1 00:00:00,978 --> 00:00:03,912 [narrator] this time on master distiller, 2 00:00:03,914 --> 00:00:05,113 three appalachian states... 3 00:00:05,115 --> 00:00:06,615 [tim johnson] ohio, stepping up. 4 00:00:06,617 --> 00:00:08,083 [jon bray] alabama represent. 5 00:00:08,085 --> 00:00:10,285 I can see why this sells good in west virginia. 6 00:00:10,287 --> 00:00:13,488 [narrator] three distinct styles of corn liquor. 7 00:00:13,490 --> 00:00:18,794 These are three rough-looking, outlaw, corn-cooking-making moonshiners right here. 8 00:00:18,796 --> 00:00:20,195 [narrator] it's west virginia... 9 00:00:20,197 --> 00:00:21,863 Not cocky, just confident. 10 00:00:21,865 --> 00:00:23,065 [narrator] versus ohio... 11 00:00:23,067 --> 00:00:24,332 Tastes like cornbread. 12 00:00:24,334 --> 00:00:26,068 [narrator] versus alabama... 13 00:00:26,336 --> 00:00:27,803 She's a rolling now. 14 00:00:27,805 --> 00:00:30,739 [narrator] ...To find out who makes the best outlaw corn liquor. 15 00:00:30,741 --> 00:00:34,109 We got an appalachian standoff. 16 00:00:34,111 --> 00:00:38,647 [narrator] across the country, a handful of amateur distillers are heirs 17 00:00:38,649 --> 00:00:41,016 to a centuries-old tradition. 18 00:00:42,386 --> 00:00:45,087 Some operate on the legal side. 19 00:00:45,089 --> 00:00:49,191 Others practice their craft beyond the reach of the law. 20 00:00:49,193 --> 00:00:51,726 Now they'll face off to earn their place 21 00:00:51,728 --> 00:00:53,995 in america's liquor-making legacy. 22 00:00:53,997 --> 00:00:54,930 It's still looking pretty good. 23 00:00:54,932 --> 00:00:56,998 [digger] it looks like a jar of water. 24 00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:59,634 [narrator] judged by three legendary moonshiners, 25 00:00:59,636 --> 00:01:02,838 they'll go head-to-head in a series of challenges. 26 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:08,176 Time to bring the best appalachian corn liquor we've seen to date. 27 00:01:08,178 --> 00:01:10,846 [narrator] to determine who has what it takes... 28 00:01:10,848 --> 00:01:12,914 I don't disappoint. 29 00:01:12,916 --> 00:01:15,784 [narrator] to be named master distiller. 30 00:01:15,786 --> 00:01:18,053 I ain't ever had no rules for making moonshine. 31 00:01:18,055 --> 00:01:19,955 -No. -Just one. Don't get caught. 32 00:01:19,957 --> 00:01:21,022 [man laughing] 33 00:01:30,501 --> 00:01:32,701 boys, I wanna welcome you all to master distiller. 34 00:01:32,703 --> 00:01:34,736 We're fixing to put you all's skills to the test. 35 00:01:34,738 --> 00:01:39,608 We got a appalachian standoff, outlawed corn whisky. 36 00:01:39,610 --> 00:01:43,945 I'm really looking forward to tasting what you all are gonna put in these jars, guys. 37 00:01:43,947 --> 00:01:46,615 It's gonna be a tough one. We ain't easy on them. 38 00:01:46,617 --> 00:01:48,583 Number 1, you're gonna get your bragging rights. 39 00:01:48,585 --> 00:01:51,953 Number 2, you'll get a run of your liquor in a major distillery. 40 00:01:51,955 --> 00:01:54,789 -That's pretty awesome just in itself. -Yes, it is. 41 00:01:54,791 --> 00:01:58,226 This is our wheelhouse. This is what we love. 42 00:01:58,228 --> 00:02:00,562 And we're expecting good things from you. 43 00:02:00,564 --> 00:02:04,833 All three of you all are part of the appalachian tradition of making corn liquor. 44 00:02:04,835 --> 00:02:08,370 I mean, you got west virginia, you got ohio and you got alabama. 45 00:02:08,939 --> 00:02:11,306 Tickle! Tell us about it. 46 00:02:11,808 --> 00:02:13,742 When people think of appalachia, 47 00:02:13,744 --> 00:02:17,512 they think about places like the smoky mountains in kentucky. 48 00:02:17,514 --> 00:02:19,848 But, really, the appalachian mountains, they run 49 00:02:19,850 --> 00:02:23,718 from way up in new york all the way down to alabama. 50 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:25,754 Most of the europeans, who settled these mountains, 51 00:02:25,756 --> 00:02:27,889 came from scotland and ireland. 52 00:02:27,891 --> 00:02:29,457 But they not only brought their stills with them, 53 00:02:29,459 --> 00:02:31,760 they brought their love of making liquor. 54 00:02:31,762 --> 00:02:35,997 Since corn grew better here than wheat, or barley, that's what they ran. 55 00:02:35,999 --> 00:02:39,968 And that's how appalachian corn liquor got its start. 56 00:02:39,970 --> 00:02:43,872 During prohibition, illegal distillation boomed. 57 00:02:43,874 --> 00:02:46,474 Backwoods distillers, all across appalachia, 58 00:02:46,476 --> 00:02:48,543 sent their moonshine to the thirsty cities. 59 00:02:48,545 --> 00:02:52,914 Pretty soon, everybody knew about the corn liquor from the mountains. 60 00:02:52,916 --> 00:02:58,853 Now, there's a lot of hidden, local recipes out there, just waiting to be discovered. 61 00:02:58,855 --> 00:03:00,121 We're about to try some. 62 00:03:00,724 --> 00:03:01,856 Oh, that tastes like home. 63 00:03:03,860 --> 00:03:06,461 All right, guys. Now it's time to get down to business. 64 00:03:06,463 --> 00:03:08,964 You all brought your own individual recipes from your own region. 65 00:03:08,966 --> 00:03:12,100 We wanna see what we can learn from you all as well. 66 00:03:12,102 --> 00:03:16,538 So, good luck to you. You got one hour, starting now. 67 00:03:18,909 --> 00:03:22,277 [narrator] contestants will use their trademark recipes 68 00:03:22,846 --> 00:03:25,547 to create a regional corn liquor base 69 00:03:25,549 --> 00:03:28,316 that must carry them throughout the competition. 70 00:03:29,886 --> 00:03:31,886 Jon, tell us about your grain bill over there. 71 00:03:31,888 --> 00:03:33,688 Man, I went pretty simple. 72 00:03:33,690 --> 00:03:35,657 There's a guy down the road from us that's got a farm 73 00:03:35,659 --> 00:03:38,126 and we went to his farm and got all the corn. 74 00:03:38,128 --> 00:03:41,329 We ground it up into just about cornmeal, it's pretty fine. 75 00:03:41,331 --> 00:03:42,697 -About, like, grits. -[jon] right. 76 00:03:42,699 --> 00:03:43,498 [both] yeah. 77 00:03:43,500 --> 00:03:45,300 -It's just a straight corn-- -yeah. 78 00:03:45,302 --> 00:03:46,701 [jon] you know what they say. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. 79 00:03:46,703 --> 00:03:49,137 If it ain't broke, don't fix it. 80 00:03:49,139 --> 00:03:53,908 Actually, jimbo, you remember from alabama, that won the master distiller before. 81 00:03:53,910 --> 00:03:55,510 -Right. -He's his nephew. 82 00:03:55,512 --> 00:03:57,812 -[digger] jimbo. -Yes, sir. 83 00:03:57,814 --> 00:04:00,915 You hit your flavor profile through and through. You're the master distiller. 84 00:04:00,917 --> 00:04:01,816 Congratulations. 85 00:04:01,852 --> 00:04:04,085 Alabama represent. 86 00:04:04,087 --> 00:04:07,922 So, we got another alabama, appalachian, corn liquor maker. 87 00:04:07,924 --> 00:04:09,891 She's a rolling now. 88 00:04:09,893 --> 00:04:12,761 I'm jonathan bray and I'm from carbon hill, alabama. 89 00:04:12,763 --> 00:04:14,863 By day, I work for the road department 90 00:04:14,865 --> 00:04:18,066 and after hours, you can catch me in a still house. 91 00:04:18,068 --> 00:04:19,501 This is where the magic happens. 92 00:04:19,503 --> 00:04:22,170 Making liquor, it's always been in my family. 93 00:04:22,172 --> 00:04:24,239 My great-grandfather made liquor and then, 94 00:04:24,241 --> 00:04:26,308 it was just passed down to my uncle. 95 00:04:26,310 --> 00:04:26,841 What's up, nephew? 96 00:04:26,843 --> 00:04:28,743 What about it? 97 00:04:28,745 --> 00:04:31,680 And it sparked even more of an interest in me, so I took up to it, 98 00:04:31,682 --> 00:04:34,015 and just been following his footsteps. 99 00:04:34,017 --> 00:04:36,618 I got some cranberry liquor getting made right here. 100 00:04:36,620 --> 00:04:38,853 My butter-cran. It's what I'm known for. 101 00:04:38,855 --> 00:04:43,758 Butterscotch is very popular in the south, especially in alabama. 102 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:45,593 To me, it means a lot to be from alabama. 103 00:04:45,595 --> 00:04:46,895 We say alabama represent. 104 00:04:46,897 --> 00:04:48,863 We say roll tide where legends are made. 105 00:04:48,865 --> 00:04:50,832 We live off the land. It's what we do. 106 00:04:50,834 --> 00:04:52,400 So, that's what I'm here to do today. 107 00:04:52,402 --> 00:04:56,171 I'm hoping that this isn't my first and last step. Hope that I win. 108 00:04:56,173 --> 00:05:00,008 Winning master distiller would definitely give me the validation that I need. 109 00:05:00,010 --> 00:05:01,810 It would give me the confidence 110 00:05:01,812 --> 00:05:05,780 and the title behind me, to push and to sell liquor. 111 00:05:05,782 --> 00:05:07,148 [aaron] warming up in here already. 112 00:05:07,517 --> 00:05:08,783 [digger] oh, yeah. 113 00:05:08,985 --> 00:05:11,820 I'm from ohio, way up north, so it's, uh, chillier up there. 114 00:05:11,822 --> 00:05:13,521 You're gonna love it here. 115 00:05:15,659 --> 00:05:18,026 My name is tim johnson. I'm from vermilion, ohio. 116 00:05:18,028 --> 00:05:20,628 This whole area is peach orchards. 117 00:05:20,630 --> 00:05:23,898 Don't have no problem getting any corn. 118 00:05:23,900 --> 00:05:28,002 I'm a multi-generation moonshiner and, uh, I built my own still. 