1 00:00:01,335 --> 00:00:03,802 [narrator] this time on master distiller... 2 00:00:03,838 --> 00:00:06,605 That is slap on 180 proof. 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,775 ...It's as close as it gets to pure alcohol. 4 00:00:09,810 --> 00:00:12,311 -Damn. -Dangerous to drink straight 5 00:00:12,346 --> 00:00:14,113 and highly explosive. 6 00:00:14,148 --> 00:00:16,515 That drop fell on this wood and it's smoking. 7 00:00:16,550 --> 00:00:20,886 Ultra-high proof shine was perfected by prohibition bootleggers... 8 00:00:20,921 --> 00:00:23,222 Money dropping in and money flowing out. 9 00:00:23,257 --> 00:00:26,592 ...To minimize shipments and maximize profits. 10 00:00:26,627 --> 00:00:29,661 The highest proof I ever made was 176. 11 00:00:29,697 --> 00:00:32,297 And making liquor this hot taste good... 12 00:00:32,333 --> 00:00:33,899 I can sell that. Can you sell that, mark? 13 00:00:33,934 --> 00:00:36,668 ...Is a backwoods shiner's biggest secret. 14 00:00:36,704 --> 00:00:39,238 I'll sell every bit of it, if he will make some more. 15 00:00:39,273 --> 00:00:41,240 -Let's get lit. -[all chuckling] 16 00:00:42,543 --> 00:00:45,978 across the country, a handful of amateur distillers 17 00:00:46,013 --> 00:00:48,580 are heirs to a centuries old tradition. 18 00:00:50,651 --> 00:00:52,985 Some operate on the legal side, 19 00:00:53,020 --> 00:00:57,256 others practice their craft beyond the reach of the law. 20 00:00:57,324 --> 00:01:02,094 Now they'll face off to earn their place in america's liquor making legacy. 21 00:01:02,129 --> 00:01:05,464 -Thump, thump, thump, thump. -I got a little thumping going on myself. 22 00:01:05,533 --> 00:01:07,433 Little thump keg waltz. 23 00:01:07,468 --> 00:01:10,369 Judged by three legendary moonshiners... 24 00:01:10,404 --> 00:01:12,071 Mark, you're gonna taste it first, right? 25 00:01:12,106 --> 00:01:13,738 [mark] hell, I ain't scared of it. 26 00:01:13,741 --> 00:01:17,876 ...And a mountain man with a rep for making high-octane shine. 27 00:01:17,912 --> 00:01:21,313 Slow her down. All you need is a cork. 28 00:01:21,348 --> 00:01:24,883 They'll go head to head in a series of challenges... 29 00:01:24,919 --> 00:01:26,552 [tim] one is running over over there. 30 00:01:26,587 --> 00:01:29,321 [mark] don't let it spill over into your jar, big steve. 31 00:01:29,356 --> 00:01:30,422 You'll be diluting it. 32 00:01:30,458 --> 00:01:33,125 ...To determine who has what it takes 33 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:35,727 to be named master distiller. 34 00:01:36,831 --> 00:01:38,430 Phew, that's hot. 35 00:01:44,839 --> 00:01:47,372 [digger] guys, welcome to master distiller. 36 00:01:47,408 --> 00:01:48,841 I'm digger manes. 37 00:01:48,876 --> 00:01:51,410 Tim smith, and my buddy mark wayne ramsey. 38 00:01:51,445 --> 00:01:53,612 High-proof liquor. 39 00:01:53,647 --> 00:01:56,548 All over the interweb everybody wants to brag on, 40 00:01:56,584 --> 00:01:59,985 "I don't drink liquor unless it's 160 proof." 41 00:02:00,020 --> 00:02:04,756 they don't know any better. They might have a little bit but it's not pledged. 42 00:02:04,792 --> 00:02:09,928 [narrator] in the us, proof was defined as two times the alcohol by volume. 43 00:02:09,964 --> 00:02:14,199 While most commercial spirits clock in around 80 to 100, 44 00:02:14,235 --> 00:02:18,003 anything over 120 is considered ultra-high proof 45 00:02:18,038 --> 00:02:20,539 and must be tempered before drinking. 46 00:02:20,574 --> 00:02:24,243 Despite current fads setting the internet ablaze, 47 00:02:24,278 --> 00:02:28,914 ultra-high proof liquor wasn't meant to be sold that way. 48 00:02:28,949 --> 00:02:33,285 In 1919, prohibition put moonshiners on the map 49 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:35,954 as the country turned to illicit liquor 50 00:02:35,990 --> 00:02:38,924 to fill the new underground demand. 51 00:02:38,959 --> 00:02:42,427 Transporting product to big cities was risky 52 00:02:42,463 --> 00:02:46,365 so to carry more liquor in smaller hiding spaces, 53 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:50,035 backwoods shiners concentrated alcohol content 54 00:02:50,070 --> 00:02:54,473 by removing excess water through additional distillation. 55 00:02:54,508 --> 00:02:56,775 After reaching its destination, 56 00:02:56,810 --> 00:02:59,478 the ultra-high proof shine would be tempered down 57 00:02:59,513 --> 00:03:02,648 to a drinkable, marketable strength. 58 00:03:02,683 --> 00:03:06,618 But flavor dies off as alcohol content rises. 59 00:03:06,654 --> 00:03:09,588 So pushing proof while maintaining taste 60 00:03:09,623 --> 00:03:14,193 is a lucrative skill that requires every trick in a shiner's playbook. 61 00:03:17,298 --> 00:03:20,032 We're searching for the sasquatch of the liquor world. 62 00:03:20,067 --> 00:03:23,535 The best-tasting high proof liquor that's ever been. 63 00:03:23,571 --> 00:03:25,370 We're gonna show that it can be made. 64 00:03:25,406 --> 00:03:27,272 What you got at stake here 65 00:03:27,308 --> 00:03:29,374 is your bragging rights, first and foremost, 66 00:03:29,410 --> 00:03:32,778 it's your master distiller, but beyond that you get a limited run 67 00:03:32,813 --> 00:03:36,081 of your high proof liquor at sugar lands distilling company. 68 00:03:36,116 --> 00:03:38,817 Guys, you're gonna start with the same mash build. 69 00:03:38,852 --> 00:03:41,186 It's a house mash, it's called silver cloud, 70 00:03:41,222 --> 00:03:42,888 y'all three got the same steel. 71 00:03:42,923 --> 00:03:47,859 The way it's gonna work is the highest proofed gallons that you bring to the table. 72 00:03:47,895 --> 00:03:50,095 So it's not about the volume that you got in your bucket, 73 00:03:50,130 --> 00:03:52,264 but it's the volume of proof gallons. 74 00:03:52,299 --> 00:03:54,199 Y'all got your instructions? 75 00:03:54,235 --> 00:03:56,301 Bring us a bucket of liquor. 76 00:03:56,337 --> 00:03:59,438 You got three hours to strip this mash 77 00:03:59,473 --> 00:04:01,873 starting now. 78 00:04:01,909 --> 00:04:05,811 [narrator] each shiner has 25 gallons of the house sour mash 79 00:04:05,846 --> 00:04:08,480 to distill into a raw base spirit. 80 00:04:08,515 --> 00:04:10,983 The one with the highest volume of alcohol 81 00:04:11,018 --> 00:04:13,185 will get the first pick of still parts 82 00:04:13,220 --> 00:04:15,721 for the elimination taste test. 83 00:04:15,756 --> 00:04:18,957 This right here would be a very interesting contest 84 00:04:18,993 --> 00:04:21,393 'cause depending on how you run your still, 85 00:04:21,428 --> 00:04:24,596 could make the difference in your alcohol level. 86 00:04:24,632 --> 00:04:26,665 So it's gonna come down to skill. 87 00:04:27,835 --> 00:04:29,301 Easy there. 88 00:04:29,336 --> 00:04:31,737 They keep laying into it hot and fast. 89 00:04:31,772 --> 00:04:34,973 This ain't gonna be no taste test. We're looking for volume. 90 00:04:35,576 --> 00:04:36,875 We got a boo-boo. 91 00:04:36,910 --> 00:04:39,144 -I've got a major problem. -Uh-oh. 92 00:04:39,179 --> 00:04:42,247 My strainer just went straight down in the still. 93 00:04:42,283 --> 00:04:44,583 Old steve's a former cop. Guess he decided 94 00:04:44,618 --> 00:04:47,519 he'd rather go on the illegal side. 95 00:04:49,023 --> 00:04:52,024 My name's steve watson. I'm from south eastern ohio. 96 00:04:52,059 --> 00:04:54,826 This is where I call home. My nickname is big steve. 97 00:04:54,895 --> 00:04:56,662 Here's my distillery cat. 98 00:04:56,697 --> 00:04:59,264 They call me that 'cause I'm 6',7", 300 pounds. 