Stephen Ray Tickle, best known simply as “Tickle” to fans of the hit Discovery Channel series Moonshiners, has lived a life as colorful as the liquor he once distilled in secret. After years of brushes with the law and personal struggles, the charismatic distiller has turned over a new leaf, finding stability in marriage and new opportunities outside of illegal moonshining.
A Moonshiner’s Early Life
Born on November 30, 1976, in Southwest Carolina to Louise Elaine Keller and Larry Craig Tickle, Tickle grew up in Dry Fork, Virginia, raised mostly by his mother alongside three brothers after his father became an invalid. After graduating from Tunstall High School, he trained as a carpenter, working on projects like Clyde’s American Bar and Restaurant in Washington, D.C.
His early life, however, was marked by hardships that would later influence the decisions that led him into moonshining.
Rising to Fame — and Infamy
Tickle’s skills in traditional distilling were honed in Danville, Virginia, where he learned the craft from older relatives. His partnership with master moonshiner Tim Smith eventually led them both to star in Moonshiners, a reality TV series that captured the risky lives of Appalachian distillers.
Despite the popularity of the show, Tickle’s personal life was troubled. He was arrested multiple times, beginning in 2013 with a public intoxication charge in Danville. More seriously, in 2015, he was arrested for possession of a sawed-off shotgun, a felony under Virginia law, resulting in a suspended three-year prison sentence — later revoked due to a probation violation involving cocaine use, leading to five months of actual jail time.
Finding a New Path
Tickle’s time behind bars proved a turning point. With the support of longtime friend Tim Smith and his own determination, he chose to leave his old ways behind. Upon his release, Tickle vowed to stay out of trouble and took on legitimate work in the distilling industry.
In 2019, he married bail bondswoman Carol Ann — a woman he humorously claimed chased him for six years before he agreed to a date. The wedding, attended by family, friends, and Moonshiners castmates, marked a fresh start. Tickle credits Carol for grounding him, saying, “She gives me a reason to stand up and be the man I am today.”
Life Today
Today, Tickle remains a fan favorite on Moonshiners. He has partnered with Sugarland Distilling Company to produce “Tickle’s Dynamite Cinnamon,” a 70-proof legal moonshine available online and in select stores.
Beyond the show, he and Carol share their life and passions through their YouTube channel, The Tickles, featuring videos on cooking, traditions, and behind-the-scenes moments. Tickle also actively promotes Moonshiners and supports his wife’s autobiography and book series Cat the Bounty Huntress.
Healthy, happy, and thriving, Stephen Ray Tickle stands as living proof that even the wildest of spirits can find peace — and that sometimes, the best brew in life is the one aged with hard lessons and second chances.
