[narrator] this time on a very
merry master distiller...
Merry christmas, y'all.
Ho ho ho.
Merry christmas.
[narrator] it's a high-proof holiday showdown...
All we want for christmas is a hundred-proof jar.
[narrator] between three of appalachians
most dynamic moonshiners.
Smells like liquor coming off of there.
[mike] that's pouring out of there.
Hotter than the hinges of hell.
[tickle chuckles]
[josh] I just know that we gotta make
some killer moonshine.
I can do that.
Oh, yeah.
[narrator] josh, mike, and tickle
fire up their pot stills...
Yeah.
Tickle, how does it feel to be
on that side of the room?
It's different.
My still is gonna kick y'alls rear ends.
You know what, you just might do it.
[narrator] to see whose holiday recipe
will be named the spirit of the season.
It looked very good.
[mark] that looks like a whole lot like christmas if you ask me.
Christmas in a cup.
I would want this left on the table
instead of milk and cookies.
Yeah, buddy.
[joyful music playing]
[rock music playing]
merry christmas, y'all.
Ho ho ho.
How you y'all fellers doing?
All right.
-Thank you. -Yeah, buddy.
We wanna welcome our merry little moonshiners
to our little festive contest.
Joshy, you're our special little tiny tim.
I recently broke my foot.
So I'm sitting here with a freaking purple foot
right now, but I'm glad to be here.
Man, we're gonna have a little
friendly competition.
Y'all gonna make us a little liquor.
[tim] first, you're going to run a hash mash.
Then you're gonna pick a mystery gift basket.
And you'll have to make a cocktail
for what you find inside.
Whoever comes up with the top christmas cocktail,
got a little gift over here on the table.
Anybody wanna take a stab at what's in there.
[tickle] I mean, it was a whole lot bigger box last time.
Jb was in it last time.
There's your prize.
[man] that's bound to be a hell of a prize
in a box that big.
Go get it. See what it is.
Oh.
Merry christmas everybody.
-Ho ho ho. -Oh, yeah.
The way the price of jars is, I hope it's full of jars.
I hope it's better than jars.
If I got my wish for what'd be in that box,
it'd be a box full of cash.
That's my christmas wish.
But it could be anything and I mean anything.
All we want for christmas is a hundred-proof jar.
That's what we're gonna test right here.
When it's all said and done, bring your skills.
Any liquor man worth his salt can proof a hundred-proof jar.
It's the first time that we've ever
required a specific proof without a hydrometer.
How do you guys feel about that?
What if nobody hits it a hundred exactly?
It'll be the closest and next closest and so on.
You ain't gonna lose anything.
You're just gonna get
your pecking order for picking your basket.
And I wanna say that all three of you are
gonna be within five points of each other.
[tickle] I hope so.
I sure do love you, mark.
Men, you're going to have three hours
to get us that beautiful,
clear hundred-proof jar right up here.
Your time starts now.
Ho ho ho, boys. Get with it.
Merry christmas.
Oh, yeah.
[upbeat music playing]
the holidays are all about getting
family together and loving everybody.
Us moonshiners,
while we might not be blood related,
we're more family than most blood-related families are.
And, to me, the best gift you can have
is the gift of each other's time.
All right.
Ain't nothing to it now
but this stuff start heating up.
-Tickle? -Yes, sir.
How does it feel to be on that side of the room?
It's different.
I've never made liquor under these time constraints.
This will be my first time competing,
and I really think the pressure's on.
You know, it's my first time over here on this side.
Gotta figure out what all's in this box and everything.
You'd have thunk I'd have snuck over here one time
and looked at it but I ain't never done it.
You should have.
I should have but I didn't.
I believe I'm gonna be held to a certain standard,
but all I can do is come in here,
do what I know how to do the way I know
how to do it because I know
that's what my competitors are gonna be doing.
No matter where I come
in this competitions, I'm making liquor with two
of my good buddies here at the holidays,
doing what I love with people that I love.
-Good to hear. -[mark] what it's all about, ain't it, brother?
[tickle] that's right.
[mark] like, we fixing to make us some good liquor.
Yeah.
[dramatic music playing]
growing up in mississippi,
christmas was always a short sleeve and shorts
and flip-flops kind of day, you know?
[sighs]
we had a great time.
We always had all the family over.
Hmm, need a little more... Little more than that.
My grandfather would dress up like santa claus
for all of us little kids and bring us little
cheap toys and stuff like that just to brighten
our day up on christmas, you know?
