Mountain Spirits: A Chronicle of Corn Whiskey and the Southern Appalachian Moonshine Tradition

by Joseph Earl Dabney

Originally published in 1974, Mountain Spirits "traces the history of whiskey making from its origins in Ulster, Ireland, through its arrival in the United States in the great waves of mostly Scotch-Irish settlers who traveled the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road into the Southern Appalachians, making illicit corn "likker" part of the southern way of life. Colorful interviews and stories relate the experiences and methods of the independent moonshiners who plied their craft in the hills, the revenue agents who tracked them down (often with respect and affection) and the wilder young men who hauled the product in the first hotrod cars. As legal distilling brings the tradition to a new generation, Joseph Dabney offers a glimpse of a time when crops were measured in gallons and families carried the secrets of their stills to their graves."

Genres: History, American History, Nonfiction, Booze

242 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[Dillon Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed learning about our rebel ancestors making shine and running from the revenuers. The book follows whiskey stilling from its origins in Ireland and Scotland, to Appalachia with the Ulstermen, and through centuries of illicit production beginning with the first American whiskey tax in 1791. Dabney draws on historical records as well as many incredible firsthand interviews with retired blockaders, bootleggers, and revenuers to tell the tale of corn likker. Definitely would recommend to anyone interested in Appalachian culture or the history of American whiskey.

[Cwn_annwn_13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good history of moonshiners. Starts with the process of making moonshine. Historicly it begins with the the roots in the British Isles and the beginnings of the American governments never ending campaign against self suffincency in the whiskey rebellion. The author profiles many colorful characters, some were long dead and gone and some were old timers who were still living that he spent time with and collected their many entertaining stories. For all the negative things you could say about moonshine itself the old timers had a rebellious and stubborn self sufficent side that is both admirable and interesting.

This was written in the 1970's and even then it was a dying way of life. The hard nosed self sufficent hillbilly types were for the most part being replaced by criminal syndicates who produced a lower quality of moonshine fit only to drink by hardened alcoholics. Being from Kentucky originally I have been offered and tried "white lightning" a few times and the authors desription was accurate, goes down like a drink of water and maybe 5-10 seconds later it takes your breath away. Really moonshine has no similarity to good Scottish whiskey as far as I'm concerned.

Faults are the author gives all credit to the "Scotch-Irish" but some of the most colorful characters featured had Welsh surnames (Morgan/Davis/Owens), also when he talked about the whiskey rebellion he didn't bring up that Hamilton (probably also a Jew himself) was wrapped up with Jewish booze distillers in the states and the Carribean who did not want people producing their own drink. Of course Hamilton got what he deserved in the end thanks to Aaron Burr. Overall this is an interesting look into a piece of real worthwhile Americana.

[Delway Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining account of whiskey making in the Southern Appalachians. Living in extreme northeast Georgia, it chronicles the moonshining close at hand. There are many first hand accounts by both bootleggers and Federal agents. The additional photos are priceless.

[Christopher Goforth · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome book great reading

[Andrew Klob · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I read, not knowingly, the second book first and then read this one. Nevertheless, this book was just as good as the second one and, in some sense, better. “Mountain Spirits” had a little bit of everything in my opinion: history, how-to guides (in terms of making your own still or moonshine), car mechanics (aka how the moonshiners rigged up their cars to run away from the federal agents), modern day (or close to it) interviews of former moonshiners or federal agents, and on and on it goes. Dabney did a fantastic job of covering almost everything that has to do with moonshine without making it too dry or too exhaustive. This truly is a complete (and hilarious) guide to the world of moonshine. I highly recommend this book (and the second book “More Mountain Spirits”) for all that are interested.

[Jud Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moonshine Book Review Song

Verse: Sprout of barley or sprout of corn,
Drakes tail and long sweetin',
Red horsemint branchwater completes the mash,
Now work and time are fleetin'.

