"Moonshiners" (TV show) on Discovery Channel is a reality series that tells the story of those who brew their shine — often in the woods near their homes using camouflaged equipment — and the local authorities who try to keep them honest.
Think the days of bootleggers, backwoods stills and "white lightning" are over? Not a chance! It's a multi-million dollar industry. But perhaps more importantly to the moonshiners, it's a tradition dating back hundreds of years, passed down to them from their
forefathers. It's part of their history and culture. While this practice is surprisingly alive and well, it's not always legal.
Viewers will witness practices rarely, if ever, seen on television including the sacred rite of passage for a moonshiner — firing up the still for the first time. They will also meet legends, including notorious moonshiner Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton.
Deep in Appalachia, where many shiners live, there are some areas where more sugar is sold than local residents could consume on their own. The main ingredients in moonshine "mash" are water, sugar, corn and yeast. It's also no accident moonshine season is from June to October — the height of the corn harvest and the peak of foliage to hide the illegal operations.
The origin of moonshining in the United States has been linked with the Whiskey Rebellion during the 1790's. Under President George Washington, a Federal tax was imposed on whiskey, which farmers strongly resented — leading to a backlash and rise in illegal distillers. Even the origins of NASCAR have been linked back to the skilled driving of moonshiners eluding law enforcement.
Season 2
Tim Smith, the most wanted moonshiner in the U.S., is back with the agility and ease needed to be the best at what he does while remaining safe from the law. His desire to go legal remains strong, and causes serious conflict, as his partner and sidekick, Tickle, helps keep the outlaw distillers running and moonshine adventures rolling. Deputy Sheriff Chuck, a law enforcement veteran, has spent the last decade trying to catch bootleggers and moonshiners in the act of making moonshine, and it's no easy task. Smith is adept at leaving no traces or fingerprints, and his moonshine ventures are a high stakes game of constant pursuit, near captures, and repeated escapes.
Change is in the air in this all new season of "Moonshiners" as a moonshine legend has been lost. With the passing of Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton, new characters are introduced as moonshine sites are compromised and new moonshine methods and new dangers come into play.
"Moonshiners" Season 2 is produced for Discovery by Magilla Entertainment, where Matt Ostrom and Brian Flanagan are executive producers. For Discovery, Dolores Gavin is executive producer.
Think the days of bootleggers, backwoods stills and "white lightning" are over? Not a chance! It's a multi-million dollar industry. But perhaps more importantly to the moonshiners, it's a tradition dating back hundreds of years, passed down to them from their
"Moonshiners" cast members JT Smith, Tim Smith and Steve "Tickle"
"Moonshiners" cast members JT Smith, Tim Smith and Steve "Tickle" - © Discovery Channel
Viewers will witness practices rarely, if ever, seen on television including the sacred rite of passage for a moonshiner — firing up the still for the first time. They will also meet legends, including notorious moonshiner Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton.
Deep in Appalachia, where many shiners live, there are some areas where more sugar is sold than local residents could consume on their own. The main ingredients in moonshine "mash" are water, sugar, corn and yeast. It's also no accident moonshine season is from June to October — the height of the corn harvest and the peak of foliage to hide the illegal operations.
The origin of moonshining in the United States has been linked with the Whiskey Rebellion during the 1790's. Under President George Washington, a Federal tax was imposed on whiskey, which farmers strongly resented — leading to a backlash and rise in illegal distillers. Even the origins of NASCAR have been linked back to the skilled driving of moonshiners eluding law enforcement.
Season 2
Tim Smith, the most wanted moonshiner in the U.S., is back with the agility and ease needed to be the best at what he does while remaining safe from the law. His desire to go legal remains strong, and causes serious conflict, as his partner and sidekick, Tickle, helps keep the outlaw distillers running and moonshine adventures rolling. Deputy Sheriff Chuck, a law enforcement veteran, has spent the last decade trying to catch bootleggers and moonshiners in the act of making moonshine, and it's no easy task. Smith is adept at leaving no traces or fingerprints, and his moonshine ventures are a high stakes game of constant pursuit, near captures, and repeated escapes.
Change is in the air in this all new season of "Moonshiners" as a moonshine legend has been lost. With the passing of Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton, new characters are introduced as moonshine sites are compromised and new moonshine methods and new dangers come into play.
"Moonshiners" Season 2 is produced for Discovery by Magilla Entertainment, where Matt Ostrom and Brian Flanagan are executive producers. For Discovery, Dolores Gavin is executive producer.
Jim Tom Hedrick Moonshiners Tim Smith and JT Smith Moonshiners Jesse Tate and partner Moonshiners Tim Smith and Steve Tickle Moonshiners Jesse Tate and Jim Moonshiners Steve Tickle and JT Smith Moonshiners Moonshiners (Discovery TV show) Pictures
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