I have no problem running this alcohol
'cause this is what I've done all my life.
All I can do here, at this point,
is try to make the best 100 proof liquor
as I possibly can for the judges.
Do what you're supposed to do now.
[tickle] josh, are you leaking?
Leaking from the head.
[josh] this is dripping.
[mike] gonna get my hip waders on here
in a little while.
Stop playing.
Christmas kind of lost its fire for me,
in a way because the world changed a little bit.
You know, we kind of stopped getting
together as a family.
But now that I got a little girl,
it kind of put the fire back in it for me.
Oh, yeah.
Now, I get to do it for her
and I like that.
How you making it over there, josh?
Good. Good. Thank you for asking.
[mike] if you need anything, holler, brother.
Same here, buddy.
I'm really not sure what would give me
an edge in this competition.
I just know that brother mike's
got some killer moonshine.
Let her rip. I can do that.
[sighs]
we got some heads starting to come up.
There's some moonshiners that never run
their still twice the same way.
Me on the other hand, I've got a pretty strict
process in which I run this still.
I don't just fill it slam full and cap it.
I fill it slowly and I'm cooking my heads off,
running right up into the air.
Takes a little longer to get it capped
but I'll be running in no time after it's capped.
It's all about your process, and I think my process
is really gonna be what sets me apart from the other guys.
You get to steaming there, mandigo?
It was hitting over a hundred
and fifty degrees the whole time
so that means my head's at a hundred and forty-five.
It was rolling right out.
How did you get it hot that fast?
He lit his still before he put any liquid in it.
He lit his still before he put anything in it.
[josh] you lit it before you poured liquid in it?
Nuh-uh.
But then I put something in it immediately.
Heated a small amount and built up on it.
-Oh, man. Come on. -[chuckling]
[josh] tickle,
you know you can burn the bottom of that pot out.
[tickle] here we go.
Smells like liquor coming off of there.
You better not let them vapors get to that flame,
blow us up.
[tickle] yeah. I cut the flame back on there.
I've learned my lesson on that.
Boy, it'll set your eyebrows right up.
[laughs]
you know, this here is my favorite time of year.
I'm really tickled to get
to be spending it with you guys.
-Same here. -[mike] yes, sir.
[upbeat music playing]
[tickle] yes, sir, we got liquor.
[mike] all right. That's pouring out of there.
Hotter than the hinges of hell.
[tim] I'd say water that fast,
you're probably right.
[digger] yeah, man.
[mark] I'd say one thing, she's clear.
I checked tickle's time and it took him
23 minutes and 36 seconds...
-[mark] to get... -Coming out the worm.
And she's running about where I want her now.
What was the best christmas present y'all ever got?
Mine was when I've been begging for a bb gun
and they said, "you'll shoot your eye out,
there's no way we're getting you a bb gun."
and I got the bb gun.
Yeah?
You still got both of your eyes?
-Yeah. -All right. Well, good to hear.
You remember them blue and white go-karts?
Yeah.
I got one of those for christmas one time,
and I'll tell you what, son,
I've turned that thing over a time or two myself.
Yeah.
How about you, tickle?
Well, having three brothers,
I don't know how mom and daddy did it all.
But I'll come downstairs one christmas morning
and there was several dirt bikes
and a go-kart sitting there.
I asked my daddy later on how he did it, and he said,
"I got them used, fixed them up, repainted them."
took him all year long
to be able to get them ready for us.
I'll be damned.
I believe he was about as excited
as we was for us to see them.
Oh, I'm sure.
[josh] where you at on your still?
-I'm at 126. -Really? Damn.
How many gallons y'all put in your still?
About halfway up the pot.
[tickle] I just went about halfway.
-[mike] what about you? -Wasn't quite halfway.
Well, you know...
And then I pull a little bit out for...
Yeah, I was gonna do that but I had already
poured mine in here and I didn't feel
like taking it apart and do it.
[tickle] you didn't charge
-your thump keg? -Yeah, I had already charged
it when I thought about putting some hot mash in it.
I've been trying to cook mine slow too.
I ain't wanna run it wide open.
[mike] me either.
I'm just gonna let mine gracefully warm up
and do her thing.
You running now.
[josh] it's coming, it's just coming slow.
You gotta make it through the worm
and we'll have some liquor.
I hate the waiting game.
[narrator] coming up...
Yeah, bud, that's high as a giraffe's butt...
