[narrator] this time on the final round
Of master distiller tournament of champions.
It's the battle of all battles.
[narrator] six of the best came to compete.
Only two remain.
[mark] this is the ultimate battle of backwoods moonshiners.
[narrator] richard landry.
Oh, yeah.
[narrator] two time master distiller champion
Versus daniel maner.
Time for me getting witty.
[narrator] a fifth generatio moonshiner and bootlegging veteran.
I love both of yous equally.
[narrator] they'll compete head to head to make
America's most popular flavored moonshine.
Apple pie.
You'd better come up with something good
-'cause you ain't playing against no rookie. -[richard sighs]
[narrator] the winner will get a chance to challen the judge of their choice.
Digger, mark or tim...
[tim] you better have your game britches on.
[mark] these is two champions here
And one of 'em is going to be playing one of us.
[narrator] ...To a final moonshining showdown...
[mark] this is gonna be a blind tasting.
[narrator] ...And win the ultimate backwoods bragging rights.
It's the internal hug I was needing.
You better bring your a game today.
[digger] richard, daniel, welcome back.
We're down to two.
Two of the finest shiners I've ever had the opportunity to be around.
You managed to turn in better jars than tater did.
Tater's one of the finest liquor men this part of the country.
You know, I've made it this far through this competition.
Went through some stiff competition.
Now there's only two.
I know I gotta step my game up.
Richard knows he has to step his game up.
[richard] I'm nervous. I'm happy.
We're getting closer and closer to the big one.
So I'm looking forward to that.
[digger] that mean you know what's at stake.
The three of us have to keep reminding ourselves that
It's one of us who's gonna be called out, so.
We consider y'all peers. We know you's as good as we are.
So we know we gotta have our little ducks in a row
When we come to meet y'all.
If I make it through this part of the competition,
That judge that I pick is gonna have his hands full.
But I'll have to succeed in this next challenge.
This one's all about apples.
I don't care if you're a legal distiller or a backwoods distiller,
There's nothing more american than apple pie.
Tickle, tell us all about it.
[tickle] corn may be the most iconic shine base,
But the true star of american distilling history is the apple.
In 1698, a scottish immigran named william laird
Started distilling apple jac and apple brandy in new jersey.
Abe lincoln served it in his tavern in illinois.
Fdr drank it in manhattan.
Lbj, [laughs] he even ga a case of it to the soviets
Now that guy had some big apples.
Apple brandy is a true heritage spirit.
And its popularity inspired the very first flavored corn liquor.
Apple pie moonshine.
Some people get the two confused.
But apple brandy is made from a pure apple mash.
Apple pie moonshine, now that's basically a corn liquor base
That's been flavored post distillation.
Both are best sellers in the backwoods and legal distilleries.
Mmm.
Boy, that tastes like america.
You guys are gonna have just three hours
To transform a corn mash into apple pie moonshine.
The winner of this challenge gets to call out one of us three judges
To do the ultimate battle with apple brandy.
I reckon we're all prepared. I know I am.
Let's head back over to the distillery.
Let's go make a little apple pie.
Three hours. Jars on the table. Clean.
Your time starts now. Good luck, guys.
Good luck
[daniel] nothing but love.
-Nothing but love. -[daniel laughs]
[richard] let's go to work.
Well, I'm so nervous, I just barely can hold stuff.
[richard] why you nervous?
[daniel] I got a hard competitor here.
-Who's that? Huh? -You.
[daniel] going into the apple pie challenge,
I feel pretty confident.
And I think what I'm gonna bring to the table will tur heads, but who knows?
Richard is gonna bring his a game.
I know he is
And richard's no slouch.
How long you been making this liquor?
Since I was 14, mr. Landry.
[richard] 14 years old.
You got some time on me.
[richard] daniel cannot be underestimated.
I mean, daniel comes from a solid group of moonshiners.
I mean, he knows what he's doing.
I am scared of him and I should be.
Well, you got me nervous, dan.
[daniel] don't be nervous, brother.
It is what it is.
You know what I always say when people tell me that?
[daniel] what's that?
[richard] it is what I say it is.
I heard you.
-I have to say this, richard. -Yes, sir.
I've never turned a jar loose that I wouldn't drink myself.
[richard] I'm kind of worrie going up against daniel.
Daniel knows how to make liquor really well.
Apple pie is something daniel could do in his sleep.
[mark] I'm just really looking forward to this
'cause I ain't no doubt in my mind that we're gonna taste
-Some really, really good apple pie. -[digger] yep.
[richard] I know daniel does this all the time.
He's in the mountains of tennessee, I mean, it's a staple there.