99 00:04:59,300 --> 00:05:00,899 Right in the center of his head. 100 00:05:00,934 --> 00:05:02,601 -The face? -Yup. 101 00:05:02,636 --> 00:05:05,237 I was a former police officer many years ago. 102 00:05:05,272 --> 00:05:07,739 Being on this side of the law is a little different. 103 00:05:07,775 --> 00:05:09,941 I used to chase guys that made moonshine. 104 00:05:09,977 --> 00:05:12,377 And now I'm one of them. Excellent. 105 00:05:12,413 --> 00:05:15,847 I've also been known as a shooting sensei, I'm a firearms instructor 106 00:05:15,883 --> 00:05:19,484 part time, and also a former martial artist. 107 00:05:19,519 --> 00:05:21,453 I've been distilling now about ten years. 108 00:05:21,488 --> 00:05:23,689 I snapped my leg in martial arts 109 00:05:23,724 --> 00:05:25,791 and was laid up for about six months, 110 00:05:25,826 --> 00:05:28,860 and needed to learn how to do something to keep my mind occupied. 111 00:05:28,896 --> 00:05:33,098 To be a moonshiner, you really gotta be part chef, part engineer, part chemist. 112 00:05:33,133 --> 00:05:36,201 As far as high proof goes, you still want a product 113 00:05:36,236 --> 00:05:38,136 that when you drink it, it has flavor. 114 00:05:38,172 --> 00:05:40,372 I mean, nobody wants to produce some paint thinner. 115 00:05:40,407 --> 00:05:43,342 Winning master distiller, to me, would be everything. 116 00:05:43,377 --> 00:05:47,212 And be self-taught, and achieve this kind of level in such a short time 117 00:05:47,247 --> 00:05:49,481 it'd definitely by a dream come true. 118 00:05:52,286 --> 00:05:54,553 -There you go. -Pull it up. 119 00:05:54,588 --> 00:05:56,788 Can we light this any time? 120 00:05:56,824 --> 00:05:58,824 Sure, you can light it any time you want to. 121 00:05:58,859 --> 00:06:02,394 Stands to reason, quicker you get fire under it quicker it's gonna get hot. 122 00:06:06,533 --> 00:06:10,569 My name is elizabeth spencer and I'm from southwest iowa. 123 00:06:10,604 --> 00:06:13,472 I raise fiber sheep. Out! Out! 124 00:06:13,507 --> 00:06:17,676 The first time I built what I thought was a still 125 00:06:17,711 --> 00:06:20,245 I was probably about 12 years old. 126 00:06:20,280 --> 00:06:21,747 This is my thumper. 127 00:06:21,782 --> 00:06:24,616 It wasn't about alcohol, it was about 128 00:06:24,651 --> 00:06:27,419 the chemistry of doing it well. 129 00:06:27,454 --> 00:06:30,555 That's why I'm 56 and still in the game. 130 00:06:30,591 --> 00:06:31,757 These are my pots. 131 00:06:31,792 --> 00:06:35,394 I did find my grandma's whisky recipe by accident. 132 00:06:35,429 --> 00:06:38,730 Who builds a restaurant chain, a trucking industry 133 00:06:38,766 --> 00:06:41,199 and a grocery store chain during the depression? 134 00:06:41,235 --> 00:06:44,936 She built a multi-million dollar industry 135 00:06:44,972 --> 00:06:47,672 off of moonshine. That's the only thing it could've been. 136 00:06:48,909 --> 00:06:51,576 So, being able to put my label on the shelf 137 00:06:51,612 --> 00:06:54,045 would be a neat tribute to 138 00:06:54,081 --> 00:06:58,216 be able to maybe someday label my grandmother's whisky. 139 00:07:07,528 --> 00:07:08,927 [digger] you all right, liz? 140 00:07:08,962 --> 00:07:11,363 I need one more hand but yeah. 141 00:07:11,398 --> 00:07:13,565 Turn both of them right there wide open 142 00:07:13,634 --> 00:07:15,967 and deal with that needle valve. 143 00:07:16,003 --> 00:07:18,437 -There you go. -Yay. 144 00:07:18,472 --> 00:07:21,006 Now you cooking with gas, literally. 145 00:07:21,041 --> 00:07:22,574 Well, you was. 146 00:07:22,609 --> 00:07:23,809 Took hair off my hand. 147 00:07:23,844 --> 00:07:25,577 Darrell's retired navy. 148 00:07:25,612 --> 00:07:28,613 He wants to go by uncle dum dum. 149 00:07:28,649 --> 00:07:31,316 I can't call him that 'cause I don't see that in him. 150 00:07:31,351 --> 00:07:33,084 He knows what he's doing on a still. 151 00:07:34,688 --> 00:07:36,688 My name is darrell flack and I'm from callahan, florida. 152 00:07:36,723 --> 00:07:38,323 Time to get this thing fired up. 153 00:07:38,358 --> 00:07:41,960 My friends back home call me by my nickname uncle dum dum. 154 00:07:41,995 --> 00:07:44,229 You do dumb stuff, you get called dumb names. 155 00:07:45,632 --> 00:07:47,265 Got the 15 gallon keg. 156 00:07:47,334 --> 00:07:50,168 I got tired of paying high dollars for the whisky. 157 00:07:50,204 --> 00:07:52,103 With the four macer jar thumper. 158 00:07:52,139 --> 00:07:54,206 Decided to research and buy my own still, 159 00:07:54,241 --> 00:07:55,774 and it's all downhill from there. 160 00:07:55,809 --> 00:07:57,843 This one's about 120 proof. 161 00:07:57,878 --> 00:08:01,480 My signature recipe is gonna be high proof and really good, smooth. 162 00:08:01,515 --> 00:08:02,781 That's some pretty good stuff. 163 00:08:02,816 --> 00:08:06,685 My ultimate goal is to open a distillery in northern florida. 164 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:10,822 If I was to win master distiller it's gonna be the world to me. 165 00:08:10,858 --> 00:08:13,024 The nickname of my still is trouble. 166 00:08:13,060 --> 00:08:15,894 Because the wives know once we go out there and light her up, 167 00:08:15,929 --> 00:08:18,663 somebody's getting in trouble. [chuckles] 168 00:08:21,535 --> 00:08:24,102 steve, he's got his going now, I'm telling you. 169 00:08:24,137 --> 00:08:26,004 Yeah, boy. 170 00:08:26,039 --> 00:08:29,007 I probably wouldn't put anything in my thumper. 171 00:08:29,042 --> 00:08:32,043 You want that vapor to come out and molest it. 172 00:08:32,079 --> 00:08:36,147 [narrator] extracting the most alcohol from the same mash and equipment 173 00:08:36,183 --> 00:08:40,085 depends on the techniques used during distillation. 174 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:43,555 As heat strips the alcohol vapor from the mash, 175 00:08:43,590 --> 00:08:46,625 it brings water vapor along with it. 176 00:08:46,660 --> 00:08:51,263 As the mixed vapors come into contact with the cooler surface of the cap 177 00:08:51,298 --> 00:08:54,866 some water, which has a higher boiling point than alcohol 178 00:08:54,902 --> 00:08:57,969 condenses and falls back into the pot. 179 00:08:58,005 --> 00:09:02,707 The concentrated alcohol vapor then travels to the thump keg. 180 00:09:02,743 --> 00:09:06,378 An empty thump keg provides additional surface area 181 00:09:06,413 --> 00:09:09,247 for any remaining water vapor to cool 182 00:09:09,283 --> 00:09:11,683 so that only the purest alcohol vapors 183 00:09:11,718 --> 00:09:15,120 reach the worm to condense into ultra-high proof shine. 184 00:09:16,957 --> 00:09:19,524 Keeping temperature consistent is key 185 00:09:19,560 --> 00:09:23,428 to achieving the highest volume of alcohol. 186 00:09:23,463 --> 00:09:27,332 Well, I think I'm up and running here, darrell. How about you? 187 00:09:28,201 --> 00:09:30,402 It's up, it's running. 188 00:09:30,437 --> 00:09:32,137 I don't know what's gonna come out the other end. 189 00:09:32,172 --> 00:09:34,039 Man, I can hear yours. 190 00:09:34,074 --> 00:09:36,141 Yours is just... [buzzing] 191 00:09:39,246 --> 00:09:41,846 starting out, I had jitters, there's no doubt about it. 192 00:09:41,882 --> 00:09:44,282 -You just pull straight up? -Yes. 193 00:09:44,318 --> 00:09:48,253 Vapor locked the still because the thermostat was plugged up in it. 194 00:09:48,288 --> 00:09:49,521 [objects clattering] 195 00:09:50,390 --> 00:09:52,324 damn, all the clanging and banging, 196 00:09:52,359 --> 00:09:54,726 it sounds like two skeletons dragging on a tin roof. 197 00:09:54,761 --> 00:09:56,861 Steve, don't you break that steel now. 198 00:09:56,897 --> 00:09:59,264 I'm gonna get mine up for a bit, I'm gonna back her down. 199 00:09:59,299 --> 00:10:01,032 I got a draft to deal with. 200 00:10:01,068 --> 00:10:04,102 I've used similar stills. I'm comfortable with what we're using. 