-Right there. -Yes, sir. She's high.
[josh] tickle's done. You're on jar two.
And I'm just now getting on my head.
When it comes to the jar, you just need one.
I want it to be as smooth as it can be.
[dramatic music playing]
[mike] you running now?
[josh] almost. I can smell it. There it goes.
[tickle] hey, you're running?
-[josh] yeah. -[tickle] all right.
I'm gonna just take a jar that runs out
at hundred proof.
Guys, two hours left. Plenty of time.
[dramatic music playing]
four jars.
He's ran four?
You've already ran four jars?
Only need four.
I don't know, tickle. That's a lot of heat.
Getting it, son. He's getting it.
[chuckles]
guys, what y'all think is in that box?
You shake it and tell me what you think is in it.
I better not. I don't wanna get called...
Come on, mike.
I don't wanna be called a cheater.
Come on. Where's your team spirit?
Jb rader was in it.
Look, if they got him crammed in that little box,
-they must let him out. -[laughs]
I heard that.
-Here we go. -You got it now.
[mike] it's going [makes sound]
[chuckles]
[makes sound]
[digger] tickle, how's it going for you?
This right here is my fifth jar.
I ran eight.
[digger] well, all you need is that one sweet jar.
I'm not going down there.
Yeah, bud, that's high as a giraffe's butt...
-Right there. -Yes, sir.
She's high.
Yes, sir.
Yeah, I believe that's what I'm gonna go with.
I think I'm done.
Tickle's done. You're on jar two.
And I'm just now getting on my heads.
[tickle] won't be long now.
We don't need but one damn jar.
One jar is all we gotta have.
I want it to be as smooth as it can be.
[dramatic music playing]
how's it going for you, brother?
[josh] it's good. Clear.
When it comes to the jar,
you just need one to build your little cocktail with.
But you wanna show them skills so you can get
the hundred proof.
-Got you. -Runaway liquor.
-[bleep] -[tickle] yes, sir.
[mike] you know what, the pressure is on here.
I gotta present the perfect jar of liquor here.
I want to put the smoothest jar of liquor
I can put on the table at a hundred proof.
[josh] moonshiners do it all night long.
-[tickle] yes, sir. -I'm done now.
[mike] you come tell me what this is.
All right. Shake it.
See what you think.
That's probably a hundred and twenty.
A hundred and fifteen easy.
Yeah. This may be the jar here.
[tickle] that might be your jar right there, yeah.
My confidence is way up here now.
I'm fixing to take a snort of this just to see what...
So not kick it in high gear.
Not necessarily to try to "beat" nobody.
Just to put the best jar of liquor on the table.
That's my goal here.
Damn.
If it ain't a good jar of liquor right there by itself.
-Mike? -[mike] yo.
You're finally needing a jar.
I know. I just got done.
Damn, boy. Y'all got there in 15 minutes left.
Was something after you?
[chuckles]
actually, I ran mine as slow as I could get it.
Damn. If I had that much time, I'd be mister coffee.
-I'd be dripping. -Yeah?
Boys, we'll be ready to test
some liquor here in a little bit.
-All righty. -[tickle] all right.
Time to do some business.
Every time I make moonshine,
a little of piece of me goes into every run.
I'm not just making something to drink.
I'm making a representation of me.
I care about every drop of it,
about every aspect of my process.
And I like to think
that that's shines through in the end.
Yeah. Sure.
The best bet where I wanna be.
-That the one? -Yeah, sir.
That's all we need.
I believe that's the one right there, fellers.
All right. Stevie ray, you go over and curl up
under the christmas tree.
We'll be right in there to get you in a little bit.
That christmas tree is in the barn.
[mark] that's a helpful little tip.
Definitely. I know where that's at. Good.
-All right. -Y'all have a good time with that.
We will.
About done about all I can do.
Oh, yeah? That's all we ask of you, mike.
All right. Your prize for coming in
the second jar right here,
it's up to you to you go over there and adjust
the throttle on tickle while he's drinking.
[laughs] okay.
I'll keep him under wraps.
-Hey, mike? -Yo.
Keep tickle under christmas wraps.
I will get him. I promise you.
Here it comes. The ol' western crude.
Uh-oh. [makes sound]
now, your job is to watch both of them.
[chuckles]
this is the christmas miracle.
When it comes to going there to them two,
you are the voice of reason, sir.
I don't think I've been ever been told that before.
Go on out and get busy.
We'll come get you in a little bit.
