As moonshining season kicks off in the hills of Tennessee, veteran distillers Mark and Digger are feeling the burn—but not just from their high-proof liquor. The duo, featured on the hit series Moonshiners, are facing skyrocketing costs that threaten their time-honored craft.
“We paid ten bucks a bag for corn last year. Now it’s 25,” Digger lamented. “At that price, we can’t sell liquor at a reasonable fee.”
The effects of inflation have gripped every element of the backwoods operation—corn, sugar, fuel, and even copper have soared in cost. With copper pushing $300 a sheet, the risk of theft has also increased. Mark and Digger took to the woods this week on a “still scavenger hunt,” retrieving parts and equipment from hidden sites before thieves could find them.
“This copper’s as good as gold out here,” said Mark as they recovered valuable pots used in past runs. “These ain’t just stills. They’re history.”
WATER WOES AS BEST SPRING IS SABOTAGED
In a devastating blow, the pair discovered that their prized English Mountain spring—the source for their signature Tennessee whiskey—had been compromised. A vital water pipe was deliberately sawed off.
“This water’s irreplaceable,” said Digger. “It’s the cornerstone of our whiskey.”
The vandalism has forced the team to search for a new limestone-rich water source, a task that may take weeks, if not longer.
FARMING FOR FREEDOM: SHINERS PLANT THEIR FUTURE
With rising prices for raw ingredients, Mark and Digger are taking matters into their own hands—literally. Turning to farming, they plan to grow their own corn on an old family farmstead.
Teaming up with local farmer Jeff Marsh, the duo evaluated several heirloom corn varieties, ultimately selecting the Earth Tone Flint—a high-starch corn with deep roots in Appalachian history.
“Grains are artwork,” Jeff explained, showing off the multi-colored kernels. “This one’s been used in these mountains since the pioneers.”
Jeff struck a deal with the shiners—he’ll prep the land and provide the seed in exchange for 10% of the final product. Mark and Digger agreed, marking a return to the old ways of bartering and kinship that define mountain culture.
MOONSHINING ROOTED IN TRADITION
Despite modern setbacks, Mark and Digger remain committed to their craft.
“These stills, this corn, the water—every part of it tells a story,” said Mark. “It’s not the Roman Empire or Stonehenge, but it’s our history.”
And with new corn in the ground, fresh water to be found, and the spirit of the Smokies behind them, these shiners are ready to fire up the still once more.
“Come what may,” said Digger, “we’ll keep making liquor the right way.”