[richard] what's your plan, daniel? What's your strategy?
I'm just gonna try to make the best liquor I can make.
And then, flavor it at the end.
[daniel] the ingredients that I'm gonna use,
I've got honeycrisp apples
And I've got an apple cider and I'm going to use the apple cider and
Warm a few apples up in it,
Add a cinnamon stick.
[richard] dang, that smells good.
-[daniel] it does, doesn't it? -[richard] I can smell that way over here.
Matter of fact, can I go ahead...
I'll go ahead and give you a deposit on a jar right now.
What's your plan there, richard?
[richard] my plan is to be just as traditional as possible with this.
And not over complicate the situation.
A lot of people getting to making apple pie
And they make it too complicated.
But I will cook everything down, though.
All I'm gonna do is add a little bit of my apple cider,
Add that into it and give a little stronger apple flavor.
Kind of put a little bit of cinnamon,
So I could start my spice profile going.
I wanna cook these apples down,
So we can manipulate as much flavor as possible.
What kind of apples you got over there?
[richard] I got granny smith, I got pink lady, I got gala.
I got a few different apples here.
I believe that's the first time I've ever seen anybody
Peel 'em before they cook 'em down.
[richard] when you go up against someone like daniel maner, I mean,
You gotta pull out all the stops.
[digger] these guys are laying it to it.
I wonder who they're gonna call out.
Well, the winner of this is gonna call mark ramsey out
'cause they know mark ramsey hasn't won one.
Me and you have.
But if they beat me,
Hell, I ain't done nothing.
If they beat you and digger, they'd beat another champion.
If I'm going to get called out for one of them,
I think I'd rather it be richard
Because daniel has won a championship with apple liquor before.
But richard will pull a rabbit out of a hat on about anything he does.
Well, you know, if one of these pick me,
Then it may be okay if one of 'em beats me, right?
At least you'd know how I feel.
That's how I feel. I got beat by the best, you and digger.
So I ain't got no problem with that, but damn.
You gonna let me ride in your truck?
Maybe in the back, right?
[mark laughs]
What do you got in there in that pestle there?
Well, I was trying to bust up some caramel candies,
But it don't want to bust up real good.
What are you gonna do with it?
[daniel] I'm gonna put a little bit in there.
The mix over here.
I don't want to use any sugar and make it too sweet.
I put a few caramel candies in it to give it a little bit of a sweet note.
Sort of put a twist on it
And be a little different.
Kind of like the candied apples that you used to eat at the fair.
[digger] that's gonna be like a caramel apple.
[richard] damn, that ought to be pretty good.
You better come up with something good
'cause you ain't playing against no rookie.
I'm cooking my apples down really, really well.
But daniel's doing the same thing and he's using caramel also
The smell in this room is like a bakery.
Like somebody's grandmother just opened the window.
[mark] what kind of apples you using, daniel?
[daniel] I've got honeycrisp.
They're real sweet.
That little bit of 'em granny smiths
Might just offset the taste you need, that caramel in it.
But you said the green apples weren't all that, huh, dan?
[daniel] I don't like 'em.
I wouldn't have a flavor like that in my liquor.
[richard] that might be your fatal flaw right there.
[daniel] can't never tell.
And you're thinking half of 'em between now
And when that starts spitting alcohol out.
[digger] you know, the big danger they face is
Cinnamon.
-Cinnamon can be a death sentence. -[tim] it can be hot.
[mark] and a really good apple pie don't need much.
-You just need to kiss it with the cinnamon. -Yeah.
[richard] spices are really tricky.
I'm using cinnamon and allspice and nutmeg.
I mean, those are spices that can overpower somethin real, real easy, so...
I want a perfect hint of spice
With a perfect hint of apple.
All right, guys, you burned 30 minutes.
Your time, you got two and a half left.
Let's make 'em count.
[daniel] getting closer at it.
[richard] it ain't gonna be long.
-I hope that it starts running about 180. -One eighty?
[daniel] if it starts running at 180,
On the temperature, you know there's plenty
-Of alcohol in there. -Yeah, yeah.
Pumper be confident.
-It's time for be getting witty. -[both laughing]
[daniel] now we're fixing around liquor.
[richard] there you go.
What's it smell like? Corn liquor?
[daniel whistles] methanol.
-[richard] big time, huh? -[daniel laughs]
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, boy. I might be running now.
Yes, sir.
-[daniel] oh, you're running? -I'm running, daniel.
I'll tell you what.
There ain't no doubt in my mind that between richard and daniel,
We're gonna have a competition here, guys.
Pressure's on.
[tim] I think it's exciting, really.
We've never did this before.
-Damn, we're in a tight spot. -[tim] I like it.
