Interested in speaking to people on the Art of Distilling

[MoonBreath]

May be able to find what ya want, or possibly do a production, at the annual moonshine festival in Dawsonville, Georgia ...A traditional (40 yr) event ..I believe its the last weekend in October ..
Dawsonville chamber of commerce are the folks to contact.

[Truckinbutch]

Dez , I think ya done 'screwed the pooch' with most of us

[HDNB]

Dez , I think ya done 'screwed the pooch' with most of us

yeah i hate to say it, but you're on the sunny side of the road here. If you want the shady side you're gonna need to keep walkin a ways. Glorifing criminals like drugs inc. is done to death. Comparing me to them is an insult.

you write:

This is nota nother 'Moonshine' show and the producers are keen to dispel some of the stereotypes and clichés around Moonshining.

yet you are looking for the stereotypical for profit criminal element. I thought you said you wanted to dispel this bullshit and show a real, safe, fun hobby. that's a new angle. What you are talking about now has been, like drugs inc. ...done to death.

hdnb (throwin down the gang's sign: )

[StillLearning1]

Well Dez, I think the difference between finding someone for this vs. Someone for drugs Inc. Is "how" illegal our hobby is. You guys find a drug user to talk to and if they get bust via your show its a hard slap on the wrist for most. For us It could be years in jail, house and truck seized....see what I'm saying?Thats also why you can't find many "events" surrounding the hobby either. Its just not the same as an event that may take place saaay....next Tuesday in Colorado.

To put it in perspective.... my own family don't even know what I do in my shed.

[thecroweater]

Damn it, another chance for an interesting doco splattering in the long drop of junk "reality" that ain't all that real

[ranger_ric]

I guess another BIG difference between what we do and those folks on Drugs Inc. Is that most of us have families, Homes, Jobs and some great things in life. We arent stuck with this illegal activity to try to pay off our baby mommas and court fees and running from warrants. We try to perfect something instead of hustle someone. We are fascinated by the vast unknown of this hobby. What can we build.... What can we mix.... How can we age.... Can my cuts get better........ Chemistry, Biology, Welding/soldering, Statistics, Time management (patience), and Spy VS Spy.....
Dont Sell
Dont Tell
Enjoy!

RR

[Tater]

Hi guys,

Apologies for not replying to all of your messages. Things here have been rather hectic! There are still a few things left to look into and I was wondering if anyone can help with this. Most of the people I have spoken to said that they distill on a very small scale and mainly for themselves. We are really interested in finding people who are distilling at home, but on a larger scale. So maybe someone who does it for their other relatives, neighbors, local friends. Maybe there is an event in the neighborhood where the locals make and try their homemade moonshine and continue the tradition. We'd love to see some of those events or community gatherings, if they do exist, and meet with the people within those circles who do this as a hobby and as a way to carry on the tradition, but on a larger scale rather than individuals.

We are really interested in accessing this world that is not easy to find or get into for the regular viewer that will be watching this, hence why we are focusing more on distillers who do this underground. I want to reassure you however, that everything is done on a completely anonymous basis.

Many episodes of our previous programs like Drugs Inc. and Underworld Inc. are available to view on YouTube so you can get an idea about how effectively contributors’ identities are disguised.

I will also reiterate that the program presents all stories in an objective way. We are not trying to make anyone look bad or present them in a light that is not true to them. This is not
another 'Moonshine' show and the producers are keen to dispel some of the stereotypes and clichés around Moonshining.

The crew will be in the states from the 20th April for around 4 weeks. Please contact me either through here or via my work email address for more information or if you have any questions: desislava.kadra@walltowall.co.uk

Thanks for reading and for all of your help previously! Really appreciate it!

