The roots of moonshining in East Tennessee

Here in the mountains of East Tennessee, moonshining has been an American pastime, and it’s been riding high on a revival for the past few years. The song Rocky Top was written nearly 60 years ago just a few miles up the mountain from us here in Pigeon Forge. Listening between the lines you hear a longing for a life that’s missed, where folks simply dreamt about home sweet home and “got their corn from a jar”. That longing has now turned into an industry that’s taken the entire country by storm.

Moonshining: A blend of tradition, secrecy, and craftsmanship

When the Irish and Scottish settlers first came to the Smokies in the 1700’s they brought with them their practice of making whiskey. They found that corn grew easier in the soil here, so it quickly became the crop of choice.

For any whiskey you need water, yeast, and a grain, oh, and time — about two years minimum. Some are aged in barrels for five to ten times that long. That’s where moonshine comes in. It’s simply an un-aged spirit, and at one time it was also known as an un-taxed spirit. But, that changed. So suddenly a fifth element had to be added to the distillation — secrecy. While it was an American pastime, it was also an income for many.

In the dark of night, where only a few moonbeams could show through the trees deep in the mountains, the making of spirits was hidden from the tax man, otherwise known as the revenuer. Working by the light of the moon, the folks operating the stills became known as moonshiners, thus the whiskey simply became known as moonshine.

Popcorn Sutton: The legendary moonshiner of East Tennessee

And sometimes white lightning, hooch, corn likker, corn whiskey, mountain dew, rotgut, and more. Names that were not only as exciting as the kick of the spirit but could, for a little while, be code for some so they could talk about it and sell it without detection.bOne very well-known moonshiner was Popcorn Sutton. The only thing sharper than his liquor was his tongue.

Moonshining and The Old Mill: A historical connection

Before it was legal to sell in Tennessee, or just about anywhere, Popcorn came to The Old Mill, brought his still, and set up to make it right in the parking lot. He could sample it out, and that he did. For an old, foulmouthed, codger, he could charm the worst of them. A sip or two in and they could be old friends, a shot or two and they could be kin. If they had more than that, well they would either fight it out or sleep it off. And Popcorn was not one you’d want to fight with.

A sip or two in and they could be old friends, a shot or two and they could be kin. If they had more than that, well they would either fight it out or sleep it off. 

Since 1830, our grist mill has been grinding grains, mostly corn, into meals and flour. While we don’t have any records to prove it, or stories to disprove it, we’re pretty sure some of that corn ended up in a jar. We hear stories all the time that somebody’s grandaddy or uncle had a still tucked in a holler back in the mountains.

From bootlegging to “Thunder Road”: moonshining in pop culture

In 1958, the movie Thunder Road was released. It played to sold out crowds at the Parkway Drive-In Theater in Pigeon Forge. The story of local mountain bootleggers who ran moonshine all over the region from Asheville, North Carolina to Memphis, Tennessee starred Robert Mitchum.

Today it’s a cult classic that also featured gangsters and plenty of fast cars. It’s even been said that NASCAR was born out of the supped-up cars that moonshiners built and drove. It’s no accident that Bristol Motor Speedway is in East TN and is uniquely American.

Old Forge Distillery: Crafting hand-forged spirits

At Old Forge Distillery, we don’t have to long for the days we miss, and it sure is home sweet home to us. And, it can be for you too. Old Forge is a family owned and operated distillery, which is about as American as you can get too, and the roots run deep.

The inspiration ties back to the iron forge that the town is partly named for, which was built in 1817 just a few feet away. Early pioneers literally forged out an existence for themselves here. It was that hard-as-steel determination that created the tagline “Hand-Forged Spirits”.

The journey of Keener: From hobbyist to head distiller

Our Head Distiller, Keener, is a cousin to the owners. Back when he was a local fireman, he had a pastime in the shed on his days off. Making liquor was a hobby for him to while away the hours, and he'd gotten pretty good at it too. 

Then about a decade ago the laws changed, and he heard about a new distillery starting up in Pigeon Forge. He sent a message through social that simply said

“Hey cuz, I hear you’re looking for a distiller.”

And the rest is Old Forge history. It wasn’t long before he went from putting water on the fire, to putting fire in the water full time. And no longer did he have to hide in the shed. On any given day you can stroll on into the distillery and you’ll find him with his nose in a jar making sure the proof is just right, inspecting the still, checking the mash, or talking to our Head Miller, Chuck, from The Old Mill, where all the grains he uses come from. And when you see him, say “Hey!” and he’ll flash a smile, throw up his hand, and “Hey y’all!” back.

As a matter of fact, you can do that to anyone working at Old Forge, and you’ll be welcomed to step up to the tasting bar and try a sample. Just make sure you’ve got your ID, cause these days it’s all on the up-and-up.

The community spirit of Pigeon Forge

Pigeon Forge first began because the community came together to support one another. When Pigeon Forge became a tourist destination, it was because the community came together to support one another. Today at The Old Mill, our individual businesses not only support but depend on each other. It’s a pattern of American determination and success that we have no plans of changing. Our makers work together so we can bring our customers spirits, pottery, baked goods, ice cream, candy, food, and more, in a way that no one else can.