I like it. [laughs]
What would you do if you went up against tim?
If you got to meet tim, what would you do?
-Who me? -Mmm-hmm.
Bust his ass.
[richard laughs]
[richard] you know, the thing I realized about the big boys is
They know they're big boys.
Anybody can be beat.
I can be beat here today, you can be beat here today.
We don't know what's gonna happen yet.
I hate to beat you here today,
But I do wanna win.
All right, men, you burned an hour up. Got two left.
[daniel] uh-oh, she's stuck.
Candy is stuck at the bottom.
Mr. Richard.
I'm telling you, now that right there,
That's some hot butter biscuit with that right there laid on it, man.
Put it in a little liquor.
-A little liquor. You're reading my mind. -Apple pie.
You've given any thought to who you're gonna call out?
If you win this contest?
I'm not quite sure just yet.
If you chose me, I would be honored,
But I'd be damn scared to death, all at the same time.
Well, I'm gonna tell you the truth,
-You can sit back and relax, you're okay. -All right, buddy.
-Daniel maner. -Yes, sir.
-Now you had honeycrisp... -Honeycrisp.
And granny smith.
I did, but the granny smith, I taste it,
And it taste like, uh, granny socks.
-Really? -So, uh...
I didn't put them in there.
You got your work cut out for you,
But if there's anybody that can do it, I know you can.
I'm gonna leave you fellers to your work.
-Hey, richard, daniel. Good luck to both of you. -[daniel] thank you.
-[richard] thank you. -I love both of yous equally.
-[daniel laughs] -[richard] likewise, sir.
[daniel] same to you, mark.
[digger] all right, men. You got one hour left.
Make them minutes count.
[daniel] richard.
I wish you luck, brother, I hope yours tastes better than mine.
There's something off in that one.
[daniel] I reached down and tasted the product
And there's something funky coming out of here.
I don't know exactly what it is,
But it could be a dirty still, could be something in the mash that I missed
Or whatever, but I'm not liking it at this point.
-Can I taste it? -[daniel] go ahead.
It's got something funky in it, richard.
Well, I'm about to have something funky in me.
[clears throat] mmm.
[daniel] it's real funky.
I wouldn't wanna feed it to a hog.
We've got a mess to cover up.
[daniel] richard.
I wish you luck, brother. I hope yours tastes better than mine.
There's something off in that one.
He's in trouble.
It was a hard flavor that came through the still. It's like a mustard taste.
[daniel] you know I don't like it, richard.
I'm gonna try my best to cover it up.
All right, guys, you got 15 minutes left.
-Hey, richard. -Huh?
-How you like 'em apples, richard? -Oh, it ain't good.
[both laughing]
[daniel] let's taste what your liquor tastes like coming out.
[whistles]
[richard] what do you think?
I say 145, 150 proof.
That'll smoke you right there, dead.
It's hot.
It's gonna come out...
...To right where I need it to be when I put this in it.
[daniel] I hope you're right.
I mean, you know you're gonna turn it into a good jar of liquor, dan.
I might. I might mess my mix up and then I'd be up creek without a paddle.
[mark] they are really concentrating.
I've never seen such blending in all my born day.
[richard] I mean, I went through a whole process with this.
I had different flavors, some with less cinnamon,
Some with more nutmeg,
Some with equal proportions
What you got left to do, dan?
[daniel] I'm trying to mix up my finished product here
And get a flavor that I like.
My apple flavor's not just exactly what I want
Because of the odd flavor that came through the still
So, I'm gonna try my best to cover it up.
All I'm trying to do is get it down to where it's a little bit sweeter.
I added a couple slices of honeycrisp apple
And then caramel candy to I
To try to pop the flavor back up.
Five minutes, guys.
[richard] man, this is getting real.
One of us is going to be making liquor,
But we ain't gonna be doing it together.
I came here to get to one of those judges.
I didn't come here to lose to anyone.
I came here to win this whole thing.
What do you think? You good? You comfortable?
No. Around you, richard, I can't be comfortable.
If you get comfortable, you get beat.
[both laughing]
Looks like daniel made some applesauce.
[daniel] that's the caramel candy.
Couldn't ever get it back exactly the way I wanted it
But I got my apple flavor back.
It was just a little sweet.
Ready, brother. Any time you are.
-You ready? -[daniel] I'm ready.
We turned in together last time.
Well, men.
[digger] unity.
[mark] this is where the rubber meets the road. Ain't it, guys?
You guys go out there and get under the shade tree. You've earned it.
-Thank you, sir. -We'll do that. Thank you, all.
-Good luck to both of you guys. -Good luck to both of you.