201 00:10:04,137 --> 00:10:05,804 I think it's a great setup. 202 00:10:05,839 --> 00:10:07,906 Thump, thump, thump, thump. 203 00:10:07,941 --> 00:10:10,308 -You get some thumping? -Yes, sir. 204 00:10:10,344 --> 00:10:12,644 -Got a little thumping going on myself. -There you go. 205 00:10:13,580 --> 00:10:15,246 Little thump keg waltz. 206 00:10:15,282 --> 00:10:18,283 This is money dropping in and money flowing out. 207 00:10:18,318 --> 00:10:20,018 It's pennies in the pan. 208 00:10:20,053 --> 00:10:22,087 This is like another world to me. 209 00:10:22,122 --> 00:10:24,356 They always say the waiting is the hardest part. 210 00:10:24,391 --> 00:10:26,758 Once I got the still rolling 211 00:10:26,793 --> 00:10:29,327 you don't know what you're gonna get. 212 00:10:29,363 --> 00:10:31,496 As far as this run, 213 00:10:31,531 --> 00:10:33,331 what comes out come out. You know what I mean? 214 00:10:33,367 --> 00:10:35,433 Yeah, but I mean, when I do it at home 215 00:10:35,469 --> 00:10:37,068 I get all the time in the world. 216 00:10:37,104 --> 00:10:39,471 This is a little different. We have time limits, 217 00:10:39,506 --> 00:10:43,141 we got people waiting on us so you can't fart around too long. 218 00:10:43,176 --> 00:10:44,943 You got one hour left. 219 00:10:46,713 --> 00:10:49,280 You're a good old still. I like you. 220 00:10:49,316 --> 00:10:52,517 You should come home with me. We can have a lot of fun together. 221 00:10:54,121 --> 00:10:55,386 There you go. 222 00:10:55,389 --> 00:10:58,623 Once we got running, if was just trying to get comfortable 223 00:10:58,659 --> 00:11:00,992 with the surroundings, the still, 224 00:11:01,028 --> 00:11:02,994 you know, just having fun with it. 225 00:11:03,030 --> 00:11:04,462 It tastes good. 226 00:11:04,498 --> 00:11:08,433 Mine should start here. I just don't have mine turned up like you guys. 227 00:11:08,468 --> 00:11:10,502 At home, I run low and slow. 228 00:11:10,537 --> 00:11:12,237 That's what I did here. 229 00:11:12,272 --> 00:11:14,639 I was used to running for flavor 230 00:11:14,675 --> 00:11:17,442 and we're running for proof. 231 00:11:17,477 --> 00:11:20,311 [digger] is your thumper moving yet? Can you hear it doing anything? 232 00:11:21,515 --> 00:11:24,149 -Oh. -Find a leak? 233 00:11:24,184 --> 00:11:26,484 -[narrator] coming up... -Go ahead, mark, do your work. 234 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:29,988 In a high proof weigh-in every drop counts. 235 00:11:30,023 --> 00:11:31,589 The numbers don't lie. 236 00:11:35,162 --> 00:11:37,095 -Oh. -Find a leak? 237 00:11:37,130 --> 00:11:39,531 [narrator] a sunshine state shiner, 238 00:11:39,566 --> 00:11:42,100 a cop turned outlaw liquor maker, 239 00:11:42,135 --> 00:11:44,469 and a sheep herding home distiller 240 00:11:44,504 --> 00:11:48,239 are competing to distill the most alcohol by volume... 241 00:11:48,275 --> 00:11:49,407 [liz] there we go. 242 00:11:49,443 --> 00:11:52,143 ...From 25 gallons of house mash. 243 00:11:52,179 --> 00:11:53,645 Okay, now it gurgled. 244 00:11:54,748 --> 00:11:56,848 It's like everybody knows how to make a hot dog 245 00:11:56,883 --> 00:11:59,017 but when you go into somebody else's kitchen, 246 00:11:59,052 --> 00:12:01,853 you don't know where anything is to make the hot dog. 247 00:12:01,888 --> 00:12:04,456 As long as I got a microwave, I'm fine. 248 00:12:04,491 --> 00:12:06,458 I don't even own a microwave. 249 00:12:06,493 --> 00:12:08,893 I asked her, what kind of still do you run? 250 00:12:08,929 --> 00:12:11,129 And she said an easy bake oven still. 251 00:12:11,164 --> 00:12:13,465 What even is an easy bake oven still? 252 00:12:13,500 --> 00:12:15,366 I think it's something you put on a stove. 253 00:12:15,402 --> 00:12:17,068 I don't have that much. 254 00:12:18,739 --> 00:12:20,772 I have almost nothing. 255 00:12:20,807 --> 00:12:23,541 I may or may not get a couple quarts out of it. 256 00:12:23,577 --> 00:12:26,544 I've never used something that big before. 257 00:12:26,580 --> 00:12:28,480 At home, I run low and slow. 258 00:12:28,515 --> 00:12:30,148 That's what I did here. 259 00:12:30,183 --> 00:12:33,451 I had a nice high proof but I didn't have the volume. 260 00:12:35,655 --> 00:12:37,388 [mark] I want you to look at that bucket, 261 00:12:37,424 --> 00:12:39,858 it looks like a shot glass with him carrying it. 262 00:12:39,893 --> 00:12:41,526 [tim] yeah, he's a man. 263 00:12:43,263 --> 00:12:45,697 -Good job, steve. -Here comes darrell. 264 00:12:45,732 --> 00:12:47,098 There he comes. 265 00:12:47,134 --> 00:12:49,067 -There you go. -Uncle dum dum. 266 00:12:49,970 --> 00:12:52,570 -Good luck. -Last not but least, liz. 267 00:12:54,407 --> 00:12:56,908 -Good job. -Smells like liquor to me. 268 00:12:56,943 --> 00:12:59,644 [tim] I'm hoping they weren't making buttermilk. 269 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:01,613 We'll get some scales. 270 00:13:01,648 --> 00:13:04,616 -Get some scales. -Get that fancy hydrometer. 271 00:13:04,651 --> 00:13:06,050 So we can get to proof testing. 272 00:13:06,086 --> 00:13:08,453 I may have less volume 273 00:13:08,488 --> 00:13:10,655 but by the time the math's done, 274 00:13:10,690 --> 00:13:12,590 and they get that final number, 275 00:13:12,626 --> 00:13:14,993 it's hard to tell who's gonna win this. 276 00:13:15,028 --> 00:13:18,496 Darrell's proof is 119.97. 277 00:13:19,633 --> 00:13:21,232 Let's see what the weight is. 278 00:13:22,135 --> 00:13:23,635 13.2 pounds. 279 00:13:23,670 --> 00:13:25,737 Go ahead, mark, do your work. 280 00:13:25,772 --> 00:13:27,806 [narrator] to calculate proof gallons, 281 00:13:27,841 --> 00:13:32,777 the weight of each bucket is multiplied by the percent of alcohol by volume. 282 00:13:32,813 --> 00:13:37,916 This number is then multiplied by two and divided by 100. 283 00:13:37,951 --> 00:13:39,717 I got it figured out. 284 00:13:39,753 --> 00:13:41,920 The numbers don't lie. Go fetch them. 285 00:13:43,557 --> 00:13:45,290 [narrator] the higher the proof gallon, 286 00:13:45,325 --> 00:13:49,494 the more alcohol distillers have to work with for the second run. 287 00:13:49,529 --> 00:13:52,030 Big steve. 288 00:13:52,065 --> 00:13:57,101 Your volume weight was 16.8 pounds of distill. 289 00:13:57,137 --> 00:14:02,273 Your proof was 117.86. 290 00:14:02,309 --> 00:14:07,412 Now you convert all of that and your proof gallons will be 2.60. 291 00:14:09,249 --> 00:14:12,884 Darrell, your weight was 13.2 pounds. 292 00:14:14,487 --> 00:14:18,923 Your proof was 119.97. 293 00:14:18,959 --> 00:14:21,893 So that converted to proof gallons 294 00:14:21,928 --> 00:14:26,965 gives you 2.08 proof gallons. 295 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,133 All right, liz. 296 00:14:29,169 --> 00:14:33,271 Your weight of your liquid volume was 9.6 pounds. 297 00:14:33,306 --> 00:14:37,909 You had the highest proof of the three of you at 122.13. 298 00:14:38,912 --> 00:14:41,346 However, when you break that down to 100 proof 299 00:14:41,381 --> 00:14:44,649 it calculates into 1.55 proof gallons. 300 00:14:45,819 --> 00:14:50,521 So, big steve, you're gonna pick still parts first. 301 00:14:50,557 --> 00:14:53,358 Darrell, you're gonna pick still parts second. 302 00:14:53,393 --> 00:14:55,627 Liz, you're gonna pick still parts third. 303 00:14:55,662 --> 00:14:58,196 Had the highest proof gallons, 2.6. 304 00:14:58,231 --> 00:15:01,666 Going into the next round, I think that gives me a little bit of an advantage. 305 00:15:01,701 --> 00:15:04,535 Time to go pick your still parts out. 306 00:15:04,571 --> 00:15:06,804 [mark] holler for your boy there, timmy. 