Home Distiller

I have a neighbor who wants to become a RCMP. I've never said anything about what I do, in fact other than drinking it, i haven't even touched my equipment in a couple months. So, I made a rhubarb wash the other week and it's getting ready to run as a brandy so I thought I'd finally fix my old worm bucket.
That and i opened the pool finally and I have it so my cooling water for the worm heats the pool. ANYWAY... I've got the garage open last night and got the worm pulled out on the bench and I'm drilling new holes in a new bucket when this big guy (6'3-6'4 about 240lb's) walks in. Hey, I'm joe schmo from the RCMP, can I ask you a few questions?
So I said sure, then walked over passed him back outside and picked up a piece of angle iron that was laying outside like I went there cause I needed it..what's up/ Your neighbor is trying to join the RCMP and I'd like to know if there's been any disturbances or how he is etc. This went on for a few minutes then he said, working on the mustang are you? Yeah, slowly getting it back on the track, working on the kids dragster right now....He looks at the worm, that looks interesting. Yeah it's for making wine. You can make more than wine with that he said with a grin. I didn't grin, laugh, nothing, just gave him a blank look. OK, thanks for the help, what about the guys across the street, would they know him? and we walked out the driveway and he left.

So...he obviously knew what it was for, and I wasn't quick enough to give the practised "it's for cold crashing my beer after I boil it" reason, just caught me flatfooted. Didn't seem like he cared though, just out to get info about my neighbor, have a good day.

Adds a bit more to the old wives tale of "as long as your not selling" story.

Happy with how i composed myself though, no panic etc just calmly answered questions then gave a blank look.
Do they care? around here or in this particular place, THIS time, I'd say no...

goinbroke2 wrote:Hey, I'm joe schmo from the RCMP, can I ask you a few questions?

Not sure about Canadian law. But in my neck of the woods, a typical response would look like "No, you can turn around right there. (Point's at the driveway)"

Scary stuff there man. Nobody wants that kind of trouble.

Yep, kinda makes you want to stash things and lay low for awhile. I had some religious people come to the door once while I was stilling in the basement. I heard the knock at the door and the dogs started barking. I pulled the plug on the still and rushed upstairs to the door and sent them on their way, but it's heart stopping when something like that happens. Had a cop come to my gate once, but wasn't running at the time. It was a little disconcerting, but turned out he was just there to ask about somebody carelessly shooting a gun. It's kinda hard to be quick witted when you're pissin' your pants.

Hi GB,
Hope nothing comes of it.

I know a fella that sells stilling stuff and he has retired police, active police, active firemen, an active city council member as customers that he knows of.

I figure the true moonshiners are always going to hide. If policy makers would let the hobby guys come out of the shadows it would make finding the remaining lot still in the shadows easier to find.

Seems now they are sifting through reams and reams of records for very little if any worthy, meaningful "moon shinning" perps.
They are spending a dollar to make a dime is the way I see it.

Maybe I'm nieve, but it appeared to me as a "huh, that's interesting" and that's it, no long term thoughts on breaking up a multimillion dollar operation or a promotion in his eyes. I'd say if he was stuck with walking around neighborhoods looking for recruiting info, he's either doing it because he's high enough in rank he can and is enjoying the sunshine, or he's getting ready for retirement and is winding down. Either way, it didn't appear to me that he was about to jump on something as small and possible innocent as a coil of copper in a plastic bucket. Of course being a cop first, I could be completely off base.

Good news is, last night I assembled the new worm bucket and hooked it to the pool and ran water through it looking for leaks. All was good except a little around the seal of the lid but I caulked the whole lid then snapped it on. So, by tonight, it should be sealed and good to go.....and if the cops show up, its a water-to-water heat exchange for the solar heater system I'm building. I would of took a picture but I can't find the freaking camera.

Yep, nothing says "Moonshine" like a worm in a bucket. I like the heat exchanger cover story.

I think the issue really is that the law up here either 1) does not know about the restrictions or 2) does not care.

Unlike parts of the US, I don't think likker selling is a big business up here. When you mention something to someone about it, everyone asks if you are blind. A good friend of mine brought some of my stuff to a gathering and offered it - nobody would drink it (and they are drug users and drunks) for fear of it ... well, until they ran out of commercial stuff and were a bit braver. Point is 'shine is not a part of our lives up here, and thus is not really a threat.

You handled the RCMP correctly - some would say "get off my property", but your tactic was correct - you were already caught - he seen the worm. Running him off the property clutching some rights would probably have pissed him off, and if he was smart a simple talk to a judge of what he saw would be enough for a warrant.

But you are probably fine - shining up here is such a small factor to the public, he probably laughed it off and went on with his work.

goinbroke2, thats a great pucker story!. love it.

The RCMP oughta change their motto up: "To Surveil and Neglect" has a nice ring to it.

They are about the most discredited policy enforcers around... Various sex scandals... The High River gun grab... Among several other things... It's in their interest to smile and wave for the next little while. I would honestly have told the guy to get the hell off my property, but oh yeah I forgot, according to some crusty old English bag, there is no private property and we're all her "subjects".

Actually the RCMP does do very thorough background checks on recruits - which includes interviewing neighbours. So my suspicion would be that he wasn't interested in what you were up to (for now)!

Doogie wrote:nobody would drink it (and they are drug users and drunks)

Thanks for the laugh doog.

GB, toss some bleach in the next washload, may help with that stain in your shorts. Great story!