-Good luck. -We'll be to get you shortly.
Thank you.
Timmy, pour us out some liquor.
We can't figure out who's winning if we don't taste it.
I'm ready.
Well, we only got two to pick from.
Look here, guys. This plays real heavy into us three.
Let's just taste it and yank the damn band-aid off.
[tim] richard.
Now, that's more of a traditional apple pie color.
It look like apple pie to me.
I think I put a good jar on the table,
And I know you put a good jar on the table.
We both got two different kinds of alcohol up there.
Now, if they're looking for a traditional apple pie,
You won. Hands down.
Well, you know, really that's a pretty jar.
-[both] yeah. -It is true apple pie.
-Yeah. -[tim] no doubt.
Cinnamon. Not real heavy on it though.
Not hard on cinnamon.
I'm getting a little cinnamon.
It ain't fierce.
He put granny apple in it.
It's a little tart, ain't it?
Yep. I like that though. I like a tart apple.
Traditional apple pie though is usually a little sweeter than that,
-But it's really good. -[digger] he didn't put a lot of brown sugar in it.
The industry standard is kind of, you know, unspoken and unwritten,
But it's about 40 proof and I think richard nailed it.
Heck of a job for richard.
[digger] all right. Shake that one up
-And let's move on to daniel. -[mark] shake it up.
You wanna shake this one up?
Looks like a lava lamp, don't it?
[digger] just a tiny bit.
[tim] oh, there's a big old apple in it.
-Look at that. -Well, I bet it's gonna taste like apple.
How you feel about your jar you turned in?
You know, making flavors, richard, I'm never satisfied.
I don't know. I tasted that stuff, daniel, and I would buy...
Matter of fact, let me get you the money right now.
I'd like to buy a jar of that stuff, man.
I bet it's gonna be a pretty good drink.
There you go.
[digger] it oughta be. Hell, something that ugly's gotta taste great.
Oh, it's caramel.
He put a lot of those caramel candies in there to melt down.
I think it's the same proof as richard's.
But daniel put so many of them caramel candies in there
That he shut it plumb out of town
That it's covered the liquor up completely.
So, he's still sitting at 40, 50 proof.
I think so.
It's just candy sweet.
-Yeah. -If he'd had a little bit more tart apple in there,
I believe he'd been on time.
They're both good.
These is two champions here,
And one of them is going to be playing one of us.
Well, I like a challenge.
I'd be honored if one of them picked me.
Richard, have you got any idea who you gonna call out
If you get the chance?
Got a real good idea who's gonna be sitting next to me for four hours.
I got a real snaky feeling of who I'm gonna get, too.
It might be the same person.
It may be,
All right. If we're on it, I'm going to get them.
I'm good.
-I'm rock solid with you guys. -All right. Here we go.
Man, I'm gonna tell you. I done said it a thousand times before,
But I'm gonna say it again to you.
May the best man win.
Same thing.
May the best man win, buddy.
[digger] men, welcome back.
I'm telling you, one of the closest judgements
We've had to make in the history of this show.
It's a tie if there were just one little slight factor
That we can come up with that made a difference.
Daniel, fine job, buddy. I'm here to tell you.
Sweet, like an apple pie oughta be.
Apple through and through.
Really, really light on that cinnamon.
That's kind of a good thing.
I think cinnamon can overpower your liquor sometimes.
Daniel, I'm not used to that much caramel in it.
It's just a little too sweet.
By putting the two little slices of apple in it,
That makes your jar stand out.
And then adding the caramel candy to it,
That makes it different.
Richard, your mix of apples...
They were outstanding.
Just enough cinnamon.
Open your sinuses up a little bit
And follow you through and just give you a great aftertaste.
The three different flavors of apples complemented your final product very well.
I think it's more what people tend to think about
When you talk apple pie.
But what got me about both I've been served,
You made two of the best jars of apple pie
That I've ever got to taste.
Great job.
Well, men, you know all too well we started out with six.
Now we're down to two.
We're fixing to go down to one.
It's the moment of truth.
It is a very, very tough decision.
Richard, you're the master distiller of this flight, my friend.
Congratulations.
Good job, my brother.
It's a privilege. I love you.
-I appreciate everything you do. -Love you, brother.
That right there is what it's all about.
When I come in the competition,
I come in knowing one of us is leaving
And the better man won. That's all there is to it.
Daniel, yours was just a little bit sweeter
Than it needed to be,
But you ain't got a damn thing to be ashamed of.
I promise you.
That [bleep] is delicious.
This competition has been a heck of an experience for me
And I got to run against a dang good fellow moonshine
I couldn't lose to a better man.
