1 00:00:06,374 --> 00:00:08,841 [narrator] this time on moonshiners... 2 00:00:08,843 --> 00:00:12,211 This is popcorn's old still site in north carolina. 3 00:00:12,213 --> 00:00:16,148 I ain't never in my life hauled water to a still site. 4 00:00:16,150 --> 00:00:18,250 If we stay here, it's going to kill our season. 5 00:00:18,252 --> 00:00:19,885 [digger] this is insane. 6 00:00:19,887 --> 00:00:22,321 We've got to get off this still site and get closer to home. 7 00:00:22,323 --> 00:00:24,823 [mark] we thought we'd put brandy into the wine, 8 00:00:24,825 --> 00:00:26,191 make a lot more product, 9 00:00:26,193 --> 00:00:27,326 and a whole lot more of money. 10 00:00:27,328 --> 00:00:29,661 Wouldn't hurt to put a tad more of that in it. 11 00:00:29,663 --> 00:00:31,830 But we're down to our last gallon. 12 00:00:31,832 --> 00:00:35,968 And if we could get this mixed up right, may be up a creek without a paddle. 13 00:00:35,970 --> 00:00:37,336 [james on phone] they said they want the green one, 14 00:00:37,338 --> 00:00:38,904 the absinthe, man. 15 00:00:38,906 --> 00:00:41,106 This guy wants absinthe. I've never made anything like this before. 16 00:00:41,108 --> 00:00:44,576 -[richard] that's wormwood. -Oh, my, it tastes like a worm. 17 00:00:46,414 --> 00:00:49,415 [mark] this is how we make the moonshine! 18 00:00:49,884 --> 00:00:51,450 [digger groans] 19 00:00:54,288 --> 00:00:55,854 [mark] have you talked to daniel? 20 00:00:55,856 --> 00:00:58,824 [digger] I have. He's going to meet us up here on the highway. 21 00:00:58,826 --> 00:01:01,126 [narrator] in cocke county, tennessee, 22 00:01:01,128 --> 00:01:04,396 after police raided their small warehouse still site, 23 00:01:04,398 --> 00:01:07,966 mark and digger sneak back under cover of darkness 24 00:01:07,968 --> 00:01:11,403 to fill up on their most precious ingredient. 25 00:01:11,405 --> 00:01:13,372 We got to have that limestone water. 26 00:01:13,374 --> 00:01:14,306 We got to have it. 27 00:01:14,308 --> 00:01:15,874 The thing about this is 28 00:01:15,876 --> 00:01:18,243 if the chief of police gets wind of this, 29 00:01:18,245 --> 00:01:21,146 he will bring the damn vengeance. 30 00:01:21,148 --> 00:01:23,749 One of the big deals about tennessee whiskey, as anybody knows, 31 00:01:23,751 --> 00:01:25,350 is limestone water. 32 00:01:25,352 --> 00:01:28,687 That sweeter water quality that goes along with limestone water, 33 00:01:28,689 --> 00:01:30,389 it pairs well with that corn 34 00:01:30,391 --> 00:01:33,025 and it brings it to the forefront really strong. 35 00:01:33,027 --> 00:01:35,027 It's crucial we get this water. 36 00:01:35,029 --> 00:01:38,063 If we don't, we can't make anymore tennessee whiskey. 37 00:01:40,201 --> 00:01:42,367 [mark] hey, daniel, how are you doing, boss? 38 00:01:42,369 --> 00:01:45,137 [daniel] well, I generally know if you're calling me, 39 00:01:45,139 --> 00:01:46,939 you got something on your mind, so. 40 00:01:46,941 --> 00:01:49,108 Well, we're up a stump. 41 00:01:49,110 --> 00:01:51,410 -Okay. -[digger] we was making our tennessee whiskey 42 00:01:51,412 --> 00:01:52,878 down there in town. 43 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:54,913 We got a visit with the police. 44 00:01:54,915 --> 00:01:56,148 That ain't no good, never. 45 00:01:56,150 --> 00:01:57,749 [digger] and we've been evicted. 46 00:01:57,751 --> 00:02:00,385 We got a still site, daniel, across the mountain. 