119 00:05:28,004 --> 00:05:30,839 Gotta make sure all these are tight, so they don't leak. 120 00:05:30,841 --> 00:05:33,541 I worked at ford motor company for 33 years. 121 00:05:33,543 --> 00:05:35,510 And, um, I think being a mechanic, 122 00:05:35,512 --> 00:05:37,612 and working on the race car, really helped me out. 123 00:05:37,614 --> 00:05:39,981 Over here's where I just ran some corn. 124 00:05:39,983 --> 00:05:41,883 My favorite liquor to make is corn. 125 00:05:41,885 --> 00:05:43,184 I just love the taste of it. 126 00:05:44,087 --> 00:05:46,488 I love the smell of it, when it's cooking in the garage. 127 00:05:46,490 --> 00:05:48,556 The smell smells like you're in a bakery. 128 00:05:48,558 --> 00:05:49,858 I put a burner underneath my thumper, 129 00:05:49,860 --> 00:05:52,694 so when I run fruits in here, I can heat it up. 130 00:05:52,696 --> 00:05:54,162 I'm kind of like an old-school guy, 131 00:05:54,164 --> 00:05:56,965 but I throw a little twist of new-school guy in there. 132 00:05:56,967 --> 00:05:58,032 I love experimenting. 133 00:05:58,034 --> 00:05:59,701 They call me the mad scientist, 134 00:05:59,703 --> 00:06:02,003 all my friends do, and my wife. 135 00:06:02,005 --> 00:06:05,106 I try different things and sometimes it works, sometimes it don't. 136 00:06:05,108 --> 00:06:06,241 [whistles, coughs] 137 00:06:06,510 --> 00:06:07,742 130 proof. 138 00:06:07,744 --> 00:06:09,577 Need to tone that down a little bit. 139 00:06:09,579 --> 00:06:10,912 I think if I win master distiller, 140 00:06:10,914 --> 00:06:14,115 that I could, uh, have the courage to go in 141 00:06:14,117 --> 00:06:16,885 to starting my own little craft distillery. 142 00:06:16,887 --> 00:06:18,887 I think it would change my life. 143 00:06:18,889 --> 00:06:21,689 [aaron] I've never had one of these fancy temperature gages. 144 00:06:21,691 --> 00:06:22,991 I don't know if we're right or not. 145 00:06:22,993 --> 00:06:25,059 I know if I stick my hand in there 146 00:06:25,061 --> 00:06:26,528 and I say, "damn it, it's hot in there." 147 00:06:26,530 --> 00:06:29,130 that's what I do, it's like scalding a hog. 148 00:06:29,132 --> 00:06:31,699 You know, aaron bass, here, there's a good chance 149 00:06:31,701 --> 00:06:35,503 -that he's made and sold as much liquor as we have. -[digger] oh. 150 00:06:35,505 --> 00:06:38,306 My name's aaron bass and I'm from west virginia. 151 00:06:38,975 --> 00:06:42,811 By trade, I'm an electrician, for the last 25 years. 152 00:06:42,813 --> 00:06:45,880 Been making liquor too long to remember. 153 00:06:45,882 --> 00:06:48,650 Pull cold water out of the creek down here, 154 00:06:48,652 --> 00:06:50,819 to cool this thing off and make liquor. 155 00:06:50,821 --> 00:06:53,822 Even though it's illegal, there's a lot of pride in making liquor. 156 00:06:53,824 --> 00:06:55,790 Uh, it's an appalachian heritage. 157 00:06:55,792 --> 00:06:58,860 It's been done for hundreds and hundreds of years. 158 00:06:58,862 --> 00:07:02,897 And I'm just carrying on what was started a long time ago. 159 00:07:02,899 --> 00:07:06,468 This is, uh, watermelon. Number 1 sellers in the summertime. 160 00:07:06,470 --> 00:07:09,103 Everything is all kept upstairs. 161 00:07:09,105 --> 00:07:14,309 I don't write anything down. I don't measure anything out, other than rough measurements. 162 00:07:14,778 --> 00:07:17,812 Keep it simple and it works. 163 00:07:17,814 --> 00:07:21,683 Going legal is kind of a retirement thought. 164 00:07:21,685 --> 00:07:23,985 Winning the title could be a stepping stone 165 00:07:23,987 --> 00:07:26,120 to that, to help out, you know. 166 00:07:26,122 --> 00:07:28,022 Looks pretty good on a resume. 167 00:07:28,925 --> 00:07:29,891 Hey, aaron. 168 00:07:29,893 --> 00:07:31,659 Tell me about that corn, there. 169 00:07:31,661 --> 00:07:35,263 [aaron] that's fresh, sweet corn, cut off the cob yesterday. 170 00:07:35,265 --> 00:07:37,799 That all you're gonna do is fresh corn? 171 00:07:37,801 --> 00:07:39,334 No. Fresh corn and rice. 172 00:07:39,703 --> 00:07:41,102 -Rice? -[aaron] rice. 173 00:07:41,104 --> 00:07:43,872 -Really? -That comes from a japanese buddy. 174 00:07:43,874 --> 00:07:46,174 It gives it just a little sweeter taste. 175 00:07:46,176 --> 00:07:47,675 -Yeah. -Well, that'll be a first for me. 176 00:07:47,677 --> 00:07:49,344 I'm looking forward to that. 177 00:07:49,779 --> 00:07:51,079 Tell me a little bit of something 178 00:07:51,081 --> 00:07:52,580 about your ingredients you're using here, today. 179 00:07:52,582 --> 00:07:55,149 Well, my grandpa used to use, uh, malted corn. 180 00:07:55,151 --> 00:07:56,518 He'd malt in the creek himself in pillowcases. 181 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:57,619 Oh, yeah. That's right. 182 00:07:57,621 --> 00:08:00,488 And trying to get close to his recipe, as possible, 183 00:08:00,490 --> 00:08:03,224 but I add a little kick to mine with some smoked wheat in there. 184 00:08:03,226 --> 00:08:05,393 Ohio-grown wheat, ohio-grown barley. 185 00:08:05,395 --> 00:08:06,861 That's interesting. 186 00:08:06,863 --> 00:08:10,498 Never had any corn liquor that's had anything smoked in it. 187 00:08:10,500 --> 00:08:13,735 -Uh-huh. -So, I'm looking forward to trying it. 188 00:08:13,737 --> 00:08:15,803 -Who knows? -That's right. 189 00:08:15,805 --> 00:08:17,472 I'm not afraid of change at all. 190 00:08:17,474 --> 00:08:19,741 [digger] we've got three different recipes. 191 00:08:19,743 --> 00:08:21,509 [mark ramsey] they all in the appalachia, though. 192 00:08:21,511 --> 00:08:23,912 All of them's got corn and all of them's got sugar. 193 00:08:23,914 --> 00:08:24,746 [digger] right. 194 00:08:24,748 --> 00:08:26,548 Five minutes, boys. 195 00:08:26,550 --> 00:08:28,349 Hope you all are where you need to be. 196 00:08:32,689 --> 00:08:34,689 [aaron] I ain't ever had no rules for making moonshine. 197 00:08:34,691 --> 00:08:37,091 -No. -Just one. Don't get caught. 198 00:08:40,230 --> 00:08:42,430 Done. Boys, step away from your barrels. 199 00:08:42,432 --> 00:08:46,200 -[aaron exhales] -we'll get your mash moved to the mash room. 200 00:08:46,202 --> 00:08:50,071 After that, we'll see you in five days, when your mash is done. 201 00:08:56,379 --> 00:08:57,779 All right, boys. 202 00:08:57,814 --> 00:09:02,784 Time to bring the best appalachian corn liquor we've seen to date. 203 00:09:02,786 --> 00:09:04,786 [mark ramsey] you all are on equal ground here. 204 00:09:04,788 --> 00:09:06,821 No thumper, no frills. 205 00:09:06,823 --> 00:09:10,925 The winner of this challenge gets first pick of steel parts. 206 00:09:10,927 --> 00:09:15,029 You got four hours to get us a perfect jar on the table. 207 00:09:15,031 --> 00:09:17,065 Your time starts now. 208 00:09:17,067 --> 00:09:18,466 Good luck, boys. 209 00:09:20,170 --> 00:09:23,338 -[digger] boys' party's just getting started. -[mark ramsey] oh, yeah. 210 00:09:25,075 --> 00:09:25,907 [tim johnson] oh, [bleep]. 211 00:09:25,942 --> 00:09:27,942 [digger] always check your slop valve. 212 00:09:27,944 --> 00:09:30,411 Ain't trying to put no pressure on you, boys. 213 00:09:30,413 --> 00:09:33,414 But, you know they's 10,000 people 214 00:09:33,416 --> 00:09:37,852 making corn liquor in their back shed, backyard, their barns. 215 00:09:37,854 --> 00:09:38,953 We wanna see what separates 216 00:09:38,955 --> 00:09:40,888 you all's liquor from the rest. 217 00:09:40,890 --> 00:09:42,991 All together a different mash, boys. 218 00:09:42,993 --> 00:09:45,293 We're gonna get some good paste. 219 00:09:45,295 --> 00:09:46,928 Well, everybody's lit up. 220 00:09:46,930 --> 00:09:49,864 What's your mash feel like, aaron? You like how it turned out? 221 00:09:49,866 --> 00:09:51,933 [aaron] yeah. I think it's pretty good. 222 00:09:51,935 --> 00:09:54,702 Corn flavor came through, it was a little sweet, 223 00:09:54,704 --> 00:09:57,005 so it did exactly what I hoped it was gonna do. 224 00:09:57,007 --> 00:10:00,141 Guys, two hours left in your run. 225 00:10:00,143 --> 00:10:02,443 [aaron] I don't like this stopwatch stuff, boys. 226 00:10:02,445 --> 00:10:04,779 Yeah, you ain't kidding... [laughs] 227 00:10:04,781 --> 00:10:10,318 these are three rough-looking, outlaw, corn-cooking-making moonshiners right here. 228 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:12,020 I don't know if I wanna make one of them mad. 229 00:10:12,022 --> 00:10:15,056 I don't give a [bleep], I ain't scared of hell or what's in it. 230 00:10:16,159 --> 00:10:16,958 [jon] getting warm up there? 231 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:18,693 Yeah, it's warm. 232 00:10:18,695 --> 00:10:20,094 [jon] thought I smelled a little bit of alcohol. 233 00:10:20,096 --> 00:10:22,296 Oh, yeah. It's coming from over here, 234 00:10:22,966 --> 00:10:24,399 which ain't gonna be long at all. 235 00:10:24,668 --> 00:10:26,768 Yeah. I went slow, man. 236 00:10:26,770 --> 00:10:29,504 Yeah. I'm going slow too. You're up a little more than I am. 237 00:10:29,506 --> 00:10:31,472 -[jon] yeah. -I'm, like, at 120 right now. 238 00:10:31,775 --> 00:10:32,874 177. 