For years, longtime moonshiners Tim Smith and Steven Ray Tickle—better known simply as “Tickle”—have operated as one of the most recognizable partnerships in the world of backwoods whiskey. Together they’ve weathered raids, rivalries, and the constant threat of jail time, building a reputation as craftsmen of the old Appalachian tradition. But now, their bond is being tested like never before. A decision looms: take the legitimate path into licensed distilling or slip back into the shadows of the forest for one last illegal run.
The two men stand at a crossroads. Tim, disciplined and stubbornly determined, has poured his energy into establishing a licensed distillery that could finally secure his dream of going mainstream. Tickle, on the other hand, is restless, skeptical of waiting years for profits, and unwilling to abandon the methods that made them legends. What began as a difference in business philosophy has escalated into a rift threatening to tear apart their friendship.
A Risky Surprise
Tickle, eager to prove his worth and speed things along, hatched a plan he thought would impress his partner. Without telling Tim, he arranged for a bulk order of glass jugs—vital containers for bottling moonshine—and drove out in the dead of night to pick them up. By the time he finally rolled back into camp, the back of his truck groaned under the weight of nearly 800 jugs stacked and rattling with every bump in the road.
But instead of gratitude, his arrival sparked irritation.
“I told Tickle yesterday to be here at 7:00 a.m.,” Tim said, visibly frustrated as the morning dragged on. “It’s now after 10:30, and we’re way behind. We’re already a month late finishing the distillery, and I needed him helping with that—not running off on another wild errand.”
To Tim, the jugs weren’t a gift—they were a liability.
Law Enforcement Closing In
The risk wasn’t just wasted time. Deputy Sheriff Chuck and local law enforcement have long kept a wary eye on the region. For seasoned investigators, large shipments of glass containers are as suspicious as the scent of corn mash drifting through the woods.
“Most of our busts start with a simple observation,” Chuck explained. “A year ago, we had a guy in town buying up gallon jugs and quart jars, and he didn’t have so much as a tomato plant to can. When folks are moving that many glass containers without a garden to go with it, it’s usually not pickles they’re planning to make.”
Tim knows this all too well. He’s been burned before, and with the stakes higher than ever, he can’t afford the kind of exposure Tickle just risked. “Man, I’ve already got all the jugs I need,” Tim warned sharply. “You keep this up, and you’re going to end up in jail. And if you go down, you could drag me right down with you.”
Breaking Ranks
While Tim remains laser-focused on legitimizing their craft, Tickle argues that they can’t survive on patience alone. The distillery is still unfinished, and money is running thin. To Tickle, the solution is simple: one or two old-fashioned runs back in the woods could generate enough quick cash to finish the job and keep them afloat.
“We need money now,” Tickle insisted. “At the pace we’re working, it could be two or three years before the steelhouse is done. If we do a couple quick batches, we could wrap this whole thing up in less than a year.”
But Tim’s mind is made up. “I’m not taking that risk,” he said firmly. “I’ve worked too hard to go legit. One mistake, one bust, and it’s all over. Everything I’ve built, gone.”
The clash of philosophies—patience versus risk, law versus outlaw—has left them at an impasse.
Trust on Thin Ice
What makes the situation more volatile is the fragile thread of trust that binds moonshiners together. In an illegal trade where betrayal often leads to prison—or worse—loyalty is everything.
“In this business, you’ve got to know who you can trust,” Tim reflected. “Trust is like love. You can’t buy it, you can’t fake it—you’ve got to earn it. And once it’s broken, you don’t get it back. If someone turns on you, that’s not just bad for business—it can get you killed.”
Tickle, growing more isolated by the day, knows the message is aimed at him. Feeling alienated, he made his stance clear. “I see now you’re not going to be part of this,” he said. “But I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do.”
A Dangerous Fork in the Road
The two men now face a dangerous future, torn between the promise of legitimacy and the temptation of fast, illegal cash. For Tim, walking the straight path is the only way to protect his dream. For Tickle, that same path feels like a slow march toward ruin.
As the pressure mounts and law enforcement circles closer, their partnership teeters on the edge of collapse. Will they find a way to reconcile their visions—or will the lure of moonshine’s dark side drive them apart for good?
One thing is certain: the next move they make could define not just their partnership, but the rest of their lives.