307 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:08,640 Tickle! 308 00:15:08,675 --> 00:15:11,776 He won't come for us if we call him. 309 00:15:11,811 --> 00:15:13,444 How y'all doing? 310 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:15,213 We was doing all right till you got here. 311 00:15:15,248 --> 00:15:18,383 -[all laughing] -y'all come on. 312 00:15:18,418 --> 00:15:21,452 [narrator] commercial distillers use column stills 313 00:15:21,488 --> 00:15:25,223 made up of multiple plates to increase alcohol purity. 314 00:15:25,258 --> 00:15:28,359 While most backwoods shiners rely on a thump keg 315 00:15:28,395 --> 00:15:31,596 or doubler attached to a standard pot still. 316 00:15:31,631 --> 00:15:34,232 Thump kegs allow a second distillation 317 00:15:34,267 --> 00:15:36,534 to take place in a single run 318 00:15:36,569 --> 00:15:39,437 and can be easily set up and taken apart, 319 00:15:39,472 --> 00:15:43,408 helping them stay one step ahead of the law. 320 00:15:43,443 --> 00:15:45,843 Using parts from the still house, 321 00:15:45,879 --> 00:15:48,379 the stillers must build a still that can 322 00:15:48,415 --> 00:15:51,449 increase the alcohol content of their base spirit 323 00:15:51,484 --> 00:15:53,952 without stripping the flavor. 324 00:15:53,987 --> 00:15:59,057 Still parts for your high proof alcohol. 325 00:15:59,092 --> 00:16:02,427 Steve, you are gonna have five minutes. Get to it. 326 00:16:03,396 --> 00:16:05,596 I'm pretty excited about having first pick. 327 00:16:05,632 --> 00:16:08,099 The setup that I used during the first round 328 00:16:08,134 --> 00:16:10,301 was very similar to what I run at home. 329 00:16:10,337 --> 00:16:13,004 It's just bigger and much better quality. 330 00:16:13,039 --> 00:16:14,505 But that's what I know. 331 00:16:14,541 --> 00:16:16,574 [tickle] one minute left. 332 00:16:16,609 --> 00:16:18,943 And to me, you go with what you know. 333 00:16:18,979 --> 00:16:21,045 Cap, cap, cap. 334 00:16:21,081 --> 00:16:23,348 15 seconds, steve. Wind it up. 335 00:16:28,822 --> 00:16:32,156 Okay, darrell. You got five minutes. Head to it, brother. 336 00:16:32,192 --> 00:16:35,460 I think I'll stick with exactly the same way I had it setup. 337 00:16:35,495 --> 00:16:38,529 It had good flavor. Even though they didn't taste it, 338 00:16:38,565 --> 00:16:41,833 I think it was a very good still setup, I'm gonna stick with what I got. 339 00:16:42,869 --> 00:16:44,802 If it ain't broke don't fix it. 340 00:16:44,838 --> 00:16:46,371 [tickle] 30 seconds. 341 00:16:47,273 --> 00:16:49,574 And that is time, darrell. 342 00:16:49,609 --> 00:16:51,042 I believe you got everything you need. 343 00:16:51,077 --> 00:16:52,577 I sure as heck hope so. 344 00:16:52,612 --> 00:16:55,146 Liz, hopefully, these two guys left you something. 345 00:16:55,181 --> 00:16:56,347 Five minutes. 346 00:16:56,383 --> 00:16:59,350 I got last. I should've had more volume. 347 00:16:59,386 --> 00:17:02,954 But I'm not worried about last pick in the still house. 348 00:17:02,989 --> 00:17:06,824 I'm looking for the same type of still we've used. 349 00:17:06,860 --> 00:17:11,396 It was very comfortable, very easy to work around. 350 00:17:11,431 --> 00:17:13,998 Two minutes, liz. Two minutes. 351 00:17:18,138 --> 00:17:21,105 I'm done. 352 00:17:21,141 --> 00:17:24,809 You got a minute and 15 seconds left, liz. Are you sure you're done? 353 00:17:24,844 --> 00:17:27,145 I got extra everything. 354 00:17:27,180 --> 00:17:28,913 [tickle] okay. 355 00:17:28,948 --> 00:17:31,349 Let's get our parts back in there so we can run. 356 00:17:38,391 --> 00:17:40,158 All right, guys, welcome back. 357 00:17:40,193 --> 00:17:44,862 It's time to get busy. Put us a still together that will function. 358 00:17:44,898 --> 00:17:47,532 In one hour. Your time starts now. 359 00:17:52,872 --> 00:17:56,808 Looks like big steve got a condenser, a doubler connection. 360 00:17:56,843 --> 00:17:58,242 That's step one. 361 00:17:58,278 --> 00:18:00,378 Liz, she's putting a cap on the still. 362 00:18:00,413 --> 00:18:04,015 [mark] she's putting a cap. Darrell's got all his laid out in order. 363 00:18:04,050 --> 00:18:06,250 Darrell look like he about ready to run his. 364 00:18:06,286 --> 00:18:07,985 Only had five minutes. 365 00:18:08,021 --> 00:18:09,754 Sometimes you gotta be quick. 366 00:18:11,491 --> 00:18:15,226 Regardless, if they do it in three minutes or 15 minutes, 367 00:18:15,261 --> 00:18:17,728 it's got to be assembled correctly. 368 00:18:19,532 --> 00:18:21,099 Everybody got everything they need? 369 00:18:21,134 --> 00:18:24,335 Did anybody get an extra one of these things? 370 00:18:24,370 --> 00:18:25,837 Extra one of these things? 371 00:18:25,872 --> 00:18:28,106 -It's called a thump post. -No. 372 00:18:28,942 --> 00:18:31,109 That's called a thump post. 373 00:18:31,144 --> 00:18:33,945 -I don't have a thumper cap. -I don't see it. 374 00:18:34,681 --> 00:18:36,280 I didn't... 375 00:18:36,316 --> 00:18:37,715 I do not have one. 376 00:18:37,750 --> 00:18:40,351 I have nothing that is gonna fit that hole. 377 00:18:40,386 --> 00:18:43,521 [digger] she's struggling. She don't know if she can pull that thump keg out 378 00:18:43,556 --> 00:18:47,258 -and go straight to... -Yeah, she's trying to these guys. 379 00:18:47,293 --> 00:18:49,560 There goes the high proof department. 380 00:18:55,001 --> 00:18:56,367 There she goes. 381 00:18:59,038 --> 00:19:01,939 You had to forfeit your thumper? 382 00:19:01,975 --> 00:19:05,743 But that's, you know, that's no unusual in this game. 383 00:19:05,778 --> 00:19:07,445 Thank you. 384 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:10,314 Everybody's got a functional still together, good job. 385 00:19:10,350 --> 00:19:13,384 Now it's time for y'all to re-run your distill. 386 00:19:13,419 --> 00:19:17,421 We want the highest proof you can bring that is palatable 387 00:19:17,457 --> 00:19:20,158 that we can tell it is corn liquor, not jet fuel. 388 00:19:20,193 --> 00:19:22,293 It's not about the volume or how much you make 389 00:19:22,328 --> 00:19:24,762 but the highest proof, we're gonna measure it, 390 00:19:24,797 --> 00:19:26,531 temper it down to 100, 391 00:19:26,566 --> 00:19:29,000 and that taste profile, that's what we gotta look at. 392 00:19:29,035 --> 00:19:31,435 [digger] at the end of this, somebody's going home. 393 00:19:31,471 --> 00:19:34,105 So I'd suggest we really do our best. 394 00:19:34,140 --> 00:19:36,941 Four hours, starting now. 395 00:19:38,311 --> 00:19:41,212 [narrator] distillers will re-run their house-based spirit 396 00:19:41,247 --> 00:19:44,515 to hit a minimum of 120 proof. 397 00:19:44,551 --> 00:19:48,519 The two with the most alcohol and best flavor when tempered 398 00:19:48,555 --> 00:19:53,291 move on to create their own ultra-high proof spirit from scratch. 399 00:19:53,326 --> 00:19:55,860 Steve had the most volume. 400 00:19:55,895 --> 00:19:59,664 Yeah, he had the most so he's got the most alcohol to play with. 401 00:19:59,699 --> 00:20:01,732 But sometimes more is hard to beat. 402 00:20:01,768 --> 00:20:04,168 My plan going into this second round 403 00:20:04,204 --> 00:20:07,338 is to add my tails into the thumper. 404 00:20:07,373 --> 00:20:10,041 Charge it with a little bit of more high proof 405 00:20:10,076 --> 00:20:13,611 and then put the rest of the high proof into a pot 406 00:20:13,646 --> 00:20:16,347 and run it that way. 407 00:20:16,382 --> 00:20:18,516 Liz has got a small, simple setup. 