47 00:02:00,387 --> 00:02:02,654 [digger] but we need this rascal here filled up 48 00:02:02,656 --> 00:02:05,023 with that water, so we can build a little mash. 49 00:02:05,025 --> 00:02:07,793 [mark] we'd like to take your truck with the tote in it. 50 00:02:07,795 --> 00:02:09,128 We'll take it down there 51 00:02:09,130 --> 00:02:11,063 and we'll pump the water in it. 52 00:02:11,065 --> 00:02:12,731 They don't know your truck 53 00:02:12,733 --> 00:02:16,468 and they won't have any reason to stop her and check that truck. 54 00:02:16,470 --> 00:02:20,305 We're just going to stake you out down there on top of a building. 55 00:02:20,307 --> 00:02:22,241 If you see the cops headed our way, 56 00:02:22,243 --> 00:02:23,375 just give us a heads up. 57 00:02:23,377 --> 00:02:25,043 [digger] this is a big ask, so we got 58 00:02:25,045 --> 00:02:27,913 -the big resolve for it. -All right. 59 00:02:27,915 --> 00:02:32,050 So we want to bring you in as a partner on this run of tennessee whiskey. 60 00:02:32,853 --> 00:02:35,220 I need to know right there, you in or you out? 61 00:02:36,257 --> 00:02:39,424 Well, hell, that ain't hard to decide. I'm in. 62 00:02:40,027 --> 00:02:41,226 Good deal. 63 00:02:41,228 --> 00:02:43,929 [daniel] given the heat that the local police 64 00:02:43,931 --> 00:02:45,998 and everything has got on mark and digger, 65 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:48,367 it's kind of risky doing this for them. 66 00:02:48,369 --> 00:02:51,203 A lot of the times, though, you'll find out in life 67 00:02:51,205 --> 00:02:53,172 that the risk is worth the reward. 68 00:02:54,775 --> 00:02:56,108 We're here, boys. 69 00:02:56,110 --> 00:02:59,077 Daniel's role is he's going to be a lookout. 70 00:02:59,079 --> 00:03:02,414 If he spots something that might be a threat to us, he'll let us know 71 00:03:02,416 --> 00:03:04,616 and then we can make ourselves scarce, hopefully. 72 00:03:08,889 --> 00:03:09,821 [digger] let's get this [bleep] done. 73 00:03:09,823 --> 00:03:12,024 [mark] yeah. 74 00:03:12,026 --> 00:03:14,993 [daniel] I'm heading up to this big, tall building, where I can look down 75 00:03:14,995 --> 00:03:17,462 and make sure that there's no cops or anything. 76 00:03:18,499 --> 00:03:20,966 [mark] well, the plan is digger and I will 77 00:03:20,968 --> 00:03:22,968 sink the pump in the spring, 78 00:03:22,970 --> 00:03:25,103 pump the water in the tote. 79 00:03:25,105 --> 00:03:27,406 All right, I'd say the coast is clear. 80 00:03:27,875 --> 00:03:28,941 Got you, man. 81 00:03:28,943 --> 00:03:30,676 You know, pumping water 82 00:03:30,678 --> 00:03:31,910 is not illegal, 83 00:03:31,912 --> 00:03:34,046 but we've already tempted fate 84 00:03:34,048 --> 00:03:36,515 and we've been warned by the chief of police. 85 00:03:36,517 --> 00:03:39,918 We're, kind of, reneging on our word by coming back here. 86 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:43,222 If the police find us, we'll be in even more trouble. 87 00:03:43,224 --> 00:03:45,891 [mark] I'm a pigeon and I'm a nervous wreck. 88 00:03:45,893 --> 00:03:49,127 If this is the stuff we got to go through to make liquor, really. 89 00:03:50,030 --> 00:03:52,130 [daniel] I'm seeing a black suv. 90 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:55,234 [digger] oh, damn it. Where's he going? 91 00:03:55,236 --> 00:03:56,201 I can't see. 92 00:03:56,203 --> 00:03:59,137 He's just, he's a creeping in, yeah. 93 00:04:01,208 --> 00:04:03,375 -[mark] oh, hell. -[digger] oh, hell. Get to that side. 94 00:04:03,978 --> 00:04:05,177 Radio silence. 