239 00:10:32,876 --> 00:10:35,143 -[jon] you dripping now. -[aaron] yeah. 240 00:10:35,145 --> 00:10:37,412 I've always heard what temperature it starts running at, 241 00:10:37,414 --> 00:10:40,248 but I've never actually known that. 242 00:10:40,250 --> 00:10:45,119 My version of a thermometer is if it says 98.6, I'm good, so... 243 00:10:45,622 --> 00:10:46,854 You can taste this. 244 00:10:47,190 --> 00:10:49,290 It's like taking a bite of corn off the cob, right there. 245 00:10:50,894 --> 00:10:52,160 It's pretty good. 246 00:10:52,495 --> 00:10:53,528 [jon] there she blows. 247 00:10:53,563 --> 00:10:56,197 -[tim johnson] getting dripping? -[jon] oh, yeah. 248 00:10:56,199 --> 00:10:58,966 -They taste a lot alike, mine and yours does. -[aaron] yeah. 249 00:10:58,968 --> 00:11:00,001 It's corn, baby. 250 00:11:00,003 --> 00:11:01,169 -Good try. -[aaron laughs] 251 00:11:02,272 --> 00:11:04,072 there's gotta be some coming soon. 252 00:11:04,074 --> 00:11:05,473 There we go. 253 00:11:05,475 --> 00:11:06,774 [man] ohio stepping up. 254 00:11:06,776 --> 00:11:09,277 This is gonna be the different taste, I think. 255 00:11:14,050 --> 00:11:15,850 I taste a little bit of that smoke. 256 00:11:15,852 --> 00:11:17,018 You can, can't you? 257 00:11:17,020 --> 00:11:18,720 That's what gonna make the difference. 258 00:11:18,722 --> 00:11:20,054 That's what's gonna set you apart. 259 00:11:20,056 --> 00:11:21,789 [tim johnson] I just hope it comes through. 260 00:11:21,791 --> 00:11:22,990 You ain't gonna have to worry about your flavor 261 00:11:22,992 --> 00:11:25,827 coming through there, with no thumper. 262 00:11:25,829 --> 00:11:28,096 I haven't run a whole lot without a thumper. 263 00:11:28,364 --> 00:11:30,498 Just a couple times. 264 00:11:30,500 --> 00:11:32,934 Now that I remember, it does have more flavor when it's like that, you know. 265 00:11:32,936 --> 00:11:34,368 Yeah. 266 00:11:34,370 --> 00:11:36,003 [tim johnson] when I was walking around, 267 00:11:36,005 --> 00:11:38,706 checking my other competitor's flavors out, I was, like, [sighs] 268 00:11:38,708 --> 00:11:40,908 I taste more corn in theirs than mine. 269 00:11:40,910 --> 00:11:44,779 When I did a run at home, with the wheat, it didn't come out as much. 270 00:11:44,781 --> 00:11:46,948 And I used a thumper, so I think, maybe, 271 00:11:46,950 --> 00:11:48,883 that could have been a little bit of it. 272 00:11:48,885 --> 00:11:50,985 The thumper'll strip it. 273 00:11:50,987 --> 00:11:53,054 But, I'm tasting that wheat and I'm, like... 274 00:11:53,356 --> 00:11:54,188 Oh, no. 275 00:11:54,224 --> 00:11:57,158 I think his corn got lost in the wheat. 276 00:12:00,663 --> 00:12:01,896 You can taste this. 277 00:12:02,165 --> 00:12:03,397 It's like taking a bite of corn off the cob, right there. 278 00:12:04,601 --> 00:12:05,633 It's pretty good. 279 00:12:05,668 --> 00:12:07,168 When I was walking around, checking my other, uh, 280 00:12:07,170 --> 00:12:09,570 competitor's flavors out, I was, like, [sighs] 281 00:12:09,572 --> 00:12:12,106 I taste more corn in theirs than mine. 282 00:12:12,108 --> 00:12:15,409 Sat around all week worried about this, wondering, "is it gonna work?" 283 00:12:16,012 --> 00:12:17,211 [digger] you never know. 284 00:12:17,247 --> 00:12:20,114 A lot of pressure will make you make mistakes, sometimes. 285 00:12:20,116 --> 00:12:21,549 [tim johnson] I just wanna keep this going. 286 00:12:21,551 --> 00:12:24,385 Take a deep breath and just bear with it. 287 00:12:26,556 --> 00:12:29,624 [smacks lips] oh, yeah. Think I got more corn coming through now. 288 00:12:29,626 --> 00:12:32,660 -Slow and steady wins the race. -[jon] that's right. 289 00:12:32,662 --> 00:12:34,629 [aaron] you're awful quiet over there, jonathan. 290 00:12:34,631 --> 00:12:37,498 [smith] gotta watch it, silent majority. 291 00:12:37,500 --> 00:12:40,601 Just out of curiosity, did uncle jimbo give you any tips? 292 00:12:40,603 --> 00:12:43,805 Yeah, we may have practiced a few times or 100. 293 00:12:43,807 --> 00:12:45,706 -May have practiced a few times or 100? -Yeah. 294 00:12:45,708 --> 00:12:47,475 We'll see how it works. 295 00:12:47,477 --> 00:12:50,745 Well, boys, you got one hour left to build us the perfect jar. 296 00:12:50,747 --> 00:12:52,880 It's still looking pretty good. 297 00:12:52,882 --> 00:12:56,150 Aaron, you're tempering over there. You feel like you're where you need to be? 298 00:12:56,152 --> 00:13:01,189 I'm exactly where I need to be. Just trying to get one perfect jar. 299 00:13:01,191 --> 00:13:02,623 That's all we need. 300 00:13:02,625 --> 00:13:06,594 Jon? When you just picked you one out of your run, you didn't temper one. 301 00:13:06,596 --> 00:13:09,564 -[jon] no, sir. -You think you're gonna do any tempering or just-- 302 00:13:09,566 --> 00:13:11,899 sometimes, you know, you have something good, 303 00:13:11,901 --> 00:13:14,602 -you mess it up trying to make it better. -[jon] yes, sir. 304 00:13:14,604 --> 00:13:17,171 I don't think... I don't believe I'm gonna temper yet. 305 00:13:17,173 --> 00:13:19,073 There you go, mark. It's gonna be difficult. 306 00:13:19,075 --> 00:13:21,776 -[ramsey] well, aaron's shut his still off. -[aaron] it's done. 307 00:13:21,778 --> 00:13:24,912 -It's done, done. -I think I'm done too. 308 00:13:24,914 --> 00:13:26,781 You're gonna have a hell of a time picking out one, ain't you? 309 00:13:26,783 --> 00:13:28,482 [johnson] I already am. [chuckles] 310 00:13:28,484 --> 00:13:30,818 I've got two of them sitting right here I'm looking at. 311 00:13:30,820 --> 00:13:33,855 [aaron] yeah, I did the same thing. There is a pro and con to both of them. 312 00:13:33,857 --> 00:13:35,756 Oh, it's a little cool. 313 00:13:35,758 --> 00:13:39,527 -All right, fellas. I think I got the jar here. -[digger] that the one? 314 00:13:39,529 --> 00:13:42,396 -That's the one I'm turning in. -[digger] all right. 315 00:13:46,135 --> 00:13:49,837 -All right, judges. Here it is. -[ramsey] all right, aaron. 316 00:13:49,839 --> 00:13:52,907 -[bangs on crate] -[digger] hmm. 317 00:13:52,909 --> 00:13:56,277 -Not cocky, just confident. -[ramsey] looks pretty good. 318 00:13:57,647 --> 00:13:59,013 -[ramsey] that it, brother? -That's it. 319 00:13:59,015 --> 00:14:00,948 -All right. -You asked for corn liquor. 320 00:14:00,950 --> 00:14:02,250 That's corn wheat. 321 00:14:02,252 --> 00:14:03,784 -[digger] yeah. -[jon] nothing less. 322 00:14:03,786 --> 00:14:07,622 All right, tim. We ain't gonna finish drinking if we don't get started. 323 00:14:07,624 --> 00:14:10,024 All right. Looks like this is tim's jar. 324 00:14:10,026 --> 00:14:12,827 I think it went pretty good for all of us, really. 325 00:14:12,829 --> 00:14:16,664 -I think we all represented our states well. -Yup. 326 00:14:16,666 --> 00:14:18,966 [smith] ain't a lot of proof. 327 00:14:18,968 --> 00:14:21,435 -[digger and ramsey exclaim] -at least 80, 85 range. 328 00:14:21,771 --> 00:14:23,571 Hmm. 329 00:14:23,573 --> 00:14:27,108 Yeah, ohio had a lot of different grains over there, 330 00:14:27,110 --> 00:14:29,944 and most of it was malted. It had some smoky wheat in there. 331 00:14:29,946 --> 00:14:32,813 -Oh, I can smell that smoky wheat too. -[digger] yeah. 332 00:14:32,815 --> 00:14:34,982 -There's a lot of that wheat in there. -[digger] yeah. 333 00:14:34,984 --> 00:14:36,183 But it ain't unpleasant. 334 00:14:36,185 --> 00:14:39,153 No, but it's not what you're looking for in corn liquor. 335 00:14:39,155 --> 00:14:41,489 I did the malted corn, but I just wanted to have a little twist to it. 336 00:14:41,491 --> 00:14:43,624 -I didn't wanna do what everybody else was doing. -[jon] that's right. 337 00:14:43,626 --> 00:14:46,894 I was surprised the, uh, smoke come out of that like it did. 338 00:14:46,896 --> 00:14:53,167 -His grain build got heavy. It's a scotch, now. -It... Yeah. I-- 339 00:14:53,169 --> 00:14:55,236 -yeah, I hate to say it: It's a wheated scotch. -[digger] yup. 340 00:14:55,238 --> 00:14:57,738 Well, moving along. 341 00:14:57,740 --> 00:15:01,208 -[digger] we've got aaron. -Another pretty jar. 342 00:15:02,512 --> 00:15:04,745 -[smith] oh, boy. -[ramsey] that's 100% liquor. 343 00:15:04,747 --> 00:15:06,580 -[digger] mmm, that jumped to that. -[smith exclaims] 344 00:15:06,582 --> 00:15:10,117 yeah, he said he wasn't cocky, but he is confident. 345 00:15:10,119 --> 00:15:12,153 -Not harsh at all. -Ain't... It ain't harsh at all, no. 346 00:15:12,155 --> 00:15:13,421 Total different news, ain't it. 347 00:15:13,423 --> 00:15:14,722 -[digger] yeah. -Totally different news. 348 00:15:14,724 --> 00:15:17,825 -I like that sweet finish on it. -Apparently, it's that rice. 349 00:15:17,827 --> 00:15:20,962 I threw in a little bit of rice. I played around with it a lot 350 00:15:20,964 --> 00:15:24,765 and got that happy medium where it doesn't overpower the corn. 351 00:15:24,767 --> 00:15:26,734 Just a little hint of sweetness. 352 00:15:26,736 --> 00:15:29,937 That's a pretty good drink right there, and the proof is dead-on. 353 00:15:29,939 --> 00:15:32,640 Yup. We move on to the next one. 354 00:15:32,642 --> 00:15:35,910 -All right. We got-- -[smith] alabama. Jon. 355 00:15:35,912 --> 00:15:40,514 Oh, that is so clear. Yeah. I can see the moon... 356 00:15:40,516 --> 00:15:42,750 -...Shine. -[laughs] 357 00:15:42,752 --> 00:15:44,919 -[ramsey] that's a decent proof. -[smith] pretty nice proof. 