408 00:20:18,551 --> 00:20:21,719 She don't have to have a whole lot of alcohol to make that run. 409 00:20:21,754 --> 00:20:23,788 Where these guys got the doubler, 410 00:20:23,823 --> 00:20:25,489 they wanna charge that doubler 411 00:20:25,525 --> 00:20:27,892 which they gotta have more volume of liquid 412 00:20:27,927 --> 00:20:29,493 to charge the doubler where she don't. 413 00:20:29,529 --> 00:20:31,996 -[mark] right. -All she's gotta do is run it. 414 00:20:32,832 --> 00:20:35,666 I was hoping to get all of the parts 415 00:20:36,502 --> 00:20:37,902 for the thumper. 416 00:20:37,937 --> 00:20:40,905 But I'm still going to run low and slow 417 00:20:40,940 --> 00:20:44,809 because I'll have the flavor there, and I know I can reach the proof. 418 00:20:45,778 --> 00:20:47,211 [digger] you getting down and dirty, liz. 419 00:20:47,247 --> 00:20:48,713 Liz getting ready to do something. 420 00:20:48,748 --> 00:20:50,615 [mark] she's got fire under it, she's lit. 421 00:20:51,517 --> 00:20:53,084 Liz get lit. 422 00:20:54,988 --> 00:20:57,154 -There we go. -Here goes big steve. 423 00:20:57,190 --> 00:20:59,056 He's lighting his up. 424 00:21:04,197 --> 00:21:06,197 Liz is adjusting her jar to make sure 425 00:21:06,232 --> 00:21:08,933 she's gonna be able to get it out of the worm. 426 00:21:08,968 --> 00:21:13,671 I didn't have my worm spout facing the correct way. 427 00:21:13,706 --> 00:21:19,210 It was over the corner of the box that I had the worm sitting on. 428 00:21:19,245 --> 00:21:21,479 And there was no way I could set a jar under it. 429 00:21:21,514 --> 00:21:23,080 That could be a problem. 430 00:21:25,285 --> 00:21:27,351 She ain't got no coonpecker. 431 00:21:27,387 --> 00:21:29,820 [liz] so, I had to find something 432 00:21:29,856 --> 00:21:32,823 to stick in there to make it longer so it would reach the jar. 433 00:21:38,698 --> 00:21:40,898 Did she saw off to put this? 434 00:21:40,933 --> 00:21:43,034 -Worm spout. -A piece of wood or something. 435 00:21:43,069 --> 00:21:44,835 What do you got sticking out there? 436 00:21:45,672 --> 00:21:48,406 A pin lead. With that box, 437 00:21:48,441 --> 00:21:50,675 the jar couldn't sit flush. 438 00:21:50,710 --> 00:21:53,144 Couldn't you have spun the base of the worm? 439 00:21:53,179 --> 00:21:55,313 Uh-uh, because of the way it's all connected. 440 00:21:55,348 --> 00:21:57,648 As soon as I did it was like mm-mm. 441 00:22:02,088 --> 00:22:04,255 -[narrator] a florida moonshiner... -There we go. 442 00:22:04,290 --> 00:22:06,290 A buck-eye state booze maker, 443 00:22:06,326 --> 00:22:08,359 and a shepherd turned shiner 444 00:22:08,394 --> 00:22:12,830 are on their second run to turn 25 gallons of house mash 445 00:22:12,865 --> 00:22:15,833 into flavorful, ultra-high proof shine. 446 00:22:15,868 --> 00:22:17,835 What do you got sticking outta there? 447 00:22:17,870 --> 00:22:19,303 [liz] a pin lead. 448 00:22:20,573 --> 00:22:23,040 That was the easy solution. 449 00:22:25,845 --> 00:22:29,046 Did you put water in your thumper? Darrell, did you use mash? 450 00:22:29,082 --> 00:22:31,382 I used mash. I warmed it up in the pot. 451 00:22:31,417 --> 00:22:35,319 On this run, I was basically trying to just stay in the run. 452 00:22:35,355 --> 00:22:36,721 The double distillation, 453 00:22:36,756 --> 00:22:38,889 it's another experience, you can get more out of your liquor 454 00:22:38,925 --> 00:22:40,091 the higher you get it. 455 00:22:40,126 --> 00:22:41,892 But you also get the flavor. 456 00:22:41,928 --> 00:22:43,961 We only need one jar. 457 00:22:43,996 --> 00:22:45,896 But it's an important jar. 458 00:22:45,932 --> 00:22:48,766 We are not judging you on volume this time. 459 00:22:48,801 --> 00:22:51,736 Highest palatable proof. 460 00:22:52,905 --> 00:22:56,240 That's where I want it. There, she's trickling. 461 00:22:57,810 --> 00:22:59,944 -Yay. -[steve] she running? 462 00:22:59,979 --> 00:23:02,413 Finally showed up to the party. 463 00:23:02,448 --> 00:23:05,816 What the... Might have gone over there. 464 00:23:07,387 --> 00:23:09,253 How'd that happen? 465 00:23:09,288 --> 00:23:12,423 -By not watching it. -A kink in that drain. 466 00:23:12,458 --> 00:23:14,625 Don't let it spill over into your jar. 467 00:23:14,660 --> 00:23:17,728 Yeah, I see that. I'm up past it. 468 00:23:17,764 --> 00:23:20,531 -You'd be diluting it. -That wouldn't be what you're after. 469 00:23:20,566 --> 00:23:23,067 No, it's not. It kinda defeats the purpose, doesn't it? 470 00:23:23,102 --> 00:23:24,668 [digger] it does. 471 00:23:27,473 --> 00:23:29,173 You got five minutes. 472 00:23:29,208 --> 00:23:31,909 Mount 'em up, get 'em ready. We wanna taste 'em. 473 00:23:38,284 --> 00:23:39,917 All right, that's your jar. 474 00:23:39,952 --> 00:23:41,752 -It is it. -Okay. 475 00:23:41,788 --> 00:23:44,622 Pretty clear jar, liz. Good luck. 476 00:23:44,657 --> 00:23:47,725 -That's the jar. -Big steve bringing it in. 477 00:23:49,128 --> 00:23:51,228 -Good luck. -Thank you. 478 00:23:51,264 --> 00:23:53,898 Darrell and his other brother darrell bringing it in here. 479 00:23:54,767 --> 00:23:56,434 Clear. Clear. 480 00:23:56,469 --> 00:24:00,438 -That's the clearest jar we've seen. -Good luck to you, darrell. 481 00:24:00,473 --> 00:24:04,074 All right, boys, I'm gonna get us some test jars and hydrometers. 482 00:24:05,011 --> 00:24:07,912 We're doing a contest about high proof. 483 00:24:07,947 --> 00:24:10,347 Yeah, but it still has to be drinkable. 484 00:24:11,350 --> 00:24:13,517 All right, steve coming in. 485 00:24:15,254 --> 00:24:17,154 All my jars were fire. 486 00:24:17,190 --> 00:24:21,625 I'm gonna say I probably am 130-ish. 487 00:24:23,729 --> 00:24:27,131 That is slap on 180 proof. 488 00:24:27,166 --> 00:24:30,167 [tim] pretty good for big guy like steve. 489 00:24:30,203 --> 00:24:33,070 I brought us some tempering water out of the spring. 490 00:24:33,105 --> 00:24:35,005 Mark, you're gonna taste it first, right? 491 00:24:35,041 --> 00:24:37,374 [mark] I don't care. Hell, I ain't scared of it. 492 00:24:41,180 --> 00:24:42,913 I would say that'd be 100 proof. 493 00:24:45,318 --> 00:24:46,851 Got good notes. 494 00:24:47,753 --> 00:24:49,320 I'd buy that.S= 495 00:24:49,989 --> 00:24:51,689 sweet. It's good. 496 00:24:51,724 --> 00:24:54,291 Honestly, that's pretty good drink of liquor right there. 497 00:24:54,327 --> 00:24:57,261 Let's do darrell. 498 00:25:00,199 --> 00:25:01,899 I think I got high proof. 499 00:25:01,934 --> 00:25:03,868 Hopefully, there's some flavor there, too. 500 00:25:04,670 --> 00:25:08,239 And looks like we're at about 501 00:25:09,175 --> 00:25:11,442 172 proof. 502 00:25:11,477 --> 00:25:14,078 -Darrell did pretty good. -He did really good. 503 00:25:14,113 --> 00:25:16,113 -Yeah. -We gotta temper it down. 504 00:25:19,819 --> 00:25:21,585 On the line, 100. 505 00:25:25,124 --> 00:25:27,691 -Darrell, his real light on the nose. -Yeah. 506 00:25:29,829 --> 00:25:33,097 -Little funky. -I don't like that as good as I do steve's. 507 00:25:33,132 --> 00:25:35,799 It's not horrible, it's just got that faint water hose. 508 00:25:35,835 --> 00:25:37,735 It's still a decent drink. 509 00:25:39,005 --> 00:25:40,971 All right, it's liz. 510 00:25:41,007 --> 00:25:44,341 I am hoping higher than 120. 511 00:25:44,377 --> 00:25:46,343 And I know that's where they wanted it. 512 00:25:46,379 --> 00:25:49,947 I'm gonna call that 152. 513 00:25:51,651 --> 00:25:55,286 -Let's temper old liz down a little bit. -Yeah, we got to. 514 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:04,128 All right, boys, that is dead on 100 proof. 515 00:26:05,765 --> 00:26:07,398 I'm getting plastic on the nose. 516 00:26:07,433 --> 00:26:09,400 You'll taste some plastic. 517 00:26:09,435 --> 00:26:10,868 Oh, boy! 518 00:26:10,903 --> 00:26:14,004 I think it's that piece of plastic she stuck out the end of it. 519 00:26:15,408 --> 00:26:17,441 All right, I'm gonna go fetch them folks. 