And I'm proud to see my brother richard go up aga
And I hope that he's victorious.
Well, save me one of those apples
'cause they sucked up the alcohol. I want one.
[daniel] I told richard, "give him heck."
And he said, "I'll try my best."
-Thank you, daniel. -Yes, sir.
[richard] phew, daniel's going home,
And I really like winning, but I hate seeing somebody go home, too.
But somebody has to go home and I'm...
I guess I'm glad to still be standing here.
Richard, first time we ever laid eyes on you,
You were a contestant on master distiller,
Green as a gourd.
I saw some talent in you, and I still see it.
You a damn fine liquor man. The best of the best.
[richard] I never ever ever ever thought I would be standing here.
And to have competed against who I competed against and to win,
I mean, I am overwhelmed by that.
It's so awesome and I'm ready for the next competition
And I'm ready for the next person. It doesn't matter who it is.
Richard, we come to the point now
You get to pick between me, mark ramsey, tim smith.
This is tough.
I'm really overwhelmed.
I mean, to sit and make liquor on side one of you guys,
That's bucket list stuff to me.
I mean, I know I got to pick one of you guys.
And I've been trying to think the whole competition, like,
Who would I call out if I got to this point.
I know what each one of you guys have
And what you're all capable of, you know.
This is tough.
[digger] you get to pick between me, mark ramsey, tim smith.
Mr. Smith...
I want you to sit on side of me and make some apple brandy, sir.
Outstanding.
I'd like to say I'm proud.
And I'd be honored to run right beside of you.
[richard] tim smith is an icon.
Just to be around him and be able to tap into his knowledge
Is overwhelming.
But to sit down and run against him
And potentially beat him...
Phew.
I'm gonna tell you something, old richard.
You damn sure got your hands full.
I know.
[mark] tim smith ain't no rookie.
I know. I know full well.
All right, guys.
We gotta go take you guys to build some mash
And me and mark will be observers.
Hey, bring me some apples. It's all I need. I'm ready.
[digger] I can't wait for this.
-You're my man. -Yes, sir. Definitely.
-[richard] mr. Smith. -Yes, sir.
-[richard] appreciate you. -Proud of you, big man.
I'm looking forward to this.
[all laughing]
[birds screeching]
Here we go. It's the tournament of champions.
Richard, you got all the skills in the world.
Tim, you got the experience.
This is the ultimate battle of backwoods moonshiners.
And we need to be completely neutral in this,
So at the end of this competition,
We will then do a blind tasting.
All right, men.
You got one hour.
Build us the best apple brandy mash
You've ever built in your life.
Your time starts...
...Now. Get with it.
-All right. -Good luck, guys.
Both of you are gonna need it.
-Let's do it, rich. -Let's do it.
[tim chuckling]
[richard] if there's nothing else in my obituary
Just put in there that he competed against tim smith on master distille
That'll be fine with me.
All right. We're gonna see if that's gonna get hot on us.
And we're lit.
The atmosphere here is thick.
[mark] after they shook hands, they have not said one word to each other.
And then normally you can get them to hush with each other.
[digger] exactly.
-We're gonna taste some outstanding brandy. -Yeah.
[tim] richard called me out
It's a honor.
Richard, he had to beat five top champions
To get to where he was to challenge me.
When richard's coming after you,
He's coming after you.
-Tim's got a lot at stake here to hang onto his reputation. -[digger] oh, yeah.
[mark] richard has got a tremendous amount at stake
To try to bolster his reputation.
[richard] my mash build is some real good apples.
I have granny smith.
I have gala. I have pink ladies.
I got a whole bunch of sugar in there.
I got a whole bunch of apple cider
And a whole bunch of apple juice.
I feel really good about my apple brandy mash.
Gentlemen, you burned 30 minutes up so far.
You got 30 left.
Apple brandy mash for me is kind of plain.
I have two different kind of apples.
A granny smith apple and a pink lady.
-[digger] oh, we got a peach going in the mix. -[mark] uh-oh.
[tim] 99.9% apple.
I just throw four or five peaches in there. That's all.
And I have a little touch of honey.
That actually gives it a little bit of a differe taste profile.
Sugar don't give you any flavor.
Instead of dumping 50 pounds of sugar in it,
You just put a little bit of sugar
And then you add the honey.
You need that honey.
That's the good honey. You need some?
[richard] I'd like to have some over some biscuits.
[tim laughing]
I mean, it's two separate mashes.
It's two different mashes entirely.
[tim] oh, yeah. She cooking.
How much time we got?
You got five minutes left.
That's all I need right there.
[richard] that's usually when it's best for me.
Right at the end.