358 00:15:44,921 --> 00:15:47,021 -Yeah, I'd say mid-90s. -And clear. 359 00:15:47,023 --> 00:15:49,023 [ramsey] it's simple as it got. 360 00:15:49,025 --> 00:15:49,824 -Yeah. -Coarse-ground corn. 361 00:15:49,826 --> 00:15:51,158 -I mean-- -sugar and water. 362 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:53,828 He really expressed this is alabama corn liquor. 363 00:15:53,830 --> 00:15:56,397 Pretty good smell. Sweet corn. 364 00:15:58,534 --> 00:16:01,502 -And a good taste. -[digger] it is a pretty good taste. 365 00:16:01,504 --> 00:16:03,804 -And the proof is pretty spot-on. -Yeah, it's-- 366 00:16:03,806 --> 00:16:06,140 [digger] about where you'd want, sipping whiskey. 367 00:16:06,142 --> 00:16:09,744 Smell like corn liquor. Look like corn liquor. Must be corn liquor. 368 00:16:09,746 --> 00:16:10,911 I know where I'm at. 369 00:16:10,913 --> 00:16:13,014 -That's where we're at. Right there too. -Yeah. 370 00:16:13,016 --> 00:16:14,749 -I wish you well, brother. -Yes, sir. 371 00:16:14,751 --> 00:16:17,385 -I wish you well. -[laughing] 372 00:16:20,757 --> 00:16:24,658 boys, get your jars and go back to your stations. 373 00:16:24,660 --> 00:16:27,495 There's a little bit at stake, but nobody's going home. 374 00:16:27,497 --> 00:16:29,964 It's just pigs pecking over which of you all will go 375 00:16:29,966 --> 00:16:31,732 to the still house and pick your parts. 376 00:16:31,734 --> 00:16:34,668 You all got good jars from your region. 377 00:16:34,670 --> 00:16:38,172 You know, west virginia, ohio, alabama. 378 00:16:38,174 --> 00:16:42,643 Taste in your product... It reflects back to your mash bill. 379 00:16:42,645 --> 00:16:47,081 Tim, you said you wanted some of that smoky, malty flavor in there. 380 00:16:47,083 --> 00:16:49,917 And, uh, you damn sure got your wish. 381 00:16:49,919 --> 00:16:52,453 You successfully made a hillbilly scotch. 382 00:16:53,689 --> 00:16:55,623 So there's your downside. 383 00:16:55,625 --> 00:17:00,461 The smokiness of that red wheat was the predominant flavor. 384 00:17:00,463 --> 00:17:04,265 But, that being said, there's plenty of time to clean that up. 385 00:17:05,435 --> 00:17:09,870 Now aaron, you used that whole kernel corn and a little bit of rice. 386 00:17:09,872 --> 00:17:13,641 And you were corn front to back, and a good sweet finish. 387 00:17:13,643 --> 00:17:15,676 -Excellent job. -Thank you. 388 00:17:15,678 --> 00:17:19,680 [digger] jon laid a damn fine jar of liquor right there. 389 00:17:19,682 --> 00:17:21,916 Corn liquor straight through and through. 390 00:17:21,918 --> 00:17:23,851 -[smith] good job to all three of you. -Thank you. 391 00:17:23,853 --> 00:17:26,320 So, aaron, you're number 1. 392 00:17:27,323 --> 00:17:30,291 Jon, number 2. Tim, you're number 3. 393 00:17:31,127 --> 00:17:32,259 Tickle! 394 00:17:33,663 --> 00:17:34,995 How's it going? 395 00:17:34,997 --> 00:17:36,864 -They was doing all right. -Yeah? 396 00:17:36,866 --> 00:17:38,899 -They got over, though. -Yeah? That right? 397 00:17:38,901 --> 00:17:40,601 They need some more still parts. 398 00:17:40,603 --> 00:17:44,672 -They need to go ahead and get a little bit advanced. -All right. Sounds good to me. 399 00:17:44,674 --> 00:17:47,241 -You all come on. -[ramsey] see you later, guys. 400 00:17:47,243 --> 00:17:49,710 -[johnson] thank you. -[ramsey] good luck. 401 00:17:49,712 --> 00:17:52,646 -So, you know why ducks have feathers, right? -Why is that? 402 00:17:52,648 --> 00:17:53,814 Just to cover their butt quack. 403 00:17:53,816 --> 00:17:55,983 -[johnson and aaron laugh] -[jon scoffs] 404 00:17:55,985 --> 00:18:00,087 all right, fellas. You all are here to pick your still parts. 405 00:18:00,089 --> 00:18:04,358 Aaron, you've got five minutes. Starting now. 406 00:18:04,360 --> 00:18:07,294 Feel free to set some of your big stuff out, if you want to. 407 00:18:08,764 --> 00:18:13,834 Ah, well, you know what? Wasting zero time there. Oh, yeah. 408 00:18:13,836 --> 00:18:17,104 [aaron] uh, just gonna keep it simple. A pot and a thumper. 409 00:18:17,106 --> 00:18:20,708 You know, and a worm. Don't need anything elaborate. 410 00:18:20,710 --> 00:18:23,844 Keep in mind, you gotta have everything. 411 00:18:23,846 --> 00:18:25,513 I don't see no kitchen sink in here. 412 00:18:25,515 --> 00:18:26,747 You don't see no kitchen sink? 413 00:18:26,749 --> 00:18:28,949 -Hell, no. -Well, how the hell you gonna make liquor? 414 00:18:28,951 --> 00:18:31,519 -[both laugh] -I can't make it without my kitchen sink. 415 00:18:31,521 --> 00:18:32,853 -[laughing] -[laughs] all right. 416 00:18:32,855 --> 00:18:33,954 Have you got everything you need, aaron? 417 00:18:33,956 --> 00:18:36,490 -I've got everything I need. -All right. 418 00:18:36,492 --> 00:18:39,760 Now, jon. You got five minutes, starting now. 419 00:18:39,762 --> 00:18:42,630 Don't forget your box. You might need it for small parts. 420 00:18:42,632 --> 00:18:45,132 -Yeah. -Yeah. 'cause they all won't fit in your pocket. 421 00:18:45,134 --> 00:18:46,133 -That's for darn sure. -[smith laughs] 422 00:18:46,135 --> 00:18:47,401 [jon] the still pick, I'm not too nervous, 423 00:18:47,403 --> 00:18:50,905 'cause I have, probably, four or five different setups at home 424 00:18:50,907 --> 00:18:54,508 that I can mix and match. So I'm pretty confident at what I do. 425 00:18:54,510 --> 00:18:56,777 All right, well, he's well on his way. 426 00:18:56,779 --> 00:18:58,512 You've got almost enough stuff here to make liquor. 427 00:18:58,514 --> 00:19:02,917 You just gotta be able to put all this together. Good job. Checking fittings. 428 00:19:02,919 --> 00:19:05,920 -All right. That'll work. -[jon] maybe. 429 00:19:05,922 --> 00:19:08,956 Um, okay. You've got three minutes to figure it out. 430 00:19:08,958 --> 00:19:10,558 -All right. -All right? 431 00:19:10,593 --> 00:19:13,827 I promise you, there is a part in there that fits. You just gotta find it. 432 00:19:13,829 --> 00:19:16,897 -All right. Right, do you think you got what you need? -I think so. 433 00:19:16,899 --> 00:19:18,666 -You think so? -Think so. 434 00:19:18,668 --> 00:19:22,503 All right. Well, that brings us down to tim. 435 00:19:22,505 --> 00:19:26,106 -You got five minutes. Starting now, tim. -All righty. 436 00:19:26,108 --> 00:19:28,976 The judges said that I had a real good hillbilly scotch. 437 00:19:28,978 --> 00:19:32,012 But hopefully I can strip that wheat flavor out of there. 438 00:19:32,014 --> 00:19:34,682 So I'm hoping there's something in there 439 00:19:34,684 --> 00:19:36,483 I could find that's gonna work for me. 440 00:19:36,485 --> 00:19:38,219 -Oh, lord. -[tickle] all right. 441 00:19:38,221 --> 00:19:40,921 Okay, tim. Are you finding anything other than a pot? 442 00:19:40,923 --> 00:19:46,260 -Uh, not yet. -Not yet. Okay, well, that is not good. 443 00:19:46,262 --> 00:19:48,462 -[clanging] -well, I was hoping to get a thumper, 444 00:19:48,464 --> 00:19:50,664 but it's probably not looking that way. 445 00:19:50,666 --> 00:19:52,700 So I'm gonna have to figure something else out. 446 00:19:52,702 --> 00:19:55,803 If those parts are still in there when the time's up, they're mine. 447 00:19:55,805 --> 00:19:57,838 -Open her up. -All right. You got 15 seconds. 448 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:00,975 15 seconds. All right, you know what? 449 00:20:00,977 --> 00:20:03,477 -[johnson laughing] -he did not disappoint. 450 00:20:03,479 --> 00:20:05,646 -I don't disappoint. [laughs] -tim did not disappoint. 451 00:20:05,648 --> 00:20:09,750 -[johnson] you all need anything? -[all laughing] 452 00:20:09,752 --> 00:20:13,053 -[johnson] I'll make something out of it. -[tickle] yeah. 453 00:20:15,658 --> 00:20:19,693 Welcome back, man. Gonna see them still building skills. 454 00:20:19,695 --> 00:20:22,029 Looks like you're gonna have to have a bucket full of skills. 455 00:20:22,031 --> 00:20:24,632 -[laughing] -damn it, man. [laughing] 456 00:20:24,634 --> 00:20:28,002 [laughing] 457 00:20:28,004 --> 00:20:30,771 think I got a little bit of everything in the box. 458 00:20:30,773 --> 00:20:34,975 You got one hour starting now. Good luck, fellas. 459 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:39,413 [jon] hope I got one that'll fit that. 460 00:20:40,750 --> 00:20:43,917 Aaron, I see you're playing it pretty simple. 461 00:20:43,919 --> 00:20:46,720 You got any other tricks up your sleeve you're gonna play? 462 00:20:46,722 --> 00:20:48,656 -Keep it simple, stupid. -I'm with you. 463 00:20:48,658 --> 00:20:50,691 -[laughs] -he knows you too. 464 00:20:50,693 --> 00:20:54,128 -[laughing] -hell, I'm world-renowned for being stupid. 465 00:20:56,232 --> 00:20:57,498 Well, I had a crazy still I had to build 466 00:20:57,500 --> 00:21:00,301 and I wasn't sure if it was gonna work at first. 467 00:21:00,303 --> 00:21:02,936 I just came up one gasket short. 468 00:21:02,938 --> 00:21:04,738 You ain't got a 2-inch gasket, do you? 469 00:21:04,740 --> 00:21:06,840 [aaron] 2-inch gasket? No. 470 00:21:06,842 --> 00:21:09,943 Now you know, being a mechanic, 471 00:21:09,945 --> 00:21:12,846 if you're gonna join something together, you gotta have a gasket. 472 00:21:12,848 --> 00:21:15,683 -I know. [laughs] -[laughing] 473 00:21:15,685 --> 00:21:17,418 that don't end up good on the racetrack. 