This book, a companion to Joseph Dabney's "Mountain Spirits," features captivating moonshine stories and characters from both sides of the law. It includes enticing recipes for brandy, wine, and beer, along with a detailed guide to building a copper pot still.
The history of whiskey making is vividly explored, tracing its roots from Ulster, Ireland, to the Southern Appalachians, where Scotch-Irish settlers created a culture around illicit corn "likker." Through colorful interviews and anecdotes, the book highlights the lives of independent moonshiners, the revenue agents who pursued them, and the young men who transported their product in hotrod cars. Joseph Dabney captures a bygone era when distilling was a family secret, while also reflecting on the revival of legal distilling in modern times.