[laughs]
outstanding.
Well, them are three crystal
clear jars of liquor.
You know what I like? They're full.
-They're full. -They're full.
-They're clear. -[tim] yeah.
[digger] that's the mark of moonshiners right there.
I wonder what them three in there are doing.
Well, I reckon they're tasting it and,
most of all, seeing what proof it is.
I hope they're in there deciding
that y'all's jars was no good.
[laughter]
[upbeat music playing]
see what mr. Josh is.
I think we need a true reading
with their hydrometer benchmark, 100 proof.
One eleven. Full jar.
Let's un-full it and then see what we're working with.
[sighs] here we go.
Corn liquor.
Oh, it sure smells like it though.
[tim] good smell.
[digger] not bad.
I wanna kick y'all's butts and I don't even care
what's in the box.
I just wanna know that I smoked y'all.
Well, you know, bragging rights is one thing
but I don't think they fit in that box.
Josh, if I was to win, I'll tell you what,
I'll let you help me open the present.
Thought you're gonna be real nice and give me
-what was in the box. -I may even do that.
I ain't gonna let him help unwrap it after he done
sit here and said he hopes he kicks my butt.
-[laughter] -uh-uh.
It's a little uppity, that's for sure.
It's effing proofed but it's not horrible.
-[mark] yeah. It's... -Smells nice.
[mark] yeah. It's a good drink.
When josh ran his slow, everybody else went at it
like it was a damn foot race.
Now that heat hangs out on your backend a little bit.
Yeah. It's a good taste.
It's a good taste, but it's a little fiery.
A little hot.
Steven ray tickle.
He is at 93.
[mark] ninety-three?
Ninety-three for stevie ray.
[tim] it looks good.
This is stevie ray's first time in the competitor seat.
Yes, it is.
And it's about time.
I did something I don't normally do
which is I really didn't drink nothing...
-Right. -You know?
Because I've learned from watching other guys
be in this position.
It's easy to go to sipping on that jar
-then your taste buds don't... -[mike] burn your taste buds.
-Burn that palate up. -Yeah. They don't do what they're supposed to do.
Uh-uh. It's gone.
And so I tried to refrain from that,
and I think I did a pretty decent job.
It's a good smell too.
It ain't got the heat that josh's has.
-It's a bit lower proof. -Yeah.
I'd say after tasting it, he's come in way under josh.
It's still got a good taste.
It has, but it's not near as hot as josh.
There's mikey.
Mike cockrell.
One-o-five... One-o-four.
We don't round up, but he's 104
so he's closer to a hundred.
Looks good.
Let's see what it tastes like.
[mark] yeah, they're all great-looking jars.
And they had a good time running them boys.
They had some fun.
It's actually super, super fun, man and a blessing
for all three of us to be able to, you know,
do this together and have dadgum good time
doing it for christmas, you know?
That's right.
-[mark] same smell. -Same nose.
-[digger] not harsh.
Buttery. Spicy.
And pretty doggone smooth.
[mark] it's a good drink.
Ain't much difference in all three jars.
All of them is good.
You know, the taste profile is all the same.
Same house mash.
I mean, the taste isn't gonna change.
It's just the heat.
You know, I'm used to my own mash.
Now it's probably a good thing we all had the same.
That's equal playing field.
-[josh] yeah. -Yeah, I believe it is,
'cause that mean it makes it...
Makes it 100% fair across the board.
Yeah.
[mike] we're running the same mash, just...
It's all in the cooking then.
It's all in the cooking.
The techniques that each one of us have
that's a little bit different from the other one, you know?
-Mmm-hmm. -And all three of them
taste a little bit different.
All three of these guys are winners anyway.
All three of them has made a good drink.
Yeah, they're winners all right.
[chuckles] they're good.
I would want this left on the table
instead of milk and cookies.
The way it falls is mikey's
the number one jar, tickle's number two jar,
and josh is the number three jar.
We all in an agreement on that?
-Yeah. -Yes, sir. Yeah.
-[digger] fair enough. -Numbers don't lie.
-Number don't lie. -No, numbers don't lie.
I'm gonna go fetch them.
We'll get them ready for their next challenge.
We get to taste something good.
[narrator] coming up...
Pick any basket that you want.
You gotta run what you brung with what's in your basket.
I'll probably get the bag full of coal.
[upbeat music playing]
move out. Move out.
[makes sound]
all right. Thank you, buddy.
Welcome back, boys.
We tasted your liquor.
