Is it me or has moonshine exploded lately?

[Coon-ass]

Seems that shine has become the "in" or "cool" thing lately. I am sure this will eventually pass as all fads do leaving us only hardcore guys left. But it got me thinking as to why is it so popular lately? My few friends that know I make it are asking me all the time for some and most are wanting to come over to learn how to make it. There is this extreme fascination with it....and I believe this started even before that stupid show came on. Of course, it did help create a little more buzz.
I am finding shows that deal with simpler ways of life are getting huge ratings (Swamp People, Gold Rush, American Pickers, etc). My hypothesis is that people are tired of all of the rush and modernization of society, that they thirst for something simpler (no pun intended). Moonshine is associated with a simpler way of life that lets people temporarily escape to that time. Good thing they don't read this forum and see how complex it can be. But I digress....when the average person thinks of shine they think of backwoods Appalachia. And maybe, just maybe, shine and the association with a simple life helps keep a few people sane in a complex world.

My 2 bits.
CA

[MuleKicker]

its called reality tv.... example: Moonshiners. It will die down.... Until the next show.

[Coon-ass]

its called reality tv.... example: Moonshiners. It will die down.... Until the next show.

Nah, if you read my post I state it was like this before that stupid show. This isn't just with moonshine, it's with a lot of stuff: cars, antiques, etc... I am thinking people want to go back to a simpler time

[HungoverHog]

I am new to distilling so I am part of the boom. I am a history nerd and am interested in the way things used to be done. I always got a kick out of the shows that would come on like history of whiskey and the like. Never thought much for the whole "moonshiner" "bootlegging" aspect but the actual history of the way it was made. I am a little turned off by the boom brought on by the so called reality show Moonshiners. Even the highly hailed Popcorn Sutton. That is just not what it is about for me. Distilling and enjoying what you have made in the sudo "way it used to be" way of making whiskey is the fun I have with it. I don't mind the new influx of hobby distillers so long as they keep it as that and not think they are the Duke boys and try to be moonshiners. Hopefully we can find a way to have home distilling legalized for personal consumption but until then I hope all the new hobbyist will help dispel the myth of moonshining to make it a more accepted past time.

[blind drunk]

I am thinking people want to go back to a simpler time

Nostalgia is a growing industry

[Bayou-Ruler]

back to basics.............. no matter how far you advance you will eventually wind up right back where you began,......... the basics

[BigPa]

I think you are on the track CA. I see it too. We grow our own veggies. We grind our own wheat and bake our bread. We can our own veggies and meats. I am starting to see more doing this. It is much harder to do, so some will never do it. I think that is just that they are too wrapped in the modern conveniences.


Give me the simpler ways of old......

[rad14701]

There has been an upsurge since back around 2008 when the other whiskey shows first started airing on The History Channel... The first shows only mainly made mention of legal distilleries... The deeper into illegal moonshining they have gone, the busier we seem to be getting...

[goinbroke2]

I've shown 4 people now in the last 3 years. Helped them get set up and running. Nobody is selling anything, it's nothing to do with that. All of them used to/still make beer or wine and wanted to move to the next step. "never tried that before".
Actually, that's my story too I guess, made beer and wine for years then decided that I've always wanted to try shine.

I know people who make homemade bread,jam etc but also one guy who grows 8 or 9 tobacco plants and rolls his own cig's. I don't smoke but thought that it was excellent! How cool is that? Growing your own tobacco?
And not to break a certain rule around here, but I know of a guy who grows his own weed too. Again, personal consumption as nobody would even believe he smoked the stuff. (daily suit and tie guy)
There is a petition to legalise marijuana in Canada. Don't smoke it and never have but if it's for personal consumption like beer/wine/spirits/tobacco/bread/jam/etc I think I'm for it.

Hand crafted or homemade stuff is cool no matter what it is. (just reminded me, the wife is making pickled beans now, the kid loves 'em).

[Coon-ass]

I've shown 4 people now in the last 3 years. Helped them get set up and running. Nobody is selling anything, it's nothing to do with that. All of them used to/still make beer or wine and wanted to move to the next step. "never tried that before".
Actually, that's my story too I guess, made beer and wine for years then decided that I've always wanted to try shine.

I know people who make homemade bread,jam etc but also one guy who grows 8 or 9 tobacco plants and rolls his own cig's. I don't smoke but thought that it was excellent! How cool is that? Growing your own tobacco?
And not to break a certain rule around here, but I know of a guy who grows his own weed too. Again, personal consumption as nobody would even believe he smoked the stuff. (daily suit and tie guy)
There is a petition to legalise marijuana in Canada. Don't smoke it and never have but if it's for personal consumption like beer/wine/spirits/tobacco/bread/jam/etc I think I'm for it.

Hand crafted or homemade stuff is cool no matter what it is. (just reminded me, the wife is making pickled beans now, the kid loves 'em).

Now making one's own cigars. That is cool. Probably hard as hell too!