474 00:21:21,524 --> 00:21:24,925 Well, I had a crazy still I had to build and I wasn't sure 475 00:21:24,927 --> 00:21:28,862 if it was gonna work at first. I just came up one gasket short. 476 00:21:28,864 --> 00:21:30,764 You ain't got a 2-inch gasket, do you? 477 00:21:30,766 --> 00:21:33,400 -[aaron] 2-inch gasket? -[jon] hey, I got one. 478 00:21:33,903 --> 00:21:36,036 -Oh, sweet. Thank you. -[jon] yup. 479 00:21:36,038 --> 00:21:37,471 -You got something figured out? -Yup. 480 00:21:37,473 --> 00:21:39,506 [aaron] oh, [laughs] wow. 481 00:21:39,508 --> 00:21:43,844 Kind of look like something you'd put on the back of a rocket. [laughs] 482 00:21:43,846 --> 00:21:46,780 we've never saw this before. But it will work. 483 00:21:46,782 --> 00:21:49,917 -How about it, jonathan? -I'm about good. 484 00:21:49,919 --> 00:21:53,320 -Steel's not level. -[digger] yeah, you're sitting a little cocked. 485 00:21:53,322 --> 00:21:55,522 [jon] oh. Good deal. 486 00:21:55,524 --> 00:21:57,758 -Anybody not done? -I think we got it. 487 00:21:57,760 --> 00:22:00,561 Record time. Nine minutes. 488 00:22:00,563 --> 00:22:04,465 But, sad fact is, you don't get to tack that on to your runtime, so... 489 00:22:04,467 --> 00:22:07,568 -[laughing] -you should have took the whole hour. 490 00:22:07,570 --> 00:22:10,571 All right, this round is all about your regional recipe. 491 00:22:10,573 --> 00:22:13,907 What sells best in your little slice of appalachian. 492 00:22:13,909 --> 00:22:18,011 You've had some time to modify your stills, make some changes. 493 00:22:18,013 --> 00:22:22,483 Bring us your best seller. Clear jar on this table in four hours. 494 00:22:22,485 --> 00:22:25,919 Look around, one of you won't be here after this round. 495 00:22:25,921 --> 00:22:28,956 -Good luck. -Your time starts now. Good luck, boys. 496 00:22:28,958 --> 00:22:33,060 Ooh. [whistles] thank goodness. 497 00:22:33,062 --> 00:22:35,396 -[smith] you got some ninja moves over there. -Yeah. 498 00:22:39,702 --> 00:22:40,901 [digger] aaron? 499 00:22:40,936 --> 00:22:43,070 -Yes, sir. -Tell us what you're doing over there, buddy. 500 00:22:43,072 --> 00:22:47,474 I am getting some fresh strawberries ready to hand-juice 501 00:22:47,476 --> 00:22:49,676 in great-grandma's hand-juicer. 502 00:22:49,678 --> 00:22:50,778 Is that going into your thumper... 503 00:22:50,780 --> 00:22:52,646 -I'm sure? -It's going in my thumper. Yup. 504 00:22:52,648 --> 00:22:54,882 -[ramsey] okay. -That looks like pretty much all you're working with. 505 00:22:54,884 --> 00:22:56,550 -Is that right? -[aaron] nope. [sighs] 506 00:22:56,552 --> 00:22:58,952 oh, okay. He got a dinosaur egg. 507 00:22:58,954 --> 00:23:01,855 [aaron] got a dinosaur egg. I'm doing a strawberry-watermelon. 508 00:23:01,857 --> 00:23:03,524 [jon] hey, don't bribe the judges with watermelon now, aaron. 509 00:23:03,526 --> 00:23:05,159 [aaron laughs] 510 00:23:05,828 --> 00:23:09,596 tim, I noticed you gave your cap a suppository there. 511 00:23:09,598 --> 00:23:12,466 [laughs] yeah. There's some, uh, peaches I wound up in a copper mesh. 512 00:23:12,468 --> 00:23:14,802 -You stuff them up in there. -[digger] mmm-hmm. 513 00:23:14,804 --> 00:23:17,037 Hopefully, it'll help carry the flavor through there a little bit better. 514 00:23:17,039 --> 00:23:19,840 -I put a gallon of peach cider in there from back home. -[digger] mmm-hmm. 515 00:23:19,842 --> 00:23:21,842 And, uh, put a vanilla bean in there. 516 00:23:21,844 --> 00:23:24,445 -I know how you are about peaches. -Mmm. Yeah. 517 00:23:24,447 --> 00:23:26,580 -Could be my favorite. -I like them too. I love them. 518 00:23:26,582 --> 00:23:29,983 I also thought I saw you pour a quart of fermented corn? 519 00:23:29,985 --> 00:23:31,752 -Yeah. It wasn't fermented... -Wasn't fermented? 520 00:23:31,754 --> 00:23:33,520 -But it was, uh, cream-style. -Oh, all right. 521 00:23:33,522 --> 00:23:36,023 So I'm trying to get some of that, uh, wheat taste out of there. 522 00:23:36,025 --> 00:23:38,425 -Put a little corn back into it. [laughs] -[laughs] okay. 523 00:23:38,828 --> 00:23:40,093 -[digger] jon? -Yes, sir. 524 00:23:40,095 --> 00:23:42,463 What are you bringing to the table over there, buddy? 525 00:23:42,465 --> 00:23:44,965 Right now, I'm making cranberry. 526 00:23:44,967 --> 00:23:46,967 I make it to the next round, I'm gonna make it a butter-cran. 527 00:23:46,969 --> 00:23:48,302 -Okay. -Uh-huh. 528 00:23:48,304 --> 00:23:52,072 I got a... About 2 gallons of cranberry juice in here. 529 00:23:52,074 --> 00:23:56,477 And then I've got a half a gallon of cranberry juice and some cranberries in here. 530 00:23:56,479 --> 00:23:58,178 -All right, sure. -Sounds like plan to me. 531 00:23:58,180 --> 00:24:01,482 -[smith] all three of them sounds really tasty. -They do. 532 00:24:02,751 --> 00:24:04,518 [ramsey] everybody's lit. 533 00:24:05,888 --> 00:24:08,388 -[aaron] hurry up and wait, now then. -[johnson] yup. 534 00:24:08,390 --> 00:24:10,691 This should help. Liquor coming out real soon. 535 00:24:10,693 --> 00:24:15,195 -Smells good. -[johnson] yeah, it's starting to come up my parrot now. 536 00:24:15,197 --> 00:24:19,132 -[aaron] here we go. -Yeah, you smell the heads in that. 537 00:24:19,802 --> 00:24:23,103 -[exclaims] yeah. -[laughing] 538 00:24:23,105 --> 00:24:25,906 -[aaron] jet fuel. -It's coming out of my rocket engine, so, you know--- 539 00:24:25,908 --> 00:24:27,741 [aaron] yeah. [laughs] 540 00:24:27,743 --> 00:24:30,844 -[ramsey] you running yet over there? -[jon] oh, yeah. 541 00:24:30,846 --> 00:24:33,747 -What you think about it so far, you happy with it? -Yeah. 542 00:24:33,749 --> 00:24:35,482 Yeah, I mean, she's coming out pretty good. 543 00:24:35,484 --> 00:24:37,417 I think she's a little high-proof right now, but... 544 00:24:37,419 --> 00:24:40,053 Hey, you can always do something about high-proof. 545 00:24:40,055 --> 00:24:42,556 -You can't do nothing about low-proof. -[jon] that's right. 546 00:24:42,558 --> 00:24:44,424 [aaron] should have some liquor before long. 547 00:24:45,461 --> 00:24:48,896 There she goes. We're making some liquor, guys. 548 00:24:48,898 --> 00:24:52,566 45 minutes, folks. Times are drawing near. 549 00:24:52,568 --> 00:24:54,635 I don't know if I'm tasting the vanilla up my fingers 550 00:24:54,637 --> 00:24:56,904 or if I'm tasting the vanilla from the liquor. [laughs] 551 00:24:56,906 --> 00:24:59,072 I don't taste no more wheat in that, that's for sure. 552 00:24:59,074 --> 00:25:02,309 [aaron] no, I think you cleaned that smokiness out of there. 553 00:25:02,311 --> 00:25:04,011 How you like it over there, aaron? 554 00:25:04,046 --> 00:25:04,945 [aaron] good. 555 00:25:04,947 --> 00:25:06,713 -[jon] coming out high? -Yup. 556 00:25:06,715 --> 00:25:10,651 You know, aaron... He's running strawberry watermelon. You know. 557 00:25:10,653 --> 00:25:14,454 Strawberries had a tendency to put fire in your liquor. 558 00:25:14,456 --> 00:25:17,024 I'd like to get one I don't have to add much water to. 559 00:25:17,026 --> 00:25:19,459 -[jon] yeah, good luck. -[johnson] you taste that melon though. 560 00:25:20,029 --> 00:25:22,095 -Yeah. -I don't taste strawberry. 561 00:25:22,097 --> 00:25:23,630 I can't... I can't hardly taste the strawberry, 562 00:25:23,632 --> 00:25:25,899 strawberries fall apart so damn quick, you know. 563 00:25:25,901 --> 00:25:27,401 [jon] here's to a real high-proof, just like mine... 564 00:25:27,403 --> 00:25:28,936 -[aaron] yeah. -...Is right now. 565 00:25:28,938 --> 00:25:30,904 I done went through so many jars, I don't know what to do. 566 00:25:30,906 --> 00:25:32,906 They all wanna win. 567 00:25:32,908 --> 00:25:37,411 West virginia, ohio, alabama. They all wanna win bad. 568 00:25:38,047 --> 00:25:40,013 [chuckling] money. 569 00:25:40,015 --> 00:25:41,815 -Money? -Money. 570 00:25:41,817 --> 00:25:43,884 It's a competition. Everybody wants to win. 571 00:25:43,886 --> 00:25:45,852 [ramsey] hands are bringing it in. 572 00:25:45,854 --> 00:25:48,622 [aaron] but I am confident. I know I make good liquor. 573 00:25:48,624 --> 00:25:49,957 -Thank you. -[digger] get on out, brother. 574 00:25:49,959 --> 00:25:51,425 -[ramsey] good luck, aaron. -[aaron] thank you. 575 00:25:51,427 --> 00:25:53,460 I think I've got what it takes to win. 576 00:25:55,097 --> 00:25:57,798 I had a good jar of liquor. Just got rid of the spoke-y taste I had in it. 577 00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:02,436 -Well, fellas. About as good as it's gonna get. [chuckling] -[ramsey] all right. 578 00:26:03,706 --> 00:26:07,207 I was nervous. I don't usually run cranberry in the liquor. 579 00:26:07,209 --> 00:26:08,909 I usually flavor with straight liquor. 580 00:26:08,911 --> 00:26:11,311 -Believe this is all I got. -[ramsey] is that it, jon? 581 00:26:11,313 --> 00:26:12,846 -That's my best. -[digger] that's all we need. 582 00:26:12,848 --> 00:26:15,148 -[ramsey] all right, buddy. -[jon] but I think I did a really good job, 583 00:26:15,150 --> 00:26:16,917 and I'm pretty happy with where I'm at. 584 00:26:16,919 --> 00:26:18,051 -[digger] good luck. -Thank you, sir. 585 00:26:18,053 --> 00:26:18,885 [jon] thank you. 586 00:26:18,887 --> 00:26:20,053 [smith] pretty jar. 587 00:26:20,055 --> 00:26:21,054 -There's one of them. -Good-looking jars of liquor. 