We proofed your liquor.
Of course, taste was no criteria,
but everybody's liquor is...
What was that word?
Satisfactory.
It's suitable for drinking and will make a fine cocktail.
That's your next challenge.
Hands down a pretty damn good job
at hitting the proof with your eye.
Really good.
There's no lack of experience here.
And all three of you, you're pretty doggone good.
-Thank you. -Thank you.
Appreciate it.
Before we give y'all the pecking order,
anybody wanna look at your bead and give us
their guess before we throw it out there?
I say a hundred and two.
One-o-three.
When I look at it and I see
that bridge, that tells me 110.
All right.
Tickle, your proof was 93.
Mikey, your proof was 104.
Josh you're 111.
No [bleep] if I had left this stupid jar alone,
it had been a ride home to money.
That being said, mikey you was closer to 100,
so you'll pick first.
Tickle, you were seven points away,
you'll pick second.
Josh, you're eleven points out,
so you'll pick third.
Okay.
Now, let me lay just a couple
of ground rules for you.
I'm gonna go get the ingredients.
Pick any basket that you want, mike,
then you tickle, then you josh.
Do not open them. Set them on your table.
You can open them when time starts.
No trading ingredients.
You gotta run what you brung with what's in your basket.
We didn't bring it.
-I'm bringing it. -He's bringing it.
-I'm bringing it. -You mean we run
-what you brung. -You mind that, sir.
You're gonna run what I brung.
[digger] what's laid in your lap
is what you're riding with.
Fixing to get real.
[upbeat music playing]
well, christmas time is coming.
[mark] jingle bell. Jingle bell.
[josh] pretty ribbon, pretty paper.
[mark] don't let the mystery fool you.
Now, boys,
you do not know what's in what.
You can't see anything at them.
Pick what you want, which one you want.
Don't open it. Just one apiece?
Just one each.
And we're gonna have a holiday
christmas cocktail
out of what's in your basket.
[tickle] I'll probably get the bag full of coal.
[laughter]
[mark] all right.
You cannot trade or swap ingredients.
You have to use 100%
what is in the basket you choose.
And when your time starts, you can get busy.
Mikey.
All right.
[chuckles] pretty intimidating, huh?
Yeah. Pretty much. [chuckles]
[digger] remember, bigger ain't always better.
[mark] oh, now I wished you had picked
any basket than that.
Tickle.
All right.
Quick question, do I gotta use everything
-in the basket? -You don't
-have to use everything. -[digger] no.
You just use something that's in there.
Okay. All right.
Any of whatever is in your basket that you choose it.
I think I'm gonna pick this one.
I'm a big fan of keep it simple
and there can't be but so much in there.
Well, he got the second worst one of the lot.
Well, good. That'll match the liquor.
-It's heavy. I can say that. -[mark laughs]
joshy.
[digger] yeah, boy.
[mark] best basket in the bunch.
All right, guys. You good with your choice?
'cause I'm taking this out of here.
We don't know yet. We ain't opened it.
Well, if you wanna swap, now is your time.
Going once.
Going twice.
Santa claus is out the door.
You know not everyone can back a wagon up.
[digger] he did a damn fine job with that.
All right, boys. You know the deal,
a delicious, festive christmas cocktail
in less than one hour.
Whoever mixes the winning cocktail,
you get the little gift over here on the table.
Your time starts now.
Good luck, boys.
I got some limes, lemon...
[sighs] I got a pineapple.
That's good stuff right there.
Great flavor.
You know, I don't have any idea
what's in my basket.
I'm sitting here thinking,
"man, it could be a toad,"
just to throw a twist and...
You know, or something like that on us.
Habanero honey.
[chuckles] yeah, buddy.
Club soda. Cherries.
There's a lot of trickery with these guys.
These judges, you know, they're gonna throw us
for a damn loop any which way they can.
What in the hell am I gonna do with a damn pepper?
You can't build a house with it.
Build us some damn drink.
[josh] you want these, mike?
I can't take them.
Simple syrup. Lime.
Cranberry juice.
All right.
Agave.
-Agave. -Agave.
Maraschino cherries.
Candied ginger.
Red sugar.
Club soda.
Pineapple juice. I like it.
Ginger beer, oranges, and limes.
And some lemon lime soda.
I've got some rosemary and mint.
Mmm-hmm.
Here we go.
Let's see here, what do we want to use?
You're gonna build us a cocktail or something?