520 00:26:24,183 --> 00:26:29,019 What you did is insane proof-wise, all of you. 521 00:26:30,556 --> 00:26:33,757 Steve, you can see on your jar you had 180. 522 00:26:33,793 --> 00:26:36,961 You got a good nose. You can tell there's a little bit of grain in there. 523 00:26:36,996 --> 00:26:38,896 And it's a good, sweet drink of liquor. 524 00:26:38,931 --> 00:26:41,231 You got the corn in there, you got the sweet from the sugar. 525 00:26:41,267 --> 00:26:43,400 You can really smell what you made. 526 00:26:43,436 --> 00:26:45,502 Build a good cocktail out of this. 527 00:26:45,538 --> 00:26:48,005 And probably sell this liquor and get a return customer. 528 00:26:49,742 --> 00:26:52,509 -Darrell, I think you had 172. -Yes, sir. 529 00:26:52,545 --> 00:26:55,980 Pretty decent. Lacks little bit on the nose. 530 00:26:56,015 --> 00:26:59,483 -Yours did have the cleanest jar on the table. -Thank you. 531 00:26:59,518 --> 00:27:02,319 Liz, you had 152. 532 00:27:02,355 --> 00:27:06,457 Clarity was good on it, um, sadly it just had 533 00:27:06,492 --> 00:27:08,892 a taste imparted in it that 534 00:27:08,928 --> 00:27:12,296 you know, we were not familiar with. 535 00:27:13,399 --> 00:27:15,532 There was plastic in there. 536 00:27:15,568 --> 00:27:17,368 I mean, it is what it is. 537 00:27:17,403 --> 00:27:19,870 It smells like the 538 00:27:19,905 --> 00:27:23,540 you know, when you take the cap off of plastic that's what you got. 539 00:27:23,576 --> 00:27:25,309 Alcohol was solvent. 540 00:27:25,344 --> 00:27:27,211 That marker cap you put in there 541 00:27:27,246 --> 00:27:29,313 every drop of liquor you ran over it, 542 00:27:29,348 --> 00:27:31,582 it pulled some of the fuel taste, 543 00:27:31,617 --> 00:27:33,917 the plastic taste, it pulled it out. 544 00:27:33,953 --> 00:27:35,386 That's where you went wrong. 545 00:27:36,422 --> 00:27:39,156 Liz, your jar brought your ticket home, baby. 546 00:27:39,191 --> 00:27:41,058 -Yes, it did. -I'm awful sorry. 547 00:27:41,093 --> 00:27:42,626 If I wasn't so flustered, 548 00:27:42,662 --> 00:27:44,928 I think that it would've been good liquor. 549 00:27:44,964 --> 00:27:47,331 But I wasn't thinking. 550 00:27:48,067 --> 00:27:50,300 One thing we did learn on this one, 551 00:27:50,336 --> 00:27:53,037 racoon ivory is a whole lot better to run your liquor out on 552 00:27:53,072 --> 00:27:55,239 than a magic marker cap. 553 00:27:55,274 --> 00:27:58,409 [narrator] coming up... Shiners start from scratch... 554 00:27:58,444 --> 00:28:00,010 Are we having apple pie for dinner? 555 00:28:00,046 --> 00:28:03,681 ...To hit the highest proof possible in a single run. 556 00:28:07,319 --> 00:28:11,021 It's a backwoods shiner versus a lawman turned liquor maker 557 00:28:11,057 --> 00:28:13,791 in a quest to make the most flavorful, 558 00:28:13,826 --> 00:28:16,593 ultra-high proof shine from scratch. 559 00:28:16,629 --> 00:28:19,797 Men, congratulations, you've made it to the next step. 560 00:28:19,832 --> 00:28:22,966 Today, you're gonna build your signature mash. 561 00:28:23,002 --> 00:28:26,303 High proof liquor, that's what we're hunting for, the white yeti. 562 00:28:26,338 --> 00:28:28,105 The highest proof you can turn in. 563 00:28:28,140 --> 00:28:30,708 One hour to build your mash. 564 00:28:30,743 --> 00:28:32,676 Your time starts now. 565 00:28:33,946 --> 00:28:35,713 [narrator] for the final round, 566 00:28:35,748 --> 00:28:39,616 distillers may use any ingredients they brought from home 567 00:28:39,652 --> 00:28:43,721 to create a mash that can yield the highest volume of alcohol 568 00:28:43,756 --> 00:28:46,023 during a five-day fermentation... 569 00:28:46,058 --> 00:28:48,826 -Here we go, buddy. -...Without affecting flavor. 570 00:28:48,861 --> 00:28:50,360 Do your thing. 571 00:28:50,396 --> 00:28:53,197 What I'm doing with my mash is I'm doing an apple brandy. 572 00:28:53,232 --> 00:28:55,799 I know a lot of people traditionally use corn, 573 00:28:55,835 --> 00:28:58,135 but I've always done apples. 574 00:28:58,170 --> 00:29:00,604 -Are we having apple pie for dinner? -You know it. 575 00:29:00,639 --> 00:29:05,042 I've had good luck getting what I consider to be high proof 576 00:29:05,077 --> 00:29:07,244 yet still palatable. 577 00:29:07,279 --> 00:29:09,446 Starting to get about ready. 578 00:29:09,482 --> 00:29:11,515 You wanna get them all busted up. 579 00:29:11,550 --> 00:29:13,550 Get all that sugar released. 580 00:29:13,586 --> 00:29:16,954 Sugar, yeast, water. 581 00:29:16,989 --> 00:29:21,125 And my secret ingredient is just plain old tomato paste. 582 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:23,327 It's a great nutrient for the yeast. 583 00:29:23,362 --> 00:29:26,263 I feel pretty confident with the recipe that I use 584 00:29:26,298 --> 00:29:29,099 that the proof and the taste will be equal. 585 00:29:32,605 --> 00:29:35,773 My name for my signature line is uncle dum dum swamp juice. 586 00:29:36,809 --> 00:29:38,342 I'm making cream corn. 587 00:29:38,377 --> 00:29:42,179 My signature recipe for this challenge is gonna be crack corn, 588 00:29:43,048 --> 00:29:44,748 rye and barley. 589 00:29:44,784 --> 00:29:46,817 That's the one that comes out high for me. 590 00:29:48,287 --> 00:29:51,755 I'm gonna do what I can do with my mash 591 00:29:51,791 --> 00:29:54,158 and hopefully, I'll come out on top. 592 00:29:54,193 --> 00:29:56,560 [digger] y'all are done, man. Step away from your kegs. 593 00:29:57,396 --> 00:29:59,329 We'll see you in five day. 594 00:29:59,365 --> 00:30:03,200 [narrator] the amount of alcohol a mash will produce in a given time 595 00:30:03,235 --> 00:30:07,371 depends on ingredients and the type of yeast used. 596 00:30:07,406 --> 00:30:11,742 As the yeast consumes the sugars and starches in the mash 597 00:30:11,777 --> 00:30:14,978 they release alcohol as a by-product. 598 00:30:15,014 --> 00:30:16,747 The more sugars in the mix, 599 00:30:16,782 --> 00:30:19,783 the longer it will take the yeast to consume. 600 00:30:19,819 --> 00:30:23,687 Using turbo yeast speeds up this fermentation process 601 00:30:23,722 --> 00:30:25,556 but it can stress the yeast, 602 00:30:25,591 --> 00:30:28,659 causing them to produce more foul-tasting chemicals 603 00:30:28,694 --> 00:30:31,528 such as sulfur or fusel alcohols. 604 00:30:33,132 --> 00:30:35,732 Like high proof shiners in the backwoods, 605 00:30:35,768 --> 00:30:38,402 the distillers mash must strike the balance 606 00:30:38,437 --> 00:30:42,172 between high alcohol content and drinkable flavor. 607 00:30:46,812 --> 00:30:48,712 Welcome back, men. 608 00:30:48,747 --> 00:30:53,550 We've brought in our high proof guru right here, mark rogers. 609 00:30:53,586 --> 00:30:56,386 -Hi, mark. -Guest judge. 610 00:30:56,422 --> 00:30:59,489 It's hard to make a real high proof liquor 611 00:30:59,525 --> 00:31:02,860 and proof it down to make it taste good. 612 00:31:02,895 --> 00:31:05,762 [narrator] mark rogers is a mountain moonshiner 613 00:31:05,831 --> 00:31:08,098 known for high proof corn liquor. 614 00:31:10,603 --> 00:31:13,537 He's mastered the age-old outlaw techniques 615 00:31:13,572 --> 00:31:16,907 to yield the most alcohol possible from every run, 616 00:31:16,942 --> 00:31:19,710 while maintaining the sweet corn flavor. 617 00:31:19,745 --> 00:31:21,845 What do you think? 618 00:31:21,881 --> 00:31:23,747 It's high, jeff. 619 00:31:23,782 --> 00:31:26,884 Make us your best. It's your mash, it's your run. 620 00:31:26,919 --> 00:31:28,952 Master distiller is at stake. 621 00:31:28,988 --> 00:31:33,156 You got four hours. Your time starts now. 622 00:31:33,192 --> 00:31:36,026 -Good luck, men. -Good luck, my friend. 