Hold your fire, hold your fire
One-seven-three sure as shootin'
When two tongues of flame french the kettle
The proof'll be in the puddin'.

It's cookin' now but wait out the smack:
A beer that runs clear is ready.
Run it again and slop it back,
Sweet mash grows sour and heady.

Chorus: The bead, the bead, the venerable bead!
Shake up the jar and construe:
If a big un pops up half in and out
You got you a bead that's true.

O Sweet spirits of cats a-fightin',
Paleface firewater, ruckus juice,
Pine top, panther piss, corn in a jar,
Blockade betsy leaves you no excuse.

Verse: A rat house sits at the side of the road;
Tuck your jug and your money up under the floor.
Such a wonder of wonders it is to behold
The jug leaving empty and returning with more.

There was a man at the top of the W
Shipped some of his likker to Washington:
Packed 10-gallon kegs in crates marked "books,"
Paid rate by "volume," which saved him a ton.

He was a good man, he was a godly man,
Not just a churchgoer but a deacon.
The Railway Express called him one day
And said, "Rev'rend, your books is leakin'!"

Prohibition it was a turrible time:
Thirst gone wild! A curse befell
those puckerin' drys whose misbegotten laws
Up and spawned a whole new hell.

Chorus: The bead, the bead, the venerable bead!
Shake up the jar and construe:
If a big un pops up half in and out
You got you a bead that's true.

O Sweet spirits of cats a-fightin',
Paleface firewater, ruckus juice,
Pine top, panther piss, corn in a jar,
Blockade betsy leaves you no excuse.

[Lissa Notreallywolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was curious as to how still technology arrived in the new world and also the origin of Scotch. While I was less interested in modern moonshining, the last chapters revealed the connection between muscle cars and moonshining. Apparently many of the attributes of the classic hot rod were pioneered to outrun revenue men. The infamous Scotch brewers started in the 11th century, and no one knows how they or the Irish received that technology-just that it was ubiquitous. I haven't figured out how to reconcile the border folks temporary cabins or later called "shebangs" dealt with moving their stills. They had to be somewhat nomadic because the infinite wars in the north of England made permanent houses, built of stone less than practical. But still works are highly flammable operations, and can explode if not carefully monitored. Apparently distilling also stinks and produces smoke, which is how regulators locate the works. Having a smokey still would not be practical in a war torn area. The cabin origin is from Scandanavia, something I learned reading Albion's Seed, and was the preferred form of housing because it was easy to abandon when raiders came. It was imported with the border folks and their Irish cousins, along with stills. There were already lots of stills in the colonies previously, used for distilling rum. Regulation began when the US needed to pay for the Revolutionary War. The people from the North of England were very sensitive to such interference, and it was part of being declared tenant farmers on land they felt entitled to as a buffer zone between the civilized coast and Indian territory. Unfortunate to my inquiry the presence of stills doesn't help me isolate the technologies and experimentation I had hoped to find.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does an excellent job drawing the reader into the shiner culture. It does so without over-glamorizing the shines but also by helping you see their perspective. I especially appreciated the history or moonshining, going all the way back to pre-colonial days in Great Britain. It could definitely use an update.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written in the early seventies but is still a great read about the history of moonshine whiskey and there is even some history of the Atlanta, Georgia area thrown in. I got this at the library and it is one I definately would love to have for my personal collection.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a older book. But history hasn’t changed. I purchased the book for a trip, no high expectations. But what a fun read. If you like southern history, moonshine, or just a good read. you will enjoy.

[Glenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glad they had a glossary. Lots of unfamiliar terms. It's an interesting read about moonshine as both a business and just a means for personal spirits. Offers some history of the development. Although printed in 1974, I still enjoyed the info.

[DJMikeG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, exhaustively researched yet entertaining history of illicit hooch in America. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the second volume.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent but dated book.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book about moonshining in the South. This would make a great source for a novelist.

[Phillip · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice little gem I found in a used book store. Well researched, well written, fun read.