All right. That's some good-looking mash.
Mmm.
It taste like a fresh apple pie.
Here we go, guys.
Five, four...
Three, two, one.
Step back, fellas. You're done.
You know the deal. You've earned a little break.
We're gonna see you guys in five days.
[mark] good luck to both of you fellas.
All right, guys. This is is.
This is the grand finale.
We're gonna name the grand champion of all this season.
We started out with six competitors,
And richard landry, you whittled them down,
Got them all gone.
You picked your poison, the final boss tim smith.
You better have your game britches on.
You, too.
To make it completely fair,
You will do your run,
We will then camouflage each jar
Where we don't know whose they are.
This is going to be a blind tasting.
And then we'll unpeel the one we think's the best.
And to help us with this, we brought in a couple of guest judges.
We brought henry law and danielle parton.
[henry] I know a lot about brandy.
Been to jail for making it.
Been to hell for trying to make it.
So you better be on your a game today.
[danielle] I'm so excited to be here.
One side of my family made brandy.
The other side arrested them for it.
So this is all bringing it home for me,
And I'm so excited to try it.
All right, fellas.
I brought in a table full of still parts.
Look them over. Take anything you like.
You gonna have four and a half hours.
Pick your stilll parts.
Get us a still that will work safely.
Then get us your finest apple brandy up here on this table
For all the bragging rights.
Your time starts now.
Get with it and good luck, guys.
All right. Let's go do it, man.
Let's go to this scrapyard.
Mmm, I know I gotta have a still, so...
Gotta have a pot, too.
I'm old-school. I'm getting a still and a thumper and a condenser
'cause this is what I know.
This is what I grew up on running.
Building the still, I only see two pots and one thumper.
[digger] you know what? He don't have no condenser
Unless he uses a lyne arm.
Tim done beat him to that condenser.
[richard] I knew tim was gonna go and get the pot and the thumper right off.
So, I mean, I see some other things in here
That I have seen online.
I have never really used them.
He ain't even got a plan of what he's gonna put together yet.
[richard] this is more than nerve-racking now.
This is crazy.
[richard] building the still I only see two pots
And one thumper.
Hey, richard. You got you a plan in your head?
I can take something and put it on the top of the pot
And attach it to something that has a thumper
And attach that thumper to a worm,
Even if the worm doesn't look like what I'm used to using.
That'll work.
-It'll work. -It will work.
[richard] you gonna keep it simple and go with a regular still, huh?
I think that oughta work right there.
I think it will.
[richard] if you run anythin with tim smith,
You gotta be on your game.
But brandy, that's in is wheelhouse.
I gotta be precise with this all the way through.
How you gonna set yours up?
Oh, I'm gonna do something a little different.
I'm looking at richard as he's top dog.
He just beat all of the champions that we had
To make it to this point,
So I gotta bring my a game.
[richard] it's a damn good beer.
You smell that?
[tim] it's just me and you, rich.
Phew. I know you know what you're doing,
But this is good, man.
-[danielle chuckling] -we'll find out soon.
Henry law knows a lot about brandy.
Apple brandy is one of his signature drinks.
You oughta taste that.
If you do it right or wrong
He's gonna let you know.
It ain't too bad, huh?
Ain't too bad at all.
What you got here, tim?
[tim] what do you think about that, henry?
-It's good, tim. -Yeah?
Real good. But I'm gonna tell you what else...
-He's got some good-tasting mash over there. -[tim] yeah?
-You better bring your a game. -[tim chuckles]
-Good luck, tim. Good luck. -All right.
Richard, walk me through what you're setting up here.
What you got in mind?
This is a thumper.
Some people might say a gin basket,
But this is gonna function the exact same way.
This is what he has. It just looks different.
Let's hope it makes a good brandy.
It ain't got no choice.
All right, guys.
You're down to three hours and 45 minutes.
-[richard] mr. Smith, I'm feeling pretty good. -Are you?
-Yes, sir. -[tim] okay.
I'm feeling pretty good, too. I'm just getting hot.
I'm gonna have to take this sweatshirt off.
You can tell it's game on now for tim.
When that shirt come off,
He's ready for business.
It feels so much better.
I just lost 20 degrees.
As soon as I get this hooked up and get this pot hot,
It starts running real fast
By putting the gin basket on top of the pot,
Alcohol vapors come through this straight up and run straight to a worm,
So this thing's making liquo at 186 degrees.
That's apple brandy.
Oh, yeah. That's some high-tech alcohol right there.
Henry, you see anything that makes you kind of scratch your head?
Everything over there makes me scratch my head.
If my old man saw something like this... [chuckles]
I don't know what he'd do.
