Bootleg Liquor: White Lightning and Popcorn Sutton

[The Poet]

When it comes to moonshine, the difference between "corn squeezin's" and "white lightnin' " is significant. Good corn can be clear or golden yellow, and is amongst the smoothest sips you'll ever taste. Lighinin' is almost always clear, and will peel paint.

At least, that's been MY experience.

As for the NASCAR connection, it is a fact that many runners would take their "working" cars out on a Saturday for somewhat unstructured races, both for the fun and the chance to win an extra fifty bucks or so. I know a bit about this, as my daddy back in Hickory made a few runs in his youth, and one gran'daddy squeezed a bit himself. The other gran'dad drank a bit of it.

[Starscream]

Originally Posted by T.G

Popcorn Sutton died a year or two ago bro.

He took his own life in 2009.

Originally Posted by The Poet

As for the NASCAR connection, it is a fact that many runners would take their "working" cars out on a Saturday for somewhat unstructured races, both for the fun and the chance to win an extra fifty bucks or so.

NASCAR's roots were heavily influenced by bootleggers.

[nomadicwookie]

I've had shine from NC, KY, VA & WV. West Virginia produces the best I've ever had.

[gvarsity]

It has been 20+ years but a friend of mine brought some bootleg shine on a ski trip. It was clear and looked like slightly viscous water. It was way higher than 180 proof it was approaching pure ethyl alcohol. The maker had added a couple of drops of butterscotch flavoring. It had a rich butterscotch flavor and that was all you tasted.

What was trippy is drinking it felt like how the pepto bismol commercials look. You took the shot and you felt the warmth go down your throat and wrap around your stomach as it came into contact. When it hit the bottom of your stomach all of a sudden it was like you were plugged into and outlet and you were tingling from head to toe. One shot was enough for me. It was good but too much.

[Mark C]

Originally Posted by gvarsity

It has been 20+ years but a friend of mine brought some bootleg shine on a ski trip. It was clear and looked like slightly viscous water. It was way higher than 180 proof it was approaching pure ethyl alcohol. The maker had added a couple of drops of butterscotch flavoring. It had a rich butterscotch flavor and that was all you tasted.

You sure it was higher than 180? That'd be 90% ethanol, at ~96% ethanol any further distillation is ineffective and you have to get more creative (read: complicated) to achieve higher purity.