Deep in the Tennessee hills, legacy and loyalty are alive and well as Mark and Digger return a decades-old favor to a moonshining legend. After raking in $6,000 from their latest run, the duo set their sights on helping their mentor — JB Raider, now in his 80s — fire up one more batch of honeycrisp apple shine.
JB, who once ran with the iconic Popcorn Sutton, needed a custom fix for a tricky batch. With solid apples soaking in his mash, the risk of scorching on thin copper was real. The solution? A custom “hoop burner” designed to keep the solids off the flame while preserving flavor.
“I got all the faith in the world in you puss,” JB said, his trademark grit on full display.
🔥 THE HOOP BURNER GETS ITS MAIDEN RUN
The new burner — raised a full foot above the pot’s base — created a circular flame designed to heat evenly and avoid charring the solids. After some fine-tuning and a bit of banter (“three fingers wide, but my fingers ain’t fat like yours!”), the rig was set and ready.
Once the fire was lit, blue flame roared from the hoop. JB took a step back, tugged his whiskers in, and waited.
“If it don’t work,” he said, “we’re just four turds sitting here with burnt liquor.”
But it did work. Smooth, potent, and full of honey apple flavor, JB declared it “one of the best apple liquors that’s ever been.” His partner Kelly was nearly brought to tears.
“I saw myself in a faraway place,” Kelly muttered, glass in hand. “That’s mission accomplished.”
🚚 THE LEGACY LIQUOR MOVES ON — DANIEL STEPS UP AS BOOTLEGGER
With JB’s batch a success, Mark and Digger turned their attention back to business. They had another order ready for pickup — and their trusted bootlegger Daniel showed up right on time.
Daniel, who’s been butting heads with a rival named Mike, took possession of 55–58 gallons of Popcorn Sutton Legacy Liquor, bound for thirsty customers beyond Sevier County.
“If I keep this up, I can starve Mike out,” Daniel grinned. “That suits me just fine.”
Mark and Digger made one thing clear: the liquor becomes Daniel’s responsibility the second it leaves the site — skirting any county commitments they’ve sworn to uphold.
📦 A HEAVY LOAD AND A STRATEGIC PLAY
Despite some struggle hauling full barrels out of a tight hole in the mountain, the job got done — with a few sore backs and laughs along the way.
“Maybe we should’ve had four barrels half full,” Digger mused as Daniel grunted under the weight.
In the end, what matters is the liquor keeps flowing, the legacy stays alive, and trust holds firm between old friends and new partners. The operation is growing, even if it’s not quite in the original business plan.
“Opportunity’s here,” Digger said. “And a good businessman seizes every good opportunity.”