[tim] there we go.
[richard] it's running? Game on.
[digger] guys, two hours.
Plenty of time.
Hey, tim.
How you doing?
I'm good. How you doing?
I'm a little bit nervous.
[tim] you know, I got a whole lot to heat up.
I'm not getting up to temperature here
Because my mash was really cold
Because it had finished working
Maybe a couple of days ago.
And then I had it outside and it got cold last night.
I don't want to give you something that's too strong
And doesn't taste good.
Oh, you're gonna kill it.
-[danielle] both of you are gonna kill it. -[tim] thank y'all.
Richard, what you got going on here?
Apple brandy.
How's your still working out?
[richard] I love this thing.
It holds temperature really well,
And it started producing really fast.
It smells pretty good.
Thank you, ma'am.
[digger] one hour, men.
[tim] I'm getting ready to pull out my secret weapon.
[mark] oh.
This your secret weapon?
[tim] secret weapon.
See, I'm doing multiple things at one time
I'm blending and filling that jar,
So I ain't gotta be doing no mixing and all that stuff.
No filter.
Nothing but jar.
[chuckling] no filter. Nothing but jar.
-Goddamn. -Bring it on.
[tim] you already got your jar. Right, richard?
[richard] between this one and this one.
It's starting to come down to the end of it.
-[mark] lookit here. -[richard] mmm-hmm.
-He's putting some sweet water in there. -I know what he's doing.
He's putting them tasty tails in there to bring that flavor.
A little too late to be second guessing.
Let's see what you're working with.
That smells good.
You getting scared yet?
-Yeah, actually I am. -[tim] I was just gonna let you know.
[richard laughing] actually I am.
Goddamn, that's really good, mr. Smith.
[richard] I'm tasting tim's liquor.
It's like you can almost taste each individual apple that he put in there.
He's gonna turn in a really good jar.
Well, let me see what you working with then.
I like this little fountain you got set up here.
I love this.
Wow, that's really smooth.
That's, like, butter smooth.
We're making good apple brandy here.
Both of us.
This is a competition.
This is not a time to be playing, you know.
This is my life.
You're killing me, richard.
Henry,
You are the brandy man in virginia.
And I'm sure that you brought a little jar
-Of your own brandy with you. -I tried to sneak it in on you.
[mark] let's get us a little drink of that
And see where the bar is at, what we're looking for.
[henry] the bar's gonna be high. You know that.
Oh, that smells good.
[danielle] you can definitely smell the apples,
-But it's not an overpowering... -[henry] exactly.
Got that little bite.
You know, to me, that's what a brandy's all about.
It's about that alcohol bite,
Then leveling off and then that fruit finish.
It's the internal hug I was needing.
Yeah, it's kinda like being in your mommy's arms, ain't it?
[all laughing]
Ten minutes, guys.
Yeah, that's gonna be the keeper jar right there.
Richard's getting serious now.
He's putting his autograph on the one that's it.
I came through five competitors to get to this point.
I'm competing with tim smith
This is what it all boil down to right here.
-To be able to sit next to you and run liquor... -It's been great.
-It's been awesome. -It's been really great.
It's time to do this.
And I'm gonna let y'all have at this
'cause I can't do nothing else to this but mess it up.
So I'm gonna put this right here.
Thank you all so much
Y'all have a good one.
All right. I done did the best I could.
There's my jar.
That's the one, huh?
Well, you know the deal.
You can head on out with richard.
We're gonna taste, deliberate, reach a decision
And when we do, I'll be a-coming to get y'all.
Thank y'all.
-[henry] good luck -[mark] good luck, tim.
-All right. -Good luck.
[danielle] now our work starts.
Let's get one of these still hands in here to tape everything up
And make it fair.
Blind taste test.
I'm gonna tell you something about henry law.
He is very serious in carrying his heritage on.
He's very serious in what he produces and what goes in that jar.
And think about danielle also.
Her name's riding on it, too.
It's gonna be a serious pick.
[digger] all right, guys. Time to get busy.
Let's see what they got then.
Let's do it.
Let's get busy.
[digger] all right. We have no idea whose liquors are in these jars.
We just know we got a red one and a gold one.
-It's about as fair as you can get it. -Yeah.
-[mark] no favoritism whatsoever. -That's good.
[digger] well, first red.
Good clear jar.
What do you say, henry?
-[henry] I say it's low. -Well...
[henry] that's the first thing we're looking for.
I'm so nervous, man. I just want to get my neck on this chopping block
-As quick as I possibly could, man. -[tim chuckles]
I was a little nervous when we started.
-You know, I've been the judge. -[richard chuckles]
-I don't have nothing to fear. -[richard] yeah.
