In a high-stakes move to rescue his struggling distillery, famed moonshiner-turned-legal distiller Tim Smith is going back to his roots — and forward into bold, uncharted territory — with the launch of a brand-new honey raspberry whiskey under his Climax Spirits label.
Once a beloved outlaw brand born deep in the Appalachian woods, Climax Moonshine saw its sales plummet in recent years, leaving Smith fighting to keep his employees paid and his father’s legacy alive. Now, the man once chased by revenuers is putting everything on the line with a one-shot recipe gamble he hopes will capture the taste buds of a younger generation.
“This ain’t just about makin’ shine,” Smith said. “This is about savin’ my family’s legacy, my business, and all the folks who depend on me.”
Mash of the Moment: Tradition Meets Innovation
On the banks of a quiet creek in Culpeper County — where Smith’s moonshining story began — he and longtime friend and partner Howard “Still Hands” Howard fired up the still to cook a mash like no other. The recipe starts with Smith’s original Climax grain bill — corn, rye, and malted barley — but takes a radical turn with the addition of pure Virginia honey and, after much deliberation, ripe red raspberries.
With only one bucket of honey and no room for error, Smith used a refractometer to track sugar content with scientific precision. The goal: a mash with just the right sweetness to carry the honey’s natural flavor without overwhelming the spirit. After a string of failed fruit pairings — apple, pear, even blueberry — raspberry finally hit the sweet spot.
“That raspberry gave us what we were missin’,” Howard said. “You taste it, and boom — you get the honey, the berry, and the grain all standin’ tall together.”
“Liquid Gold or Bust”
After days of testing and tweaking, the team set up the still on the creek bank — true to tradition — and began the final run. Into the thumper went the honey and fresh raspberries, designed to intensify the flavor as alcohol vapor passed through.
When the first drops hit the jar, the excitement was palpable.
“That’s the money, honey!” Smith shouted, catching the clear spirit in a mason jar and holding it to the light.
Early taste tests proved promising: a smooth, bold flavor profile that retained Climax’s signature bite while offering a sweet new twist. The honey smoothed the finish, while the raspberry added a fresh, fruity kick.
“It’s top shelf,” said Smith. “Ain’t nothin’ else like it out there.”
A Gamble with Everything on the Line
For Smith, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Sales of his original Climax Moonshine have dipped sharply in recent years, as the market has shifted toward flavored spirits and larger, well-funded competitors dominate shelf space.
With this new Honey Raspberry Whiskey, Smith hopes to carve out a niche that blends authenticity with modern appeal.
“This ain’t about copyin’ the big guys. It’s about doin’ what we do best — makin’ damn good whiskey with real ingredients and real heart.”
He added, “If this don’t work, I might be back in the woods.”
What’s Next?
Smith plans to bottle the new spirit within the month and begin limited regional distribution across Virginia and neighboring states. If it catches on, national rollout could follow — giving Climax a much-needed lifeline.
Fans can expect to see Climax Honey Raspberry Whiskey hit shelves later this summer.
As for the next batch?
“I reckon we’ll be makin’ more,” Smith grinned. “The bees already know where to find me.”