623 00:31:36,061 --> 00:31:37,694 [narrator] for the final round, 624 00:31:37,730 --> 00:31:40,530 distillers must deliver their signature shine 625 00:31:40,566 --> 00:31:43,200 at a minimum of 120 proof. 626 00:31:43,235 --> 00:31:46,003 The one with the best flavor when tempered down 627 00:31:46,038 --> 00:31:49,206 to a sellable 100 proof wins. 628 00:31:49,241 --> 00:31:51,842 [tim] so, we got steve, he mashed in apples. 629 00:31:51,877 --> 00:31:53,710 Darrell, he just mashed in corn. 630 00:31:53,746 --> 00:31:55,779 Which one you think is gonna come out, mark? 631 00:31:55,814 --> 00:31:57,381 Which one's gonna have the highest proof? 632 00:31:57,416 --> 00:31:59,516 I'd say the corn will. 633 00:31:59,551 --> 00:32:03,320 It'll take longer on that fruit than it will corn, I guarantee that. 634 00:32:03,355 --> 00:32:05,188 It's a little more unstable. 635 00:32:05,224 --> 00:32:07,557 -That's why you charge more corn. -Longer to work with. 636 00:32:07,593 --> 00:32:10,394 -Yeah. -We'll know for sure in four hours. 637 00:32:10,429 --> 00:32:12,195 How you doing over there, darrell? 638 00:32:13,232 --> 00:32:14,564 Getting her going. 639 00:32:14,600 --> 00:32:17,801 Got more sediment in my mash than I'd like, 640 00:32:17,836 --> 00:32:20,137 but I'm gonna get it all out of there. 641 00:32:20,172 --> 00:32:22,606 Big steve's got pretty mash. 642 00:32:22,641 --> 00:32:26,209 Going into the run, as soon as I saw my mash and tasted it, 643 00:32:26,245 --> 00:32:28,278 I thought it was where I needed it to be. 644 00:32:28,314 --> 00:32:31,481 He's got all the solids out of it, that's nice looking mash. 645 00:32:31,517 --> 00:32:33,016 Good color for apple. 646 00:32:33,052 --> 00:32:34,918 Strainers worked really good. 647 00:32:34,954 --> 00:32:38,522 -Straight apples. -Darrell's charging the hell out of his thump keg. 648 00:32:38,557 --> 00:32:40,757 [mark rogers] putting a whole lot in it, ain't he? 649 00:32:40,793 --> 00:32:44,394 Going into the next run, still's going to stay exactly the same. 650 00:32:44,430 --> 00:32:47,431 I'm gonna do what I can do with my mash. 651 00:32:51,637 --> 00:32:53,437 Darrell, what did you drop in there? 652 00:32:53,472 --> 00:32:55,238 Copper to bounce around it there. 653 00:32:55,274 --> 00:32:57,708 -Uh-huh. -See if I can kick it up a little bit. 654 00:32:57,743 --> 00:33:01,078 The thing, they'll scrub that water out of that alcohol. 655 00:33:01,113 --> 00:33:03,747 It'll pull it out and push that proof up a little bit. 656 00:33:03,782 --> 00:33:05,649 Big steve's capping up. 657 00:33:05,684 --> 00:33:07,617 [tim] he didn't add nothing to it or take nothing out. 658 00:33:07,653 --> 00:33:11,321 I believe he's good. He ain't gonna pack his thump arm. 659 00:33:11,357 --> 00:33:12,889 [steve] we have fire. 660 00:33:12,925 --> 00:33:14,758 Big steve's lit up, boys. 661 00:33:14,793 --> 00:33:17,427 Darrell has started sweating, he getting ready. 662 00:33:17,463 --> 00:33:18,795 Trying to wear it off. 663 00:33:19,465 --> 00:33:21,865 Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. 664 00:33:26,739 --> 00:33:28,972 Love apples. Good girl. 665 00:33:29,942 --> 00:33:33,343 The highest proof I ever made was 176. 666 00:33:33,345 --> 00:33:34,878 [tim] 176? 667 00:33:34,913 --> 00:33:37,147 [mark rogers] let me explain this, the way I do this. 668 00:33:37,182 --> 00:33:42,285 I'll flame a one-gallon high proof liquor, let everything run. 669 00:33:42,321 --> 00:33:45,689 My liquor, say 140 proof or something, 670 00:33:45,724 --> 00:33:47,858 but I'll proof it down. 671 00:33:47,893 --> 00:33:50,527 I got a jug of high proof liquor. 672 00:33:50,562 --> 00:33:52,996 If I get too low, I'll bring it back. 673 00:33:53,032 --> 00:33:54,564 Put some high shots in it. 674 00:33:54,600 --> 00:33:57,701 But I make every bit of my liquor taste the same. 675 00:33:57,736 --> 00:34:00,237 -Spread it across the board. -That's what's special. 676 00:34:00,272 --> 00:34:02,072 That's a good moonshine, 677 00:34:02,107 --> 00:34:04,674 and that'll be a good master distiller that's able to do that. 678 00:34:05,911 --> 00:34:07,811 Men, y'all got one hour left. 679 00:34:10,049 --> 00:34:12,015 -It's going, darrell? -Yes, sir. 680 00:34:16,889 --> 00:34:18,588 From the very beginning, 681 00:34:18,624 --> 00:34:23,593 it didn't have the head on it that I was expecting. 682 00:34:23,629 --> 00:34:27,564 It didn't have the notes I was looking for with the apples. 683 00:34:27,599 --> 00:34:29,733 Gee. 684 00:34:29,768 --> 00:34:32,436 But to get high proof and have a flavor, 685 00:34:32,471 --> 00:34:34,571 and a desirable flavor at that, 686 00:34:34,606 --> 00:34:36,339 it's damn close to impossible. 687 00:34:36,375 --> 00:34:38,508 It's a hard thing to hit right on the head. 688 00:34:38,544 --> 00:34:40,710 [exhales] that's hot. Whoo. 689 00:34:42,281 --> 00:34:43,880 Damn. 690 00:34:43,916 --> 00:34:45,615 -How you doing? -I'm dealing with it. 691 00:34:45,651 --> 00:34:47,851 Looks like it's running about right, though. 692 00:34:47,886 --> 00:34:50,854 I'll tell you, I'd slow it down just a little bit. 693 00:34:50,889 --> 00:34:53,223 -Little more? -That's running a little fast. 694 00:34:53,258 --> 00:34:55,592 You gotta run it hotter now, huh? 695 00:34:55,627 --> 00:34:59,129 It's high proof liquor, hard to fix. 696 00:34:59,164 --> 00:35:01,098 Yes, it is. It's an art. 697 00:35:02,367 --> 00:35:04,601 -How you doing, old buddy? -Good. 698 00:35:04,636 --> 00:35:07,104 I'd slow that down, too, just a little bit. 699 00:35:07,139 --> 00:35:10,173 -All right. -All you need is a quart. 700 00:35:10,209 --> 00:35:13,276 -Just one sweet jar. That's all it takes. -One quart. 701 00:35:16,849 --> 00:35:18,715 People don't get it. I mean, some hobbyist might bring you 702 00:35:18,750 --> 00:35:20,851 a pint of 100 proof liquor 703 00:35:20,886 --> 00:35:23,053 but as far as anybody that's ever sold liquor, 704 00:35:23,088 --> 00:35:26,456 you can't get the price that that high proof liquor demands. 705 00:35:26,492 --> 00:35:28,992 It ain't a good idea to drink 706 00:35:29,027 --> 00:35:32,729 any liquor, especially above 120 anyway. 707 00:35:32,764 --> 00:35:35,232 Yeah. 120's about right. 708 00:35:35,267 --> 00:35:38,101 Don't go above that 'cause you're gonna mess your insides. 709 00:35:38,137 --> 00:35:40,504 That's stuff's anesthesia and anesthetic. 710 00:35:40,539 --> 00:35:42,672 Can rub it on, ingest it, too. 711 00:35:42,708 --> 00:35:44,508 Next thing you know you won't know what happened. 712 00:35:44,543 --> 00:35:46,376 [all chuckling] 713 00:35:49,448 --> 00:35:52,315 [narrator] an ex-cop and an outlaw shiner are going still to still 714 00:35:52,351 --> 00:35:54,885 to see whose original mash recipe 715 00:35:54,920 --> 00:35:57,254 can produce the most flavorful shine 716 00:35:57,289 --> 00:35:59,823 at a minimum of 120 proof. 717 00:35:59,858 --> 00:36:02,192 They're watching it pretty close. 718 00:36:02,227 --> 00:36:05,328 Yeah, the concentration. That's what we're looking for here. 719 00:36:07,499 --> 00:36:10,534 Hey, darrell. Has it come out how you wanted it? 720 00:36:10,569 --> 00:36:12,702 I'm catching it gets more flavor. 721 00:36:12,738 --> 00:36:15,305 Yeah, that's what I'm hoping for, too. 722 00:36:15,340 --> 00:36:17,908 Steve's got six jars, darrell's got three. 723 00:36:19,545 --> 00:36:21,578 Nice, clear jar. 724 00:36:21,613 --> 00:36:23,647 [darrell] you got the winner, steve? 725 00:36:23,682 --> 00:36:25,315 I don't know, darrell. 726 00:36:25,350 --> 00:36:27,184 Five minutes, gentlemen. 727 00:36:28,854 --> 00:36:32,155 My proof's pretty high. Well, that's clean. 