The Spirit of FDR: Moonshiners Honor the President Who Ended Prohibition With Georgia Peach Brandy Challenge

The Spirit of FDR: Moonshiners Honor the President Who Ended Prohibition With Georgia Peach Brandy Challenge

On a special President’s Day episode that mixed history with high-proof tradition, America’s favorite outlaw distillers tipped their hats—and their jars—to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the president who famously repealed Prohibition in 1933. The occasion? A moonshine showdown like no other, honoring FDR’s favorite sipper: Georgia Peach Brandy.

As the story goes, while the world assumed Roosevelt was sipping moonshine behind closed doors, his real drink of choice was a smooth, fruit-forward peach brandy distilled down South. And in this tribute challenge, three veteran shiners—Josh Owens, Howard Thompson, and Kelly Williamson—set out to recreate that presidential pour, running their own custom mashes and crafting cocktail-worthy concoctions in FDR’s honor.

A Toast to the Chief—and the Craft

The day kicked off with host Tim Smith presenting each distiller with a jar of “FDR-approved Georgia Peach Brandy,” giving them a benchmark to aim for. With no access to fresh Georgia peaches or original water sources, the odds were stacked against them—but moonshiners are nothing if not resourceful.

“I’m just a good old country boy from North Carolina,” Josh Owens grinned as he fired up his still. “But I’m going to do FDR proud.”

Howard, a Virginia native with years of distilling under his belt, approached the task with quiet confidence. “I feel like I got something presidential,” he said, dialing in his run.

Kelly from Cosby, Tennessee, took a hands-on approach, filtering, charring, and straining his way to a crystal-clear base. “What an honor,” he said, “to pay tribute to the man who made it legal to do what we do.”

The Peach Brandy Showdown

As the stills cooled and the jars lined up, the judges went to work, sniffing, sipping, and swapping notes. The results? A mixed bag of flavor, fire, and finesse:

• Kelly surprised everyone with a smooth, flavor-heavy spirit, despite working with frozen peaches. “It’s got zero fire on the back end,” one judge noted. “Real backbone with flavor all the way through.”

• Josh delivered a high-proof punch—clear, clean, and strong—but with minimal peach flavor. “It’s more moonshine than brandy,” the judges agreed. “Good liquor, but not quite fruity enough.”

• Howard found the middle ground, using peach purée to create a well-balanced, aromatic spirit. “Great nose, great taste,” they said. But the presentation? Not so much. “This is the dirtiest jar we’ve ever seen,” one judge laughed, noting the fingerprints and sticky residue.

Despite the critiques, the panel praised all three for crafting standout spirits using unconventional ingredients—and for channeling the ingenuity that defines Appalachian distilling.

Presidential Praise for the Modern-Day Repealers

In the end, the episode wasn’t just about competition. It was a tribute to freedom, heritage, and craft. The repeal of Prohibition in 1933 changed the course of American history—and in a way, so did the moonshiners who kept the flame burning through those dry years.

As one judge put it:

“All three of these rascals made something special. FDR would’ve been proud to pour any one of these in his glass.”

Whether it was the flavor of peaches or the fire of rebellion, this episode served up a bold reminder of what it means to honor the past while keeping tradition alive.

Stay tuned next week for more outlaw spirits, backwoods brewing, and untold stories of America’s oldest art form: moonshining.