATING.
THERE'S MOONSHINE
SITTING EVERYWHERE,
JUST GOT TO GO IN A BOTTLE.
SEE THIS TANK?
1,500 GALLONS
OF CLIMAX MOONSHINE.
THAT'S 1,500 GALLONS
THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE BOTTLED.
THERE'S 800 GALLONS HERE.
THERE'S 700 GALLONS.
SO THERE'S 3,000 GALLONS
OF MOONSHINE RIGHT THERE.
CHUCK!
WE GOT A PROBLEM.
I GOT AN E-MAIL
FROM POLAND.
GUY CANCELED THE ORDER.
Chuck: CAN YOU DO IT?
THERE'S A BIG ASS --
THAT'S A BIG-ASS THING, NOW.
YEAH.
RUN IT ALL THE WAY OUT.
YEAH.
THERE WE GO.
-THAT'S IT.
-SEE, CHUCK,
THAT'S WHERE
THIS COMES IN HANDY.
YOU JUST SET THAT WALL
RIGHT DOWN ON THAT.
Y'ALL TALKING SO MUCH,
I CAN'T GET NO HELP HERE.
IT'S KIND OF FUN
WORKING WITH TICKLE.
YOU KNOW, HE CAN CRACK A JOKE
EVERY ONCE AND A WHILE.
IT'S JUST THE WAY
HE WALKS AND TALKS AND --
AND DOES THINGS, UH,
IT KIND OF GETS YOU MOTIVATED.
A LOT OF TIMES I CALL
THAT MY TOOL SHED, CHUCK.
-YOUR TOOL SHED?
-YEAH.
IT KEEPS MY TOOLS
DRY WHEN IT RAINS.
YEAH, HE GAINED,
LIKE, 20 POUNDS.
CHUCK!
WE GOT A PROBLEM.
I GOT AN E-MAIL
FROM POLAND.
AND THE GUY
CANCELED THE ORDER.
YEAH.
AND I --
I TRIED TO CALL HIM.
I TRIED TO E-MAIL HIM.
I DON'T GET NO, UH, FEEDBACK.
UH...
-BUT THE WHISKEY'S
SELLING GOOD OVER THERE.
YEAH. I KNOW.
UH, SOMETHING HAPPENED.
BUT, TIM,
WE -- WE'RE RUNNING
AT FULL CAPACITY.
WE GOT ALL THESE PEOPLE
WORKING HERE.
I KNOW.
IT'S A LOT...
WE GOT MONEY TIED UP
IN THE ORDER.
-IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE.
-MONEY TIED UP
IN NEW CONSTRUCTION.
YEAH. I KNOW.
I KNOW.
AND YOU TELL ME THEY CANCELED
THIS GIGANTIC ORDER ON US.
I KNOW.
UH, I MEAN,
I KNOW WE GOT
TO STOP PRODUCTION
FOR A MOMENT UNTIL
WE FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO.
Tim: THIS IS A BIG ORDER.
IT'S HARD TO FIND SOMEONE
THAT'S GONNA TAKE 6,000 CASES
OF MOONSHINE JUST LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW THE --
THE -- THE MONEY
I BORROWED FROM THE BANK,
THE BANK'S GONNA
WANT THAT MONEY.
UH, I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY
TO PAY FOR THE --
FOR THE LOAN,
FOR THE EXPANSION.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE IT'S GONNA BE
A DISASTER FOR THE WHOLE COMPANY
TRYING TO BUILD SOMETHING
FOR MY SON TO TAKE OVER.
IF -- IF ALL THIS FALLS THROUGH,
I WOULD FEEL LIKE I FAILED,
YOU KNOW, MY FAMILY.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, HERE WE ARE,
GOT BILLS OUT THE YIN YANG.
AND NOW YOU SAY
WE'RE NOT SHIPPING.
I'M ON IT.
BUT I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU.
YOU GONNA HAVE TO
COME UP WITH SOMETHING.
Josh:
HEY, BUDDY, WHERE YOU AT?
WHERE DO YOU WANT ME
TO MEET YOU AT?
YEAH. YEAH.
I'M ABOUT TO PULL IN RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: A FEW MILES FROM
THE SOUTH CAROLINA BORDER...
Josh: WE'RE ON OUR WAY
OVER HERE TO DROP OFF
ABOUT 75 GALLONS OF LIQUOR.
Narrator:
...JOSH IS ABOUT TO MAKE
HIS FIRST SALE OF THE SEASON.
STAY THERE, CUTIE-PIE.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
AT 100 BUCKS A GALLON,
JOSH'S 75-GALLON SALE
SHOULD EARN HIM
A TIDY $7,500 TAX FREE.
WHATCHA BEEN UP TO, MAN?
WORKING HARD?
TAKE YOU LONG TO
GET RID OF THIS?
THAT'S A DANG
GOOD THING.
YOU JUST LET ME KNOW
AND I'LL HAVE SOME MORE.
THANK YOU, MAN.
APPRECIATE IT.
ALL RIGHT, MAN.
HOLLER WHEN YOU NEED SOME MORE.
THAT COULDN'T HAVE
WENT ANY BETTER.
IT FEELS GOOD TO BE ON TOP.
I'M EXHAUSTED.
I'M HEADING TO THE STASH
HOUSE RIGHT NOW.
I'M JUST GONNA LEAVE
THIS TRUCK THERE.
WHAT THE...
WHAT THE HELL?
[BLEEP]
AH [BLEEP]
[BLEEP] STASH HOUSE!
[ THUNDER RUMBLES ]
[ SIRENS WAILING ]
[ LIGHTNING CRASHES ]
Narrator:
NEXT TIME ON "MOONSHINERS"...
MARK LOSES HIS HEAD.
Ramsey:
I'M NOT COMFORTABLE HERE.
OH!
YOU SON OF A BITCH, YOU.
LOUISIANA SHINERS
PATTI AND DAVID
TURN FRESH FRUIT
INTO A CASH CROP.
David: WE GON' HAND PICK
THE FRESHEST FRUIT.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE THE BEST
THAT ANYBODY IN LOUISIANA'S
EVER SEEN THIS YEAR.
Josh: IT'S HARD TO FIND
A PARTNER IN CRIME
BECAUSE YOU GOT TO BE ABLE
TO TRUST 'EM WITH YOUR LIFE.
Narrator:
AND JOSH LOOKS UP AN OLD FRIEND.
WHAT'S SHAKING?