728 00:36:32,191 --> 00:36:34,891 I think I hit the flavor area that I want. 729 00:36:34,927 --> 00:36:38,595 Once its cut down with water, that changes things a bit. 730 00:36:41,300 --> 00:36:43,900 Just trying to dial in and figure out which one I'm turning in. 731 00:36:43,936 --> 00:36:47,070 -Here we go, big steve. -Bring it in here, big steve. 732 00:36:48,273 --> 00:36:50,574 -Big boy. -Gentlemen. 733 00:36:50,609 --> 00:36:52,108 -Good luck. -Good luck. 734 00:36:52,144 --> 00:36:53,977 Here comes old darrell. He's got his shined up. 735 00:36:55,380 --> 00:36:57,080 [darrell] am I nervous? Yeah. 736 00:36:57,115 --> 00:37:00,383 But when the day is through, hopefully we're both still friends. 737 00:37:00,419 --> 00:37:03,186 But we're gonna put out some liquor, I know that much. 738 00:37:04,122 --> 00:37:05,822 [mark rogers] that is pretty. 739 00:37:05,857 --> 00:37:07,824 -I ain't kidding. -Hope you guys like swamp juice. 740 00:37:07,859 --> 00:37:09,559 -Good luck. -Thanks, darrell. 741 00:37:12,464 --> 00:37:14,864 I know I left it all out on the floor in there. 742 00:37:14,900 --> 00:37:16,466 I didn't have anything else to give. 743 00:37:16,501 --> 00:37:18,468 Win or lose, it's been a great run. 744 00:37:18,503 --> 00:37:20,103 Looking at darrell. 745 00:37:21,440 --> 00:37:23,273 Darrell made his out of corn. 746 00:37:23,308 --> 00:37:24,975 Let me tell you something, tim, right there 747 00:37:25,010 --> 00:37:27,143 is the prettiest jar of liquor I've ever seen. 748 00:37:27,179 --> 00:37:30,080 There's a jar full of headaches in that right there. 749 00:37:30,148 --> 00:37:33,917 That's damn skull buster from the word go. 750 00:37:33,952 --> 00:37:36,019 That make you tell all 751 00:37:36,054 --> 00:37:37,787 all we can do is proof her down and try her. 752 00:37:37,823 --> 00:37:40,357 It's high. I don't know if it's as high as yours, 753 00:37:40,392 --> 00:37:43,093 I've been sneaking right below you the whole time. 754 00:37:43,128 --> 00:37:44,494 We'll see how this goes. 755 00:37:44,529 --> 00:37:47,364 I dropped a little on this wood and it's smoking. 756 00:37:47,399 --> 00:37:49,199 I'll see, 140. 757 00:37:49,234 --> 00:37:52,035 158. 758 00:37:52,070 --> 00:37:54,104 -That's pretty damn high. -Pretty good right there. 759 00:37:54,139 --> 00:37:56,573 Hopefully, the flavor's there. I know there was some heat. 760 00:37:57,476 --> 00:37:59,109 Come on. 761 00:38:00,245 --> 00:38:02,245 It's a little hot on the back end, 762 00:38:02,281 --> 00:38:04,214 but it started out at 158. 763 00:38:04,249 --> 00:38:07,684 He can make a ripe smart of it that tastes like apple. 764 00:38:07,719 --> 00:38:09,819 He's got five gallons, he's gonna have seven and a half 765 00:38:09,855 --> 00:38:11,421 the time he gets done tempering. 766 00:38:11,456 --> 00:38:12,889 Yeah. 767 00:38:12,924 --> 00:38:14,791 I'd sell that. Can you sell that, mark? 768 00:38:14,826 --> 00:38:17,294 It's good high proof liquor. 769 00:38:17,329 --> 00:38:18,762 But it's a little hot. 770 00:38:18,797 --> 00:38:22,132 -But it's still good liquor. -I like hot proof liquor. 771 00:38:22,167 --> 00:38:23,900 Now this is big steve's. 772 00:38:25,537 --> 00:38:28,238 Feel like I hit maybe 125. 773 00:38:28,273 --> 00:38:32,676 Big steve, right, 140 proof, even. 774 00:38:32,711 --> 00:38:36,713 I think I found my flavor spectrum that I was looking for, 775 00:38:36,748 --> 00:38:39,416 but to be honest, I'm just not sure. 776 00:38:40,352 --> 00:38:42,252 I like that apple right off the nose. 777 00:38:42,287 --> 00:38:44,521 When you pick it up you know it's apple brandy. 778 00:38:45,857 --> 00:38:47,724 It ain't as hot as darrell's. 779 00:38:47,759 --> 00:38:49,726 -Nope. -It was lower proof. 780 00:38:49,761 --> 00:38:51,628 It's kind of a bland taste, ain't it? 781 00:38:51,663 --> 00:38:52,996 Yeah, kind of disappointed. 782 00:38:53,031 --> 00:38:55,432 That apple, I really though would shine through a little more. 783 00:38:55,467 --> 00:38:57,434 Clean, clear. 784 00:38:57,469 --> 00:38:59,002 It's a good drink. 785 00:38:59,037 --> 00:39:03,006 I would be certain if steve came in with lower alcohol in his mash 786 00:39:03,041 --> 00:39:05,608 simply because them apples didn't have the time they needed. 787 00:39:14,820 --> 00:39:17,387 All right, boys. 788 00:39:17,422 --> 00:39:21,725 Darrell, you know, we smell that and that's corn liquor. 789 00:39:21,760 --> 00:39:25,762 Really good, good strong flavor, good clear liquor. 790 00:39:25,797 --> 00:39:29,099 And you had one of the cleanest looking jars on the table. 791 00:39:29,134 --> 00:39:30,667 -I thank you. -It was perfectly clear. 792 00:39:30,702 --> 00:39:33,136 If it was full, we couldn't tell anything was in it. 793 00:39:33,171 --> 00:39:35,605 Coming from you, that's a great compliment. 794 00:39:35,640 --> 00:39:38,875 -Your proof, you hit 158. -Thank you. 795 00:39:38,910 --> 00:39:41,611 As hot as it was in the making, 796 00:39:41,646 --> 00:39:44,581 when you bring her back down to where you can drink it, 797 00:39:44,616 --> 00:39:47,350 I don't think you can beat the corn liquor. 798 00:39:47,386 --> 00:39:50,019 [chuckles] thank you. Thank you. 799 00:39:50,055 --> 00:39:53,823 Steve, you had a fine apple brandy going on here. 800 00:39:53,859 --> 00:39:57,694 We hit that nose, boy, it was just what you look for in apple brandy. 801 00:39:57,729 --> 00:40:01,965 We told you we was looking for high proof, it was right at 140 even. 802 00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:04,834 -140. -So you did good as running a still. 803 00:40:04,870 --> 00:40:07,003 You did an outstanding job. Good, clear. 804 00:40:07,038 --> 00:40:09,806 -No filter, nothing. -Thank you. 805 00:40:09,875 --> 00:40:12,175 It was just a little bit flat for me. 806 00:40:12,210 --> 00:40:14,878 When you do a fruit-based mash 807 00:40:14,913 --> 00:40:18,114 you need a lot more time for fermentation. 808 00:40:18,150 --> 00:40:22,385 I think that if you'd had another week even, 809 00:40:22,421 --> 00:40:26,890 I think your mash would've been ten times better, it'd brought a higher proof, 810 00:40:26,925 --> 00:40:29,192 but all in all, it was a great flavor. 811 00:40:30,796 --> 00:40:33,797 Both of you did a damn fine job. 812 00:40:33,832 --> 00:40:38,067 But unfortunately, there can only be one master distiller. 813 00:40:43,308 --> 00:40:47,544 Darrell, you're the next master distiller. Congratulations. 814 00:40:48,914 --> 00:40:51,915 I feel like I'm floating on a cloud, like it's a dream. 815 00:40:51,950 --> 00:40:55,385 It don't make a damn which one of you got the master distiller title 816 00:40:55,420 --> 00:40:56,820 'cause both of you are winners. 817 00:40:56,855 --> 00:40:59,355 The information that I've picked up here, 818 00:40:59,391 --> 00:41:02,692 the friendships that I've made, I'm sure not leaving here a loser. 819 00:41:02,727 --> 00:41:04,894 Y'all are my buddies. 820 00:41:04,930 --> 00:41:07,230 -You has done what you were supposed to. -Thank you. 821 00:41:07,265 --> 00:41:08,932 My nickname's uncle dum dum. 822 00:41:08,967 --> 00:41:12,335 Winning master distiller, I'm no dummy. 823 00:41:12,370 --> 00:41:15,205 [laughing] 824 00:41:15,240 --> 00:41:17,340 [narrator] next time on master distiller... 825 00:41:17,375 --> 00:41:19,375 Y'all gonna make us some historical liquor. 826 00:41:19,411 --> 00:41:20,844 George washington variety. 827 00:41:20,879 --> 00:41:24,180 A triple-distilled whisky created by a founding father... 828 00:41:24,216 --> 00:41:26,349 This is old fashioned backwoods distilling. 829 00:41:26,384 --> 00:41:28,551 ...To become a foundational recipe 830 00:41:28,587 --> 00:41:30,720 that tries every distiller. 831 00:41:30,755 --> 00:41:34,324 The more difficult challenge of this show so far.