Dez

Guess you didn't bother to read rules of this site 6. No discussions of any illegal activity, except the actual hobby level distillation process. These forums are only for discussing the creation and enjoyment of high quality spirits for one's own personal consumption. They are not for the discussion or promotion of any other illegal activities, including illegal drugs, obtaining stilling materials by illegal means, etc. Offenders may be banned


9. It is the hope of this forum to promote the legislation of home distilling as a legal hobby here in the United States. One of our goals, is to prove a quality product can be done safely by the home distiller for personal use only. So any discussion of selling bartering or trading any distilled liquor unless by a licensed distillery will not tolerated. Such posts will be edited, deleted or locked, and the poster removed from this site.

[moosemilk]

You done gone made Tater mad. Just glad it's not me on the receiving end (this time). But he's right. We have rules. And for good reason. When I first saw this post when it started, I was under the assumption it would look at the hobby level. Sounded interesting and something that could promote what we are about and help the cause. Now what I see is just an unscripted version of "that show".

You won't find any neighborhood gatherings and taste tests because plain and simple, this isn't legal. We enjoy what we do and in order to keep enjoying it have to keep quiet.

Unless you change everything about your documentary whatever, I think you have been politely told...well, you know. You might get lucky and find one total idiot that will jump on board. But i can guarantee that idiot won't care about how to make anything worth drinking. That takes at least a bit of brains.

[goose eye]

They'll hire actors an throw some Hollywood on it.

So I'm tole

[Dez]

Hi guys,

I understand your reaction to this, but nowhere in my message did I say that we are looking for people who sell. No. We are still looking for hobby distillers, but who produce alcohol for more than just themselves. Not sell!

If any of you have seen any of the Drugs Inc episodes, then you will see that we also interview victims, other people caught into the world, not just people who deal. As I mentioned from the very beginning - we are looking at exploring all angles. We want to show a hobby distiller, but rather than interviewing one person at a time we wanted to get a crowd and show the community, visually, together. In no way did I mention anything on profit side of it, as by now you all have made it clear that this is not what you do. And we are not intending to change that.

HDNB - I don't recall any documentaries that include hobby distillers, so I think you are wrong in your comment. This isn't a Drugs Inc program either, that was just to give you an example of how careful we are about protecting the identity of people who do contribute.

StillLearning1 - I completely understand where you are coming from and why you may not want to be part of this, but I have given examples of previous programs we have worked on. Never have we ever had a person who has contributed to the program, get busted because of us.

All in all, I completely understand where everyone is coming from and I wouldn't blame you for reacting in this manner. But we really do want to show your side of world - hobby distilling community, which is ultimately what this forum is.

Goose eye - if you have seen any of our programs you will know that we never hire actors, because this is a factual program. As I mentioned this is not a Moonshine reality show. We want to show the world of alcohol distilling as it really is - all ends of the scale all characters involved in one way or another.

I think that this program would be a great way to dispel the typical 'moonshiner' stereotype, because nowhere is it more clear how different two aspects are, than when you put them right next to each other ie - on one, hand a hobby distiller talking about their love for the art of alcohol distilling and how unfair it is to be branded a 'moonshiner' and on the other, an actual moonshiner in the same program, who clearly doesn't care much about what he is producing.

If you saw some of our programs you will see that victims remain victims, dealers remain dealers and so on... we present people for who they are, not for what we like them to be.

Either way, I really appreciate your comments and I wasn't trying to offend anyone here, so my apologies for that. I don't want to cause any further aggravation on the forum, so this will be my last message here.

Thanks for all of your comments and I do appreciate your help on everything. I hope that in the future someone does make the documentary you were hoping for. I'd certainly suggest it, but in this instance we have to include all angles, because of the type of program and series it is all part of.

All the best,
Dez

[Brutal]

Hi guys, -

But we really do want to show your side of world - hobby distilling community, which is ultimately what this forum is.

No you don't. We have shown you the hobby distilling community and you want something else. See your quote below.

Most of the people I have spoken to said that they distill on a very small scale and mainly for themselves.
Dez

You want something that can be produced into an attention grabbing tv drama. There is no drama here. Just the real hobby distilling community.