I'm sitting here trying to figure out what to do
but I don't know what to do.
I really don't. I don't have the slightest
clue at all.
I mean, on a scale of one to ten,
I'm on a zero.
I have no idea.
I really didn't feel like
I knew what to do with my ingredients.
As soon as I've seen pineapple,
I thought I'm screwed.
I've messed with pineapple
a whole lot with moonshine and,
I don't know, it's kind of hard to hit it just right.
[tickle] get her done, brother.
You got this.
I've made a lot of moonshine with josh
and once he sets his mind on something,
he's gonna get it done.
You got this, brother man. Don't let it defeat you.
But then again,
once he sets his mind against something,
it ain't happening either.
Hey, josh, you burnt 15 minutes.
Don't make no more damn excuses.
I'mma make a buzz is what I'mma make.
I was sitting there and I was trying to think
about what to do, and I was like,
"I'm gonna drink this moonshine
till I figure it out or I get drunk as a skunk."
I'm feeling pretty screwed right off the rip.
I ain't gonna lie about it.
[dramatic music playing]
guys, you got 30 minutes.
We're gonna need a glass on the table.
Hey, josh, you're gonna build us
a cocktail or something?
They are. I'm gonna drink.
Get them feet down
and get to building us some drink.
You ain't gonna wanna drink it.
I don't have nothing but pineapple to work with.
Then build us a pineapple drink.
Anytime I ever make just a pineapple drink,
it tastes like ass.
Well, make them an ass drink, josh.
You gotta make something, josh.
It's always like this with josh.
Not putting down on the guy,
but so what?
We all had to choose baskets.
We didn't know what was in any of them.
Come on, man. You can build something
out of nothing.
That's what we do.
Make some [bleep] up, josh.
Digger kept busting my balls,
telling me that I needed to get off my rear end,
quit drinking the moonshine, and mix a drink
whether it was gonna win or lose.
Get your cork jar
and blend us up something over there.
So I did.
You gotta give us some complexity now.
Challenge our palates.
I'm gonna put a little of this.
See what it tastes like with a little bubbly.
Damn. You might have put a bubble in there.
You didn't put plural.
[tickle] well, I ain't trying to overdo it.
I'm a firm believer in simple is better.
Just look at it.
I mean, you don't get much simpler than this.
What kind of cocktail are you gonna make for us?
Now, I think I got really lucky
with this cranberry juice
because it just turned a very pretty color of red
that reminds you of christmas.
I wanna use some of the cherries
but I'm also aware that cherry
can turn something to medicine-flavored.
So I'm gonna be very light on that.
Wanna add just a touch of sparkle
with a little club soda.
And rosemary might make for a great garnish.
Cool. Sounds like you've got a plan.
Tastes good.
-[chuckles] -well, that's what we want.
When you're with your friends around the holidays,
that's really just the best thing.
Damn. That's not bad.
Gifts, they don't meaning nothing.
They're gonna go away.
But friends,
they'll eventually go away
but the memories that you have with those people,
that's what lasts a lifetime.
Well, I ain't gonna lie to you,
that looks a whole lot like christmas
if you ask me.
[upbeat music playing]
[gasps] [bleep].
-Did you see that? -What's that?
-He blow up on it? -He made an explosion.
I've got a little soda in it, yeah.
Yeah, you don't shake carbonated stuff.
No. [laughs]
josh, I see you're about to put something
together down there, buddy.
Forget the damn pineapple itself.
I ain't got time to mess with it.
Just take the pineapple juice, strain it into a cup.
Just use a little bit of it,
pour some of that soda in there.
See how it tastes.
Pour some of that ginger beer.
Mix those up.
Have you used any of that good agave yet?
Uh, it's the only thing I got sugar with.
It tastes pretty good.
[tim] looks like lemonade.
Fifteen minutes left.
Better get with it.
[intense music playing]
I won the bet.
I know you did.
I am good to go on my glasses.
Always been fond of cup.
Being in this...
In these glasses, I'm just gonna call it
the christmas milk.
Are those the glasses for us to drink out of, josh?
-What are you trying to say? -[tim] those are our glasses.
I know. I'm supposed to fill them up,
put them up right there, ain't I?
All right. This comes as absolutely
no surprise to me.
Your presentation, always spot on.
-I try hard. -[digger] mmm-hmm.
I mean, you have never ever let us down on presentation.
What did you have in your basket?
