Moonshine Story

[carol333]

Hi -

I'm a writer, not a distiller, and I'm writing a story set in 1915 in which the characters have a still. I've been reading about old-time stills in Appalachia, and hope to learn a lot more here.

Here's my opening question: My characters are making corn liquor, and one of them ruins it. I've heard of ruining a batch by burning. Is this heating the mash at too high a temperature?

Any other suggestions of how someone can ruin a batch will be appreciated!

[blind drunk]

What are you writing? Fiction? Not fiction?

Welcome to HD.

Probably ruined the batch of corn likker by scorching the solids in the mash. In 1915, they were more than likely distilling on the grain and with a wood fire as opposed to straining out the solid bits and using propane or electric as most do these days

[Washashore]

Lol-- Ive ruined almost every all-grain mash I've done!

[Bayou-Ruler]

welcome

[boda getta]

+1 Blind Drunk

I would have the character being impatient, getting in too big of a hurry, and heating the mash too fast and hot and sticking the mash (scorching, actually burning) the mash to the pot. From everything I've read, the scorched taste is readily recognizable and impossible to get out of the whiskey. It would be a great way to introduce tension between the two characters ie the "good" character explaining and cautioning the "bad" character of the importance of being careful and taking his time, then the "bad" character ruining the run anyway. In addition to ruining the entire run, the still pot would have to completely scrubbed clean before another run could be ran and this was a whole lot of work and time consuming. A scorched run was about the worst thing that could happen to a moonshiner (next to getting caught, of course).
Good luck with your book.
It would be a neat thing if you could post the moonshine chapters of your book, we would love to re it.

BG

[blind drunk]

Nice one, boda getta. I can feel another three word story coming on

[boda getta]

Please God, No, Not another three word story!

BG

[carol333]

Thanks for the great details. I'm going to read as much of your forum posts as I can, and I'll definitely post chapters here so you can help me with the accuracy. I'm sure I'll have more questions as I get into the topic.

I'm not familiar yet with the site. Where should I post a chapter?

[LWTCS]

This is your thread Carol. Post it here.
Mods can move it if needed,,,,,,but this here is your spot....

BTW,, can't tell ya how much these fellers around here likely appreciate an accurate account of the "makin" part of your story. They some folks round here got a story or two burried in here some where.

Good luck

[Prairiepiss]

Welcome aboard.

+1 LWTCS looks like a good place to me.

Good luck. And who knows? Your reading around here mite spark an interest in the arts.

[carol333]

Turnip still -- looks like an upside down pot with a long handle.

turnip.still.jpg (27.6 KiB) Viewed 1672 times

I appreciate your help and your interest. These chapters may not be ready for a month or so, and when I post them please feel free to laugh at my feeble understanding, and suggest corrections and changes!

For now, here are a couple of questions.

1. Do you have any idea how a cap was sealed on an old-time still? (I've seen pictures of turnip (pot) stills, but nothing to show how they're sealed.) Maybe "cap" isn't even the right word. I'm thinking "lid."

2. When they used wood fires, did they need to maintain them as coals rather than flames?

3. Here's a photo of a turnip still. Can you estimate anything about it, like how many quarts or gallons of decent moonshine might they get from one run, and where the cap is?

[edge]

My folks moved to XXX County in Virginia in 1980.

That county used more sugar than any other county in the US, and not a week went by that a still was not busted in those Blue Ridge Mountain hollers.
No doubt they are cookin right now

edge.