588 00:26:21,056 --> 00:26:22,556 [johnson] well, what do you all think? 589 00:26:22,558 --> 00:26:24,958 -Got a clear jar on the table, so. -[laughing] 590 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:28,161 -[laughs] it's always a plus, right? -It's always a plus. 591 00:26:28,964 --> 00:26:30,864 I feel like I'm going to the wedding. 592 00:26:30,866 --> 00:26:32,599 What's that a-following you? 593 00:26:32,601 --> 00:26:34,835 -Where'd you find him now? -I got mark rogers standing outside. 594 00:26:34,837 --> 00:26:36,670 I looking for tickle, I couldn't find him. 595 00:26:36,672 --> 00:26:37,871 Marky, I'm glad you're here, buddy. 596 00:26:37,873 --> 00:26:40,641 Well, I am too. I believe I'll sit down a minute. 597 00:26:40,643 --> 00:26:44,044 We need a little help tasting here. Reckon you got it in you? 598 00:26:44,046 --> 00:26:46,780 Well, I know a lot about corn liquor and appalachian mountains. 599 00:26:46,782 --> 00:26:50,751 How it's supposed to be made, how it's supposed to be tasty, you know. 600 00:26:50,753 --> 00:26:53,687 [narrator] born and raised in the appalachian mountains, 601 00:26:53,689 --> 00:26:56,590 mark rogers is an infamous moonshiner. 602 00:26:56,592 --> 00:26:58,725 Known for his backwoods corn liquor, 603 00:26:58,727 --> 00:27:01,795 he's mastered the age-old techniques 604 00:27:01,797 --> 00:27:06,199 to produce high-quality shine with a sweet corn flavor. 605 00:27:06,201 --> 00:27:08,835 -Whiskey-pusher, get busy here. -Okay. 606 00:27:08,837 --> 00:27:11,304 Jon here, from alabama. 607 00:27:11,306 --> 00:27:13,774 [smith exclaims] look at that, how clear that is. Nice b. 608 00:27:13,809 --> 00:27:16,109 High. 609 00:27:16,111 --> 00:27:19,246 -[ramsey] you don't mind it a little high, do you, mark? -I love high liquor. 610 00:27:19,248 --> 00:27:21,114 [both laughing] 611 00:27:21,149 --> 00:27:22,549 oh, that smells good! 612 00:27:22,918 --> 00:27:25,619 Cranberries on the nose, ain't it? Boy, it smoothed it out right nice. 613 00:27:25,621 --> 00:27:26,186 But it is giving me 614 00:27:26,188 --> 00:27:27,154 -a dryness taste -yeah. 615 00:27:27,156 --> 00:27:28,989 At the end like a good wine. 616 00:27:28,991 --> 00:27:29,856 -Yeah, good. -[mark] it's good. 617 00:27:29,858 --> 00:27:31,158 That's that cranberry comin' through. 618 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:33,994 Nothin' wrong with any drink of that liquor. It's good liquor. 619 00:27:33,996 --> 00:27:35,996 -[digger] yep. -I agree on that. 620 00:27:35,998 --> 00:27:38,765 -Well, let's try ohio here, tim. -[tim] fine. 621 00:27:38,767 --> 00:27:40,734 [digger] that's a nice, clear jar. 622 00:27:40,736 --> 00:27:42,602 What's that, 105 or 110? 623 00:27:42,604 --> 00:27:44,504 [mark] that's a high proof right there now. 624 00:27:44,506 --> 00:27:46,273 There's a little teeny-tiny bit of that wheat left, 625 00:27:46,275 --> 00:27:47,040 but now, he's... 626 00:27:47,042 --> 00:27:48,809 He's polished it off pretty good. 627 00:27:48,811 --> 00:27:50,177 -He's polished it off really well. -Yeah. 628 00:27:50,179 --> 00:27:51,545 There's vanilla. It's a good drink. 629 00:27:51,547 --> 00:27:52,779 It's a good drink. 630 00:27:52,781 --> 00:27:55,115 I was worried about that smoky, wheat flavor. 631 00:27:55,117 --> 00:27:56,550 That's why I added a little more corn to it. 632 00:27:56,552 --> 00:27:58,085 Mm-hmm. 633 00:27:58,087 --> 00:28:01,088 Mean, it ain't bad liquor, but it's a little fiery on the backend, 634 00:28:01,090 --> 00:28:02,923 which is typical of wheat liquor. 635 00:28:02,925 --> 00:28:06,093 I taste wheat. That's all I taste, wheat. 636 00:28:06,095 --> 00:28:09,496 Hey, you know, tim did an outstanding job of cleaning it up. 637 00:28:09,498 --> 00:28:12,265 And he only added the peach and vanilla to it. 638 00:28:12,267 --> 00:28:14,367 Hey, ya can't beat that. 639 00:28:14,369 --> 00:28:15,736 Not in my world. 640 00:28:15,738 --> 00:28:17,804 Let's go to west virginia. 641 00:28:17,806 --> 00:28:20,941 [tim] where's y'all. I can't see nothin' in it. Looks like jar of water. 642 00:28:20,943 --> 00:28:22,542 [mark] high proof right there. 643 00:28:22,544 --> 00:28:24,144 [tim] that's a nice bead. 644 00:28:24,146 --> 00:28:27,080 Mark rogers taught me that strawberries will make hot liquor. 645 00:28:27,082 --> 00:28:28,548 It will, buddy. 646 00:28:28,550 --> 00:28:30,183 I was beginning to worry. 647 00:28:30,185 --> 00:28:34,187 It was comin' off so hot that I did not wanna use water to cut it. 648 00:28:34,189 --> 00:28:36,923 -I think it could've been about 10 proof. -[tim] a little bit-- 649 00:28:36,925 --> 00:28:38,024 -[digger] lower. -Lower. 650 00:28:38,026 --> 00:28:39,926 [ramsey] but it's a good drink. 651 00:28:39,928 --> 00:28:41,762 Can ya taste any corn in that liquor? 652 00:28:41,764 --> 00:28:42,496 [tim] little bit. 653 00:28:42,498 --> 00:28:44,064 Take a big drink and swallow it. 654 00:28:44,066 --> 00:28:46,500 -And belch real big. -[ramsey chuckles] 655 00:28:46,502 --> 00:28:49,870 and I guarantee ya you'll taste the corn. 656 00:28:49,872 --> 00:28:52,873 You know what, guys, win, lose, or draw, our states are going to be proud of us. 657 00:28:52,875 --> 00:28:55,308 You know, we represent who we are, 658 00:28:55,310 --> 00:28:56,710 but we also represent where we're from. 659 00:28:56,712 --> 00:28:57,911 -That's more like it. -For sure. 660 00:28:57,913 --> 00:29:00,547 I think I'm gonna hide my still when I get home. 661 00:29:00,549 --> 00:29:02,783 -[aaron laughs] yeah. -[jon] yeah, that makes two of us. 662 00:29:02,785 --> 00:29:04,951 We know all three of these guys are good distillers. 663 00:29:04,953 --> 00:29:07,354 -[tim] they're at top of their region! -Right. 664 00:29:07,356 --> 00:29:11,291 But we are in an outlaw, corn, liquor competition here. 665 00:29:11,293 --> 00:29:13,760 Yeah, if you do somethin' here, you better get it right. 666 00:29:13,762 --> 00:29:15,162 Fair enough. 667 00:29:15,164 --> 00:29:17,030 Well, boys, if we're locked in, I'm gonna go get 'em. 668 00:29:17,032 --> 00:29:18,298 [tim] yeah, go fetch them. 669 00:29:22,604 --> 00:29:24,004 [digger] welcome back, boys. 670 00:29:24,006 --> 00:29:26,206 We tasted right smart of your liquor. 671 00:29:26,208 --> 00:29:30,477 But, you know, sadly, one of you just gotta go. 672 00:29:33,015 --> 00:29:34,414 Welcome back, boys. 673 00:29:34,817 --> 00:29:39,986 We've brought in our appalachian-corn-liquor guru right here mark rogers. 674 00:29:39,988 --> 00:29:41,154 How you doin', bud? 675 00:29:41,156 --> 00:29:42,589 How ya doin'? 676 00:29:42,591 --> 00:29:45,659 We're gonna tell ya our pros and cons from each one of ya. 677 00:29:45,661 --> 00:29:48,495 Startin' right down here with my buddy mark rogers. 678 00:29:48,497 --> 00:29:51,798 I'll tell ya what. Right there's some good liquor. 679 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:54,467 Yep, 'bout as good of liquor as I've ever drunk right there. 680 00:29:54,469 --> 00:29:55,635 Thank you, sir. 681 00:29:55,637 --> 00:29:58,605 You lost some of that sweetness from you first run. 682 00:29:58,607 --> 00:30:01,308 Ya had that corn and rice in it in the beginnin'. 683 00:30:01,310 --> 00:30:03,577 But now, I think you went up on your proof again. 684 00:30:03,579 --> 00:30:07,480 I think you went up 115, possibly, maybe higher. 685 00:30:07,482 --> 00:30:09,883 It's mark roger's take 'cause he was reminding us again. 686 00:30:09,885 --> 00:30:12,686 When you use strawberries, it gives your liquor a fiery nature. 687 00:30:12,688 --> 00:30:16,690 And if... I think maybe if you proofed it down, 688 00:30:16,692 --> 00:30:18,758 you might've got more of that flavor to pop out. 689 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:20,694 But all in all damn fine job. 690 00:30:20,696 --> 00:30:24,831 Tim, I gotta pat ya on the back, boss. 691 00:30:24,833 --> 00:30:28,602 I would of never have believed that you would've taken that smoke 692 00:30:28,604 --> 00:30:30,303 out of that red wheat. 693 00:30:30,305 --> 00:30:34,407 I mean, in your first run, it was the dominant flavor. 694 00:30:34,409 --> 00:30:35,542 Kudos for what ya did. 695 00:30:35,544 --> 00:30:37,944 Ya did somethin' with the flavor 696 00:30:37,946 --> 00:30:41,948 that I know you put peaches or somethin' in it that I'm tastin' a little vanilla. 697 00:30:41,950 --> 00:30:42,716 Real good jar. 698 00:30:42,718 --> 00:30:45,886 But, uh, I'm still tastin' wheat. 699 00:30:45,888 --> 00:30:50,423 I think in the beginnin' you need a little bit more corn in your mash peel. 700 00:30:52,060 --> 00:30:54,861 Jon, did a fine job all the way around. 701 00:30:54,863 --> 00:30:56,296 You know, you proof's spot on. 702 00:30:56,298 --> 00:31:00,901 Um, I think ya might of went a little bit overboard on you cranberries. 703 00:31:00,903 --> 00:31:03,069 They were too prominent in there. 704 00:31:03,071 --> 00:31:03,904 And they just finish better. 705 00:31:03,906 --> 00:31:05,872 But all in all, your corn's still there. 