Now I'm on that side and then they're gonna bring in these special guests,
So now I know how it is.
Exactly.
-Mmm. -Mmm.
Little something don't seem exactly right there though.
No.
I think it tastes better than it smells.
It's got the damn world of flavor in there.
It's a very smooth drink.
-[mark] very mild. -It's a very smooth drink.
Well, if he'd get a little bit more alcohol in there,
We would have had a really good drink.
But not everybody likes that high proof taste.
I think the red's very sellable.
I think you could mix it. I think you could do a lot of things with it.
[mark] good strong taste.
Yeah, as far as I'm concerned,
We could sell the hell out of that.
Now it's time for gold.
[both] all right.
[henry] looking better already.
-[mark] yeah, it's north of a hundred. -[digger] yep.
See, those bubbles are getting down there fast.
But does it have that flavor?
[danielle] digger's getting fancy with that pour.
It's got that thick look to it coming out of the jar.
That smells more like what I was expecting.
You get that liquor right up front.
And you get that apple burst.
[henry] it's got that bite.
That's apple brandy.
The only thing I can say that would be a negative
Just a little bit more apple flavor.
You can tell it doesn't have quite the apple smell that mine's got.
Henry, this ain't yours,
But it's closer to it than red.
You know, richard, it was a real honor for you to pick me.
I'm gonna tell you what. The honor was mine, sir.
-Yeah. -I'm honored that you would let me do this.
-Thank you. -Yep.
Both of these have a place in the market.
You just have to find that place.
I would definitely use the red in mixed drinks.
But if I'm gonna drink it straight, it's gold I want.
-Every time. -Agreed, agreed.
All right, guys.
If everybody's rock solid, I'm gonna go fetch them.
I know where I'm at.
-Yeah. Me, too. -[digger] here we go.
-I got it. -All right.
[digger] gentlemen, welcome back.
It's the final chapter of this book.
Difficult job on me and mark especially because tim's our brother.
We work with him on a daily basis.
Richard, we made a good friend in you.
We want you both to win.
Tasting gold jar and tasting red jar,
And whoever the winner may be,
You both are still champions.
As you can see, we've got gold...
And we've got red.
Complete blind taste test.
We're gonna start off with gold.
Gold had all the proof that would ever be needed for a good brandy.
Good apple flavor.
Comes in hot with that alcohol.
Good strong nose.
No funky in there anywhere.
I mean, when you check that proof on it,
It holds a good bead.
Excellent flavor. Great on the nose.
So, whoever's this one is, fine job.
Red, really, really good flavor.
I mean, it's probably a good of flavor
As you expect in any liquor.
But just a little hint of something we couldn't really pick out on the nose.
Little bit lighter on proof.
But when you taste it, the flavor ran all over your mouth.
I mean, it was outstanding flavor.
Amazing brandy.
I mean, the flavor's there. The taste's there. The profile's there.
Smooth. Smooth as it goes down.
The red I think you could use a lot more versatilely.
You could use it as a mixer in a lot of different ways
If you're not one to drink that straight hot drink.
Both of them are really great.
But you know what? That's why you're both here.
[henry] yeah, I agree with that 100%.
We got two good jars here. The red and the gold.
[digger] men, you've heard everything we've got to say about this.
This contest right here didn't lack much to have been a tie.
It was that close.
But we expected nothing less
In the tournament of champions.
At the end of the day, we don't know just yet who won.
We do know the gold jar is the winner.
The suspense is killing y'all, ain't it?
Pretty much.
I'm gonna rip the band-aid off.
And the winner is...
Tim smith.
Congratulations, timmy.
It was a good run.
It was an honor
-To stand next to you. -Either way, it was a good run.
Just to have competed against the people that I just competed against
And to be standing on the other side,
I never thought it would happen to me.
Growing up, I never saw anybody doing what I'm doing right now.
I never saw anybody that looked like me doing this.
And now, I mean, I'm in a different position
The judges didn't have to tell me that I won
For me to feel that I won.
Congratulations.
Thank y'all.
You know, winning this contest, it's...
You know, it's an honor.
It was no walk in the park.
I can tell you that.
Because richard came with his a game no doubt.
Get on outta here.
-All right. -Let's go take a drink.
You've earned a drink, boss.
But the legacy of craft distilling and moonshining is gonna die,
If we don't have people like richard to come forward
And carry this dying art on.
And then now he's standing beside me.
And he's proud of it.
Just the same as I am proud
To have him to stand beside me.
Let's go drink a little drink with them, yeah, too.
I got a little frog in my throat.
-That was a good contest. -It was.
A lot of fun.