Either way, I really appreciate your comments and I wasn't trying to offend anyone here, so my apologies for that. I don't want to cause any further aggravation on the forum, so this will be my last message here.

All the best,
Dez

Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em. Time to fold 'em.

Happy trails Ma'am.

[S-Cackalacky]

Oh well, TV is what TV IS.

[HDNB]

HDNB - I don't recall any documentaries that include hobby distillers, so I think you are wrong in your comment. This isn't a Drugs Inc program either, that was just to give you an example of how careful we are about protecting the identity of people who do contribute.

Dez, your comment reads as Brutal says ^^. We told you- we are for ourselves and want to promote a safe hobby that can come out of the shadows. By asking for someone here that does "but on a larger scale. So maybe someone who does it for their other relatives, neighbors, local friends."
those folks don't belong here and have been run off because they know they don't fit here.

Don't get me wrong, if my brother wants a bottle, it's there for him. Local friends? you mean the ones that get drinkin and loose lipped and start spouting "yeah my friend Jimmy makes the best moonshine this side of the ozarks?"....umm.... no thanks.

Our hobby really could use your help, i'd like to see you stay and learn something about us and maybe tell the world...the political fight we have is about nothing more than big business protecionism and taxing the citizenry.
From my own myopic viewpoint, these laws exist to intimidate and tax otherwise normal citizens and do nothing to curb criminal activities. Let face it...citizens are low hanging fruit. they can pay fines, hire lawyers (to keep the machine running) and have their assets siezed to fuel the state's unsatiable appetite for cash. Criminals do the opposite of this. They can't pay fines, the state provides a lawyer for them and then they have to be housed and fed too? They have no assets.
The gestapo are under orders to avoid criminals for these reasons...an order they are willing to take because, let's face it...criminals are dangerous! if i was a cop getting paid a mediocre salary i'd much rather be taxing mr and mrs shwartz on the side of the highway for going 7 mph over the speed limit than having to face a gun toting criminal.

The government keeps herding people towards a cashless society and omni-corps big business. The more (shee)people come to rely on the "convenience and security" of the bank card and the attractive low prices of costco, wally world and amazon...the less actual "economy" there is and the more control the governmental eliteists have over common folk.
soon the proletariat (sheepeople) will go to their grey jobs at their grey company and get their grey credits to buy their grey groceries they pick up in their grey car and take home to their grey house.
All the while the government elitists are laughing their collective asses off...in their palaces and yachts.

Wait. this has been done to death too. I think they used to call it communism.

So you see, I encourage your peaceful evolution, showing the facts... if thats what you are doing. Media can help break the ridiculous cycle and educate people, or they can continue to feed the "machine." Choice is yours.

Stick around, if you want the real people and the real story...it is still right here. Don't think you are aggravating anyone, that's not the case. you gotta disturb the hive if you want some honey.

now me, on the other hand...i'm aggravating.

[masonsjax]

The hobby distilling community is virtual at this point, it can only exist online until prohibition is repealed. Would make for some boring television if you ask me.

[HDNB]

The hobby distilling community is virtual at this point, it can only exist online until prohibition is repealed. Would make for some boring television if you ask me.

C'mon! since when is watching a fast drip for 9 hours boring! shit, we could have our own channel and put that fireplace channel and the aquarium channel outta business!

[ranger_ric]

The hobby distilling community is virtual at this point, it can only exist online until prohibition is repealed. Would make for some boring television if you ask me.

C'mon! since when is watching a fast drip for 9 hours boring! shit, we could have our own channel and put that fireplace channel and the aquarium channel outta business!

+1 HDNB Rofl

TSC The Still Channel..... We're Still Here

[Dez]

"So you see, I encourage your peaceful evolution, showing the facts... if thats what you are doing. Media can help break the ridiculous cycle and educate people, or they can continue to feed the "machine." Choice is yours.