706 00:31:05,874 --> 00:31:09,776 I tasted more corn in yours than I tasted in all of them. 707 00:31:09,778 --> 00:31:11,645 Guys, I'll have to say across the board 708 00:31:11,647 --> 00:31:15,048 some of the clearest, cleanest jars we've saw. 709 00:31:15,050 --> 00:31:19,019 You know, I think y'all will probably should get calluses on your hands 710 00:31:19,021 --> 00:31:20,954 for pattin' yourselves on the back. 711 00:31:20,956 --> 00:31:25,525 But, you know, sadly, one of ya just got go. 712 00:31:27,129 --> 00:31:30,730 [digger] tim, that jar bought you a ticket home, buddy. 713 00:31:30,732 --> 00:31:33,033 It's not a bad drink. Just ain't got no corn in it, 714 00:31:33,035 --> 00:31:34,601 and your flavor didn't come through. 715 00:31:34,603 --> 00:31:36,736 -[digger] I'm awful sorry. -All right. 716 00:31:36,738 --> 00:31:39,105 Well, I didn't have the winning jar, 717 00:31:39,107 --> 00:31:42,342 but I still... I think I represented ohio very well, and... 718 00:31:42,344 --> 00:31:44,010 -Good job, buddy. -Good job. 719 00:31:44,012 --> 00:31:48,114 ...I think my grandpa and my great grandpa's lookin' down on me and thinkin', 720 00:31:48,116 --> 00:31:50,417 "well, he makes some good liquor." 721 00:31:50,419 --> 00:31:52,419 -[tim] good job. Good job. -All right, thank you. 722 00:31:52,421 --> 00:31:55,755 I had a blast while I was here. Met a lot of great people. 723 00:31:55,757 --> 00:31:59,492 And if someone's in a market with some good scotch, come see me. 724 00:32:05,734 --> 00:32:07,734 We got ya ready to do your flavor. 725 00:32:07,736 --> 00:32:12,005 This your regional recipe from where you come from. 726 00:32:12,007 --> 00:32:15,709 During this run, you can flavor it as you see fit. 727 00:32:15,711 --> 00:32:17,077 [digger] you brought your best sellers your region. 728 00:32:17,079 --> 00:32:19,846 It's up to us to see it'll sell elsewhere. 729 00:32:19,848 --> 00:32:21,881 We have to separate 'em in some manner. 730 00:32:21,883 --> 00:32:24,084 And usually it's the marketability factor. 731 00:32:24,086 --> 00:32:25,819 Could you build a cocktail with that? 732 00:32:25,821 --> 00:32:27,988 Could you do anything other than just drink it out of a jar? 733 00:32:27,990 --> 00:32:30,090 There's lot of criteria we look at. 734 00:32:30,092 --> 00:32:33,460 Ya time starts now. Good luck, men. 735 00:32:37,199 --> 00:32:38,999 Hattie boy, I'm gonna tell ya what. 736 00:32:39,001 --> 00:32:41,801 I never thought about butterscotch, cranberry liquor. 737 00:32:41,803 --> 00:32:42,902 Sounds good. 738 00:32:42,904 --> 00:32:45,472 I've had watermelon before, 739 00:32:45,474 --> 00:32:47,707 but I don't know that I've ever had watermelon and strawberry. 740 00:32:47,709 --> 00:32:49,976 But a good thing on aaron I see. 741 00:32:49,978 --> 00:32:52,946 If he adds that stuff there, that's gonna make his proof go down. 742 00:32:52,948 --> 00:32:54,681 Yes, sir! 743 00:32:54,683 --> 00:32:57,817 [aaron] this watermelon juice and a little bit of sugar 744 00:32:57,819 --> 00:32:59,652 just to sweeten it up just a touch. 745 00:32:59,654 --> 00:33:00,720 Take a little bite out of it. 746 00:33:00,722 --> 00:33:03,456 Judges said my jar had good flavor, 747 00:33:03,458 --> 00:33:06,493 but just a little higher than what they wanted to see it. 748 00:33:06,495 --> 00:33:10,030 So my strategy is to lower my proof a little bit. 749 00:33:10,032 --> 00:33:12,098 [ramsey] aaron's tastin' the crap out of his. 750 00:33:12,100 --> 00:33:15,502 He'll be liquored up. Forget to bring his jar to the table. 751 00:33:15,504 --> 00:33:18,238 -Good way to be, boy. -[aaron chuckles] 752 00:33:18,240 --> 00:33:19,606 so doggone good. 753 00:33:22,577 --> 00:33:26,346 Jon, what's you workin' with here? Look like you gotta lot goin' on. 754 00:33:26,348 --> 00:33:28,848 -I went from a red cranberry juice. -[tim] yep. 755 00:33:28,850 --> 00:33:31,718 And now, I'm in a white cranberry juice here cookin' 756 00:33:31,720 --> 00:33:33,853 with some butterscotch flavor. 757 00:33:33,855 --> 00:33:34,854 I wanna taste more of the butterscotch 758 00:33:34,856 --> 00:33:37,590 in this flavorin' than I do the cranberry. 759 00:33:37,592 --> 00:33:39,893 How'd you do that? Out of candy? Or how'd you do it? 760 00:33:39,895 --> 00:33:42,796 Yes, sir, it's just butterscotch candy, and I went and grounded it up. 761 00:33:42,798 --> 00:33:45,565 It's the easiest way to melt it within an hour. 762 00:33:45,567 --> 00:33:49,069 The judges said that my proof was really well on my flavorin' run jar, 763 00:33:49,071 --> 00:33:51,638 so I need to go in there with some good flavor 764 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:53,473 and try to keep the proof the same. 765 00:33:53,475 --> 00:33:55,275 If I could do that, I believe I got a good chance. 766 00:33:55,277 --> 00:33:58,111 Do ya think ya uncle jimbo's rootin' for ya, jon? 767 00:33:58,113 --> 00:33:59,646 I believe he is. 768 00:33:59,648 --> 00:34:01,247 I'd say you're right. 769 00:34:05,053 --> 00:34:07,821 -[ramsey] looky here. -[digger] he gonna make ice cream. 770 00:34:07,823 --> 00:34:08,988 [ramsey] he's gonna make it get cold quick. 771 00:34:08,990 --> 00:34:10,623 [digger] yep. 772 00:34:10,625 --> 00:34:12,926 I want it so cold your lips stick to the jar. 773 00:34:12,928 --> 00:34:17,163 I'd rather have my liquor cold as room temperature any time. 774 00:34:19,935 --> 00:34:22,702 -Butterscotch and cranberry. -That's right. 775 00:34:22,704 --> 00:34:23,970 I ain't never heard of that. 776 00:34:23,972 --> 00:34:26,639 -That's, uh, somethin' way down south I guess. -Yes, sir. 777 00:34:26,641 --> 00:34:28,808 Yes, that's how we like to call it. 778 00:34:28,810 --> 00:34:30,977 I ain't never fooled with that, but, uh, lookin' good. 779 00:34:30,979 --> 00:34:33,680 Thank you. Thank you, sir. 780 00:34:33,682 --> 00:34:37,750 Have you ever fooled with strawberries and the seeds and all that before? 781 00:34:37,752 --> 00:34:40,153 Well, I've never actually put 'em in the thump. 782 00:34:40,155 --> 00:34:41,554 That was a little trial and error. 783 00:34:41,556 --> 00:34:44,991 [aaron] strawberry's not real predominant in this 784 00:34:44,993 --> 00:34:47,961 -'cause I just used the strawberries in the thump. -Yeah. 785 00:34:47,963 --> 00:34:50,029 Both you boys got a good lookin' drink. 786 00:34:50,031 --> 00:34:52,132 And I wish y'all luck. 787 00:34:52,134 --> 00:34:53,133 -Thank you, sir. -Eye on the kids. 788 00:34:53,135 --> 00:34:54,634 Ya down to 20 minutes. 789 00:34:54,636 --> 00:34:58,505 This ain't gonna cool quick if I don't get some kinda top on this thing. 790 00:34:58,507 --> 00:35:01,741 But, jon, I noticed you just got three jars in your bucket there. 791 00:35:01,743 --> 00:35:03,776 Now, are you gonna blend those? 792 00:35:03,778 --> 00:35:07,147 No, sir, no, I'm gonna put different amounts of alcohol 793 00:35:07,149 --> 00:35:08,815 and see which one turns out. 794 00:35:08,817 --> 00:35:10,183 The alcohol sittin' there ready, 795 00:35:10,185 --> 00:35:12,152 so all I know I've got load her and shake her 796 00:35:12,154 --> 00:35:13,653 and put her on the table. 797 00:35:13,655 --> 00:35:15,955 [tim] aaron's may be frozen. 798 00:35:15,957 --> 00:35:17,824 We might have to warm it up to get to lay it off. 799 00:35:17,826 --> 00:35:18,658 [aaron chuckles] 800 00:35:18,660 --> 00:35:21,561 [digger] like tom cruise in cocktail. 801 00:35:21,563 --> 00:35:23,963 Throw it up there and catch it, and then pour a drink out of it. 802 00:35:23,965 --> 00:35:26,766 -Woo. I don't want to take that kind of risk. -[aaron chuckling] 803 00:35:26,768 --> 00:35:29,035 1 minute, fellers. 804 00:35:29,871 --> 00:35:32,405 Ain't either one of these fellers rattle too easy. 805 00:35:33,642 --> 00:35:36,943 I had two jars mixed up and ready to go. 806 00:35:36,945 --> 00:35:39,979 One's a little bit lower proof, a little bit sweeter. 807 00:35:39,981 --> 00:35:43,850 The judges said I was a little bit too high in the beginning. 808 00:35:43,852 --> 00:35:45,852 Uh, they said marketability. 809 00:35:45,854 --> 00:35:47,620 -All right, aaron. -There it is. 810 00:35:47,622 --> 00:35:50,023 So I'm goin' with the lower proof, a little bit sweeter 811 00:35:50,025 --> 00:35:51,724 in hopes that it doesn't bite me in the butt. 812 00:35:51,726 --> 00:35:53,159 -Thank ya, aaron, good luck. -Good luck, aaron. 813 00:35:53,161 --> 00:35:54,894 -[aaron] thank you. -[tim] good luck, boss. 814 00:35:54,896 --> 00:35:56,563 People like butterscotch or ya don't. 815 00:35:56,565 --> 00:35:58,198 Ya know, it's just like any other thing. 816 00:35:58,200 --> 00:36:00,567 But if you taste mine, I think you'll acquire a taste for it. 817 00:36:00,569 --> 00:36:02,068 I like it. 818 00:36:02,070 --> 00:36:05,004 The tartness from my cranberry kinda counteracts the sweetness 819 00:36:05,006 --> 00:36:06,172 from the butterscotch in the jar. 820 00:36:06,174 --> 00:36:07,740 So it's the best of both worlds. 821 00:36:07,742 --> 00:36:10,176 -Just in the nick of time. -Thank you, sir. 822 00:36:10,178 --> 00:36:11,578 -[tim] good luck, brother. -[jon] thank you, guys. 823 00:36:11,580 --> 00:36:14,113 I mean, this is a bonafide grudge match. 824 00:36:14,849 --> 00:36:17,951 I wish we didn't have to cut somebody loose, 825 00:36:17,953 --> 00:36:20,386 but there can't be two master distillers. 