Well, what I had in my basket was some pineapple juice,
a little white sugar, some lemon lime soda,
a little touch of habanero honey,
lemon lime kool-aid, and some green cherries.
So I actually just took a little bit
of everything that I had here
and just mixed it all together,
and garnished them with limes and cherries,
and put a little bit of the red sugar
to pop that red with the green.
It's actually pretty doggone tasty.
I noticed that you just...
You did not blend your liquor in
with your mix and juice.
I stirred in and tasting as I go.
As always, looks good.
Thank you, sir.
When I tasted it after I mixed it,
I was pleasantly surprised I have to say.
I fooled myself.
[digger] look at how pretty they look.
[tim] it looks good.
Don't tell me you can't do something no more.
[mark] it's got liquor and it's got pineapple in it.
Hell, that's all it needs.
I'm 100% confident.
I want them to taste that and go,
"wow, I've never tasted anything like this."
looky there.
Now I'm telling you right there are six pretty drinks.
We're getting there.
All I'll tell you is this,
I'm sipping on the same thing.
[josh whistles]
you guys enjoy...
I hope.
Nine cocktails on the table.
Can't argue with that logic.
We all know the deal.
We gotta taste and deliberate
with y'all outside.
So head on out.
We'll come get you when we got a decision made.
-Sounds good. -[josh] good luck, guys.
-You got it. -Looking good.
I know the science of making liquor.
When it comes to making a mixed drink,
you gotta think about it.
Everybody's got their own different taste.
-They do. -What are the odds
of mixing one drink that all three of them love?
As long as it tastes good, looks good,
and it's presentable on the table.
-Mmm-hmm. -In other words,
with a cocktail, first thing,
you want that person that's looking at it
to want it.
-Mmm-hmm. -That's what draws them
to the cocktail.
Now, whether they like it or not now,
that's strictly up to them.
What if it looks real good then they taste it
and the taste don't quite match the looks?
Is that not more of a disappointment?
Yeah, I guess so. But, you know,
looks can always be deceiving.
Yeah. It can look good and taste bad.
It can look bad and taste good.
-Taste good. -[both laughter]
[mike] that's what I'm talking about.
[upbeat music playing]
well, looks like we have three festive
holiday cocktails.
They look very good.
[digger] christmas in a cup.
I actually enjoy making cocktails.
Get to think outside the box.
-Mmm-hmm. -Making a cocktail
to taste like christmastime,
I like that challenge.
Well, boys, you just might have me on this one here
because I ain't never made a cocktail
in my entire damn life.
It wasn't just like a whiskey and a soda
or something or another.
Yeah. I'm normally doing a brandy
or something like that.
-[mike] right. -As far as I go for cocktails,
I throw an ice cube over in.
Cocktail is a little bit different than a damn
flavored moonshine.
[mark] let's drink josh's first.
The lemonade, it's got ice in it
and it keeps getting weaker and weaker
the longer we wait.
It's got eye appeal.
You know, he doubts himself so much
and he usually does fire.
I really like this.
You can taste the alcohol and it's just right.
It doesn't jump out at you.
You find it under that agave nectar
-he put in there. -[mark] it's good.
[digger] that's a good drink all the way around.
I think the judges been mad at me here lately
'cause I haven't been qualifying,
but I still wanna kick y'all's rear ends.
-What? -[all laughter]
you know what? You just might do it.
Well, who do you wanna go with next?
[tim] I'm sitting here looking at mike's.
[mark] yeah, mike knows how to present something.
That's a pretty presentation right there.
Doesn't settle out of proportion.
It's the right color for a christmas drink.
Yup. Plus, he's got a little extra for you.
He's got red, green, and a little white
on the ride.
-Wow. -I'll tell you what,
mine tasted really good
so I thought I put it on the counter.
-Got plenty of liquor in it. -That's loaded.
For a holiday drink,
I don't think it's really sweet enough.
-That's a "get drunk" drink. -Yeah. I ain't had nothing to eat.
I gotta set that down or I'm gonna be...
I won't be able hit that floor right there with my hat.
It's all about being together, man.
It's the holidays.
Have a good time and be happy
that we can do this and be together to do it.
You're a hundred percent right.
[tim] you're gonna pick tickles now?
I think I would go for tickles now.
[mark] you know, that pretty red
from a cranberry that he used
and he put it in those mugs
and you can't see it.
-[tim] yeah. -He just didn't think
that presentation through.
He did, however, drench his lemon slices
in the maraschino cherry juice
to give them a little pink hue.