Stick around, if you want the real people and the real story...it is still right here. Don't think you are aggravating anyone, that's not the case. you gotta disturb the hive if you want some honey.

now me, on the other hand...i'm aggravating.

[/quote]

Thanks, I will stick around and have this in mind. I'd love make a documentary on this, but at the moment am not in the position or ability to make my own docs. Maybe in a few years

Dx

[moosemilk]

Thanks, I will stick around and have this in mind. I'd love make a documentary on this, but at the moment am not in the position or ability to make my own docs. Maybe in a few years

Dx

While your sticking around, source yourself a stainless keg and various bits of copper or stainless pipe, and you we will show you the way...and you'll understand better yourself of the "why we do it".

[DAD300]

I've stayed out of this...but...

Dez,

There are people around the world who distill every week. Have a small, professionally made counter top unit and create a quart a week for their own consumption.

Next might be the guy who has a two-eight gallon still. Sets it on the kitchen stove and produces a a half to a gallon a month.

There are people with larger stills, fifteen to twenty five gallons or less, that set it up and distill three times a year. Makes three to six gallons of rum in the winter, whiskey in the summer and vodka in the fall. Still just enough for himself and family.

This is about where the hobby line gets drawn (my definition anyway)! If you are making more than you and your family can consume, it should be for aging (your future consumption) or you are crossing a line.

People do it for a lot of reasons.
1-Learning experience, may be a prep'er
2-It's less expensive, can't afford commercial or are just frugal
3-Rebeleous, don't like being told they can't
4-They know it is better in many ways, than commercial
5-Pride of doing it better than commercial. Yes, we do meet once in a great while for a taste of each others. We have a common bond! The pride of making a better drink.

I'm sure there are more reasons...

There may be a little fuzzy area...people get obsessed! "Look what I can make!" And produce far more than they can consume. May give to some friends and have parties with it, OCD hording, but not selling.

Then there are larger producers than outlined above. Not fuzzy at all.

Those guys stop by here and get some tips. They are mostly found out and told they are not welcome. Or they aren't interested in quality, safety or the fraternity. They leave on their own.

But as a tip, the actual illegal activity and the people who are involved, are easy to find. Look to the busts reported on the web. There are a few every month and most of those people would be happy to tell their story.

There are posts here about the busts. Manhattan bar owner with eight stills above his bar, who is refilling Absolute bottles with his alcohol. Seventy year old Alabama man using a 300 gallon industrial trash container to make and sell $70 a gallon liquor. Florida brothers doing it in a rented storage cube,...now those guys might even lead you to people still doing it for profit.

It's just not here.

The only sensible reason to show the hobby side of things is to promote legalization. Hobby distillation is no more threatening or interesting than Bob making beer in his garage. Bob uses fire, Bob drinks his beer and probably gives some to his friends. But Bob is no longer interesting is he?

Because Bob making beer at home is legal!

Apologizes to all named Bob...

[Mikey-moo]

As masonsjax said, the vast majority of our community is HERE - in this forum - not in real life.

You really should stick around and have a go - get an Air Still - sold legally in most UK home brew shops, make a batch of birdwatchers sugar wash (see Tried and True recipes) and make a litre or two of your own vodka.

It's soooo satisfying

Edited to corect speeling.

[masonsjax]

I'm curious about how the production is coming along. Can we expect to see something soon? When and where should we be looking?

[masonsjax]

I guess she's gone *shrug*

[pfshine]

I'm pretty sure she just wanted to get some one toothed hill people that sell and make jackasses of themselves.

[MichiganCornhusker]

I guess she's gone *shrug*

She was never really here.

[InglisHill]

Hi guys,

I understand your reaction to this, but nowhere in my message did I say that we are looking for people who sell. No. We are still looking for hobby distillers, but who produce alcohol for more than just themselves. Not sell!