826 00:36:22,824 --> 00:36:23,690 Ya gotta good drink? 827 00:36:23,692 --> 00:36:25,391 -Of course we do. -We hope we have. 828 00:36:25,393 --> 00:36:27,193 I've got three jars of good corn liquor over here. 829 00:36:27,195 --> 00:36:30,997 We got a little bit too deep in that tastin' on that last challenge. 830 00:36:30,999 --> 00:36:32,565 Yeah, felt pretty good. 831 00:36:32,567 --> 00:36:35,168 -Mm-hmm. -[all laughs] 832 00:36:35,170 --> 00:36:37,971 I talk fake matters. Just have fun and feel good. 833 00:36:37,973 --> 00:36:39,205 Exactly! 834 00:36:39,207 --> 00:36:40,573 That's what I think. 835 00:36:40,575 --> 00:36:42,141 That's why we brought... We need you in here to help us. 836 00:36:43,078 --> 00:36:45,712 We 'bout to burn our taste buds up a little bit. 837 00:36:45,714 --> 00:36:46,512 [all laughing] 838 00:36:47,716 --> 00:36:49,249 [tim] mark, I sure am glad you came. 839 00:36:49,251 --> 00:36:52,051 I'm glad I'm here too. I think. [laughing] 840 00:36:54,756 --> 00:36:55,822 all right, tim. 841 00:36:55,824 --> 00:36:57,890 -Mm-hmm. -We gotta get to drinkin', 842 00:36:57,892 --> 00:36:59,058 or we ain't gonna figure this one out. 843 00:36:59,060 --> 00:37:00,593 How do you think it went, old buddy? 844 00:37:00,595 --> 00:37:02,228 Pretty good. 845 00:37:02,230 --> 00:37:04,063 Seems like we was both pretty satisfied up there. 846 00:37:04,065 --> 00:37:07,500 [tim] all right, we've got alabama, jon. 847 00:37:07,502 --> 00:37:10,003 We kinda look in these mixed drinks 848 00:37:10,005 --> 00:37:12,905 as I count 'em for 60 or 70 proof. 849 00:37:12,907 --> 00:37:14,774 Oh, man! 850 00:37:14,776 --> 00:37:16,142 -[whistles] -[ramsey] that's good. 851 00:37:16,144 --> 00:37:18,011 I like it. I like it a lot. 852 00:37:18,013 --> 00:37:19,178 It tastes really good. 853 00:37:19,180 --> 00:37:21,848 If I bought one jar of this, I'd buy me another. 854 00:37:21,850 --> 00:37:23,049 It is sweet. 855 00:37:23,051 --> 00:37:24,684 It is sweet, and I'm not a sweet drinker. 856 00:37:24,686 --> 00:37:25,952 But the flavor I dig. 857 00:37:25,954 --> 00:37:27,287 You can taste the butterscotch. 858 00:37:27,289 --> 00:37:28,921 -I'll tell ya that. -[tim] mm-hmm. 859 00:37:28,923 --> 00:37:31,991 I mean, there's a little tartness in there, but it doesn't say cranberry. 860 00:37:31,993 --> 00:37:33,993 I'd say it's between 60-70 proof. 861 00:37:33,995 --> 00:37:35,762 Yeah. 862 00:37:35,764 --> 00:37:38,231 Take ya about two more drinks. You know exactly what it is. 863 00:37:38,233 --> 00:37:39,999 -[ramsey chuckles] -all right. 864 00:37:40,001 --> 00:37:41,734 [mark laughing] 865 00:37:41,736 --> 00:37:44,003 I know one thing I come here to do, 866 00:37:44,005 --> 00:37:47,640 and that's to represent who I am and my family and where I'm from. 867 00:37:47,642 --> 00:37:49,475 And I represent the tide. 868 00:37:49,477 --> 00:37:51,577 I've done everything I can do to represent us well. 869 00:37:51,579 --> 00:37:53,646 All right, aaron. 870 00:37:53,648 --> 00:37:56,115 [tim] well, I think we got a little bit more proof in there. 871 00:37:56,885 --> 00:37:58,885 Definitely a watermelon on the nose, 872 00:37:58,887 --> 00:38:00,687 but it's a candy watermelon. 873 00:38:00,689 --> 00:38:03,022 That is really sweet. 874 00:38:03,024 --> 00:38:04,891 And ya can't taste the liquor in that one 875 00:38:04,893 --> 00:38:06,893 'cause it's got too much syrup. 876 00:38:06,895 --> 00:38:08,094 But it is cold! 877 00:38:08,096 --> 00:38:08,828 [both laughing] 878 00:38:11,866 --> 00:38:13,199 all right, give me another one. 879 00:38:13,201 --> 00:38:16,736 I mean, honestly, I can see why this sells good in west virginia. 880 00:38:16,738 --> 00:38:17,970 Yeah, you could go worldwide with it. 881 00:38:17,972 --> 00:38:20,740 Oh, yeah, it's watermelon through and through. 882 00:38:20,742 --> 00:38:22,041 I think he would have been a whole lot better off 883 00:38:22,043 --> 00:38:24,477 if he just put more of the juice, 884 00:38:24,479 --> 00:38:27,080 put a higher proof jar of his liquor in there. 885 00:38:27,082 --> 00:38:29,382 And let the juice stand on its own merits 886 00:38:29,384 --> 00:38:31,718 without puttin' all that sugar in it. 887 00:38:31,720 --> 00:38:35,788 Liquor's been in our heritage in those mountains for a lot of years. 888 00:38:35,790 --> 00:38:38,091 And I just hope I make 'em proud. 889 00:38:38,093 --> 00:38:40,226 -I'll give a cheers to that, buddy. -Cheers. 890 00:38:40,228 --> 00:38:41,627 -Good luck to ya. -You too. 891 00:38:41,629 --> 00:38:44,030 Marky, where you at? You yeller or pink? 892 00:38:44,032 --> 00:38:46,199 -I'm good. -All right, he's good with it. 893 00:38:46,201 --> 00:38:49,102 -Now, you go get 'em. I'll sit right here. -All right. 894 00:38:49,104 --> 00:38:50,136 [tim chuckles] 895 00:38:52,040 --> 00:38:53,239 [mark] looky there. 896 00:38:53,241 --> 00:38:55,341 -[digger] here we are, marky. -There ya are. 897 00:38:58,079 --> 00:38:59,645 Welcome back, men. 898 00:38:59,647 --> 00:39:01,647 You brought your best sellers your region. 899 00:39:01,649 --> 00:39:05,118 It's up to us to roll the dice and see if it'll sell elsewhere. 900 00:39:05,120 --> 00:39:09,222 Aaron, watermelon. Bam. Hits you right in the mouth. 901 00:39:09,224 --> 00:39:10,790 Good drink, front to back. 902 00:39:10,792 --> 00:39:13,459 I didn't get a whole lot of alcohol on the nose, 903 00:39:13,461 --> 00:39:15,561 but it's still a fine, fine drink. 904 00:39:15,563 --> 00:39:18,498 Looks like watermelon, smells like watermelon, tastes like watermelon. 905 00:39:18,500 --> 00:39:21,067 But, you know, maybe that's so much flavor you put in it 906 00:39:21,069 --> 00:39:22,802 kinda masks that alcohol. 907 00:39:22,804 --> 00:39:27,507 I'll tell ya. It's 'bout the coldest drink ever tasted. I ain't kidding. 908 00:39:27,509 --> 00:39:32,178 Cold, cold, cold. But it is a little on the sweet side. 909 00:39:33,114 --> 00:39:36,883 -Now, jon, good drink, great flavor. -Thank you. 910 00:39:36,885 --> 00:39:37,950 You've done it real good. 911 00:39:37,952 --> 00:39:40,086 You've got a good butterscotch flavor. 912 00:39:40,088 --> 00:39:42,855 I didn't get any more of the cranberries in there, 913 00:39:42,857 --> 00:39:45,992 but the butterscotch taste was spot on. 914 00:39:45,994 --> 00:39:47,960 It too was just a little bit sweet, 915 00:39:47,962 --> 00:39:52,098 but I could pick up alcohol on the nose as well as the tongue. 916 00:39:52,100 --> 00:39:54,267 The proof was right where it needs to be. 917 00:39:54,269 --> 00:39:56,636 [tim] I do have to say hats off. 918 00:39:56,638 --> 00:39:58,538 You took a candy and ground it up 919 00:39:58,540 --> 00:40:00,940 and made a concentrate powder out of it 920 00:40:00,942 --> 00:40:03,743 instead of maybe puttin' in liquid concentrate in it. 921 00:40:03,745 --> 00:40:05,044 And that's outstanding. 922 00:40:05,046 --> 00:40:06,846 There's really not a whole lot of negative to ya 923 00:40:06,848 --> 00:40:08,815 'cause none of ya have messed up 924 00:40:08,817 --> 00:40:12,618 from the time ya mashed in to the time you got your finished last jar. 925 00:40:12,620 --> 00:40:15,988 Ya just tweaked it to your likin', to your region. 926 00:40:15,990 --> 00:40:18,825 I know they're marketable in your respective areas 927 00:40:18,827 --> 00:40:21,928 'cause, I mean, obviously you already sell 'em. 928 00:40:21,930 --> 00:40:27,033 But I think there's a market out there nationwide for both of these products. 929 00:40:27,035 --> 00:40:30,236 I wish we didn't have to cut somebody loose. 930 00:40:30,238 --> 00:40:33,005 But there can't be two master distillers. 931 00:40:37,779 --> 00:40:38,978 Jon... 932 00:40:39,714 --> 00:40:41,848 ...You're the next master distiller, buddy. 933 00:40:41,850 --> 00:40:43,416 -[digger] congratulations. -Thank you. 934 00:40:43,418 --> 00:40:45,017 -Thanks. -Good job, man. Good job. 935 00:40:45,019 --> 00:40:47,220 -Thank you. -Good job to you, man. 936 00:40:47,222 --> 00:40:48,888 I'm super happy. I brought my a game. 937 00:40:48,890 --> 00:40:50,923 But I got to learn on the top. 938 00:40:50,925 --> 00:40:52,492 So, you know, this is a double win. 939 00:40:52,494 --> 00:40:54,760 I think jimbo's gonna be super proud of me. 940 00:40:54,762 --> 00:40:56,896 We've replayed this moment in our heads for years now. 941 00:40:56,898 --> 00:40:59,065 So I think he's gonna be super excited. 942 00:40:59,067 --> 00:41:02,568 It's been an honor to get to taste your spirits. 943 00:41:02,570 --> 00:41:06,072 And I look forward to seeing big things from both of you guys. 944 00:41:06,074 --> 00:41:08,875 I think I represented west virginia really well. 945 00:41:08,877 --> 00:41:10,443 I turned in the best jar I could 946 00:41:10,445 --> 00:41:13,679 turned out [chuckles] it wasn't the best jar. 947 00:41:13,681 --> 00:41:18,150 But I'm happy. Goin' home back to my mountains and go back to makin' moonshine. 948 00:41:18,152 --> 00:41:20,520 Thank ya, boys. Y'all been great competitors. 949 00:41:20,522 --> 00:41:21,921 Thank you. Thank you, guys. 950 00:41:21,923 --> 00:41:23,923 It's definitely a family tradition. 951 00:41:23,925 --> 00:41:27,460 Roll tide. Alabama represent! [chuckles] 952 00:41:27,462 --> 00:41:29,462 -let's go get us a drink. -[chuckles] yeah.