-That's cranberry. -Oh.
[tim] no doubt about it.
[mark] yeah, it's a good drink.
I did make some good liquor.
I put something in it. It's bound to be good too.
Not a mixologist but a shinetologist.
A shinetologist.
I'm right there. I don't know about y'all.
I know where I'm at.
Amen. Amen.
I'm gonna go fetch them youngins.
I can say we've all had a dadgum blast.
Man, I'm glad to be able to be part of it.
Merry christmas, y'all.
Merry christmas, brother.
[dramatic music playing]
all right.
All right. Sit up straight. Don't be slouching.
Welcome back.
Here we are with our christmas drinks
in our bellies,
our christmas elves right in front of...
We have two elves and tiny tim.
God bless us, everyone.
All right, boys, we're gonna run down the drinks.
We can get it out. We've sampled right smart.
Tickle.
Beautiful presentation.
That's a great touch swabbing them lemon slices
down in the cherry juice.
I'd have probably went with the mint
instead of the rosemary,
but, you know, it's dealer's choice.
But all around, fine, adult beverage.
I think yours was an awful pretty color
to hide it in that mug.
The copper mugs are great
but you hid all that pretty color.
The cranberry, that was missing
a little bit of something,
but I think you hit it right on the money
with the proof.
The mixture was just right,
but it needed maybe a little sweeter
taste for me on it.
Mikey. Pretty presentation.
Damn fine job.
We didn't expect nothing else, didn't we?
I found it was very, very attractive.
Really appealing on the eye.
Plenty of liquor.
It wouldn't take but a couple of them
and your holiday cheer would be over.
But it looks good and it tastes good,
but I'd probably be toasted
after about two of them drinks.
Maybe should have blended it in the mixer
and then poured it in.
But, hey, still a good job.
Josh...
You gotta be your own worst enemy.
You built a beautiful drink.
You could have done a little more on your presentation.
But the agave nectar with that pineapple juice
had just the right amount of alcohol.
-Appreciate it. -[digger] damn fine job.
-It was great. -It was like
drinking lemonade, really.
I mean, you did a really good job
at like masking your moonshine.
Plus, you had a hundred and ten proof.
It was really good.
-Thank you. -I'd like to get more of it.
-Thank you. -You done a heck of a job.
But that little tantrum that you throw down...
-I wasn't throwing a tantrum. -Just a minute.
I was trying to figure out what to do.
Shh. Adults are talking.
The little tantrum
has got you on the naughty list for a year.
What are you gonna do about that?
I promise I wasn't pouting. I was just trying
to figure out what to do and I was thinking,
-"I gotta taste this drink." -well, this wasn't call,
big boy. This was santa's call.
I don't catch no slack from y'all.
Let's light this candle, digger.
Yup. We got somebody that needs to be made a winner.
[intense music playing]
josh, you won the cocktail challenge, bro.
Yes. I did it. Oh, yeah.
[mike] don't break another foot.
Don't break the other damn leg.
Hotdog!
Well, today, I actually won master distiller
and it feels pretty good.
It kind of feels like it's a christmas miracle.
Now, you gotta eat every bite of this
in one sitting.
It ain't no fruitcake, is it?
[digger] well, maybe.
[dramatic music playing]
ho ho ho. Merry christmas.
[laughter]
yes.
The last thing I expected out of this little bitty box
was jb's head to come out of it.
That was an even better christmas present.
-Good job, boss man. -Congratulations, bro.
Yeah. I appreciate it. And all I can say
is josh has got a wealth of moonshine knowledge
to take home with him.
Boys, I'm thirsty.
-Hell yeah. -[laughter]
that's the winning... That's the winning glass
-right in there. -Those three dudes, man,
we was in there having a blast together.
Couldn't be competing with better guys
in the whole wide world.
I'm as happy as I can be.
Fellers, I'm having a good time.
-Ho ho ho, brother. -Good to see, man.
There can only be one master distiller
in these competitions.
And this year, I won it.
Merry christmas to everyone.
-Cheers, mikey. -Cheers, marky.
-Merry christmas. -Merry christmas, buddy.
Merry christmas, digger.
-Merry christmas, rader. -Yeah.
Merry christmas, rader. Yeah. Merry christmas.
-Merry christmas, tim. -Merry christmas.
Merry christmas.
-And happy holidays. -Congratulations.
-I sure love all y'all. -[cheering]
happy holidays.
Get over here and build us another drink.
[laughter]