If any of you have seen any of the Drugs Inc episodes, then you will see that we also interview victims, other people caught into the world, not just people who deal. As I mentioned from the very beginning - we are looking at exploring all angles. We want to show a hobby distiller, but rather than interviewing one person at a time we wanted to get a crowd and show the community, visually, together. In no way did I mention anything on profit side of it, as by now you all have made it clear that this is not what you do. And we are not intending to change that.

HDNB - I don't recall any documentaries that include hobby distillers, so I think you are wrong in your comment. This isn't a Drugs Inc program either, that was just to give you an example of how careful we are about protecting the identity of people who do contribute.

StillLearning1 - I completely understand where you are coming from and why you may not want to be part of this, but I have given examples of previous programs we have worked on. Never have we ever had a person who has contributed to the program, get busted because of us.

All in all, I completely understand where everyone is coming from and I wouldn't blame you for reacting in this manner. But we really do want to show your side of world - hobby distilling community, which is ultimately what this forum is.

Goose eye - if you have seen any of our programs you will know that we never hire actors, because this is a factual program. As I mentioned this is not a Moonshine reality show. We want to show the world of alcohol distilling as it really is - all ends of the scale all characters involved in one way or another.

I think that this program would be a great way to dispel the typical 'moonshiner' stereotype, because nowhere is it more clear how different two aspects are, than when you put them right next to each other ie - on one, hand a hobby distiller talking about their love for the art of alcohol distilling and how unfair it is to be branded a 'moonshiner' and on the other, an actual moonshiner in the same program, who clearly doesn't care much about what he is producing.

If you saw some of our programs you will see that victims remain victims, dealers remain dealers and so on... we present people for who they are, not for what we like them to be.

Either way, I really appreciate your comments and I wasn't trying to offend anyone here, so my apologies for that. I don't want to cause any further aggravation on the forum, so this will be my last message here.

Thanks for all of your comments and I do appreciate your help on everything. I hope that in the future someone does make the documentary you were hoping for. I'd certainly suggest it, but in this instance we have to include all angles, because of the type of program and series it is all part of.

All the best,
Dez

If you are really serious, come to New Zealand, it is legal here

[ranger_ric]

Hey there is a show on tonight on NatGeo called Underworld Inc Moonshine mayhem.....

This show is Produced by the same company (Wall to Wall) that Dez said she was working for... I am currently recording it but from the name it dont look too favorable for us...

Just FYI, I will watch it later after it is recorded.....

Carry On
RR

[masonsjax]

There's a couple of YouTube videos that look like the full episode. Here's one:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=N09MEaiewls" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[shadylane]

Just finished watching the last half of the 1 hour show. It's worst than moonshiners.
If Dez helped make the show with information she gathered here, I'm ashamed and embarrassed.

[ranger_ric]

Iffin anyone had one iota of knowledge about what making whisky this production company looks like true imbeciles...
If you looked at the Mississippi Law enforcement group evidence room, there was no way there was anywhere near 100 gallons of "untaxed liquor" in that room... whats tax on 100% alcohol by the gallon $12.50 a gallon??? They showed 8-10 enforcement officers on a bust and he said they get about 10 busts a year..... And most of that tax goes to the feds.... Wow now that is an application of your tax dollars... And they spent 15 minutes tellin us about a fella in New York sellin mixed drinks and calling it moonshine...
Some Doctor tellin us about lead levels....How the hell is lead getting into shine? They did admit that "good moonshiners" dont have that lead in theirs....
Sure wish someone would educate the American public on the truth.. Too bad these "documentaries" is where the population learns about these things....

Carry On
RR

[Truckinbutch]

Just finished watching the last half of the 1 hour show. It's worst than moonshiners.
If Dez helped make the show with information she gathered here, I'm ashamed and embarrassed.

Just watched a bit of it too . DINGDONG ! THE WITCH IS DEAD . GONE WHERE GOBLINS GO ! Dez is dead to me .