95 00:04:06,413 --> 00:04:08,580 Man, he's looking around here at us. 96 00:04:11,118 --> 00:04:13,418 Damn, if that's the undercover, they're had. 97 00:04:21,095 --> 00:04:22,194 [mark] he's backing up. 98 00:04:26,267 --> 00:04:27,399 [mark] he's getting out. 99 00:04:28,869 --> 00:04:31,236 He's going on, he's going west. 100 00:04:31,238 --> 00:04:34,306 [daniel] it looks to me like he's leaving right now. 101 00:04:34,308 --> 00:04:36,375 That don't do nothing for my wet drawers right now, though. 102 00:04:36,377 --> 00:04:38,410 [digger] well, you know, the lucky thing about it, 103 00:04:38,412 --> 00:04:40,779 while this guy was cleaning his fingernails in his car, 104 00:04:40,781 --> 00:04:42,648 whatever he's doing, this tote filled up. 105 00:04:42,650 --> 00:04:44,349 We've got all the water, we can haul. 106 00:04:44,351 --> 00:04:45,951 Let's get the hell out of here. 107 00:04:45,953 --> 00:04:48,253 Next thing is we're heading out bright early in the morning, 108 00:04:48,255 --> 00:04:51,890 north carolina, to make a little liquor out of this limestone water. 109 00:04:51,892 --> 00:04:53,692 [mark] what do you say we skedaddle, old buddy? 110 00:04:53,694 --> 00:04:55,227 [daniel] we'll get the hell out of here. 111 00:05:05,339 --> 00:05:07,205 [mark] hey, you can't see nothing from over here, huh? 112 00:05:07,207 --> 00:05:09,241 We get to running, though, we might cut 113 00:05:09,243 --> 00:05:11,343 a piece of laurel through this trail. 114 00:05:11,345 --> 00:05:13,445 [narrator] in graham county, north carolina, 115 00:05:13,447 --> 00:05:17,082 after spending last season helping those in need, 116 00:05:17,084 --> 00:05:19,151 mark and huck kick off the year 117 00:05:19,153 --> 00:05:22,187 by rebuilding capital with an old favorite. 118 00:05:22,189 --> 00:05:23,755 Now people are getting back to work, 119 00:05:23,757 --> 00:05:25,557 now things are getting back to normal. 120 00:05:26,927 --> 00:05:28,694 People getting little money in their pocket. 121 00:05:28,696 --> 00:05:31,396 Usually we just, you know, make corn liquor and brandy, 122 00:05:31,398 --> 00:05:35,233 you know, but this year we thought we'd make some good fortified wine. 123 00:05:35,235 --> 00:05:36,735 Our old buddy, steve, said he had 124 00:05:36,737 --> 00:05:39,671 about a hundred pounds of good quality grapes. 125 00:05:39,673 --> 00:05:42,974 What we're going to do with these grapes is work it off into wine, 126 00:05:42,976 --> 00:05:46,645 use about half of it to distill, make it into brandy. 127 00:05:47,247 --> 00:05:48,313 Getting water, huck? 128 00:05:48,315 --> 00:05:50,115 [huck] got plenty! 129 00:05:50,117 --> 00:05:53,218 [mark] then we're going to take our brandy and pour it back into our wine. 130 00:05:53,220 --> 00:05:55,287 That's what they call a fortified wine. 131 00:05:55,289 --> 00:05:56,955 It's got a real good taste. 132 00:05:56,957 --> 00:05:59,391 Still good and stout. Make a lot more product 133 00:05:59,393 --> 00:06:01,259 and a whole lot more of money, too. 134 00:06:01,261 --> 00:06:04,029 So our old buddy, steve, we're going to go check him out 135 00:06:04,031 --> 00:06:05,397 and see what he's got. 136 00:06:06,667 --> 00:06:10,168 [narrator] fortified wine traces back to the roman empire, 137 00:06:10,170 --> 00:06:15,340 but its use increased during europe's golden age of sail in the 1700s, 138 00:06:15,342 --> 00:06:19,010 because the product's high proof saved on cargo space 139 00:06:19,012 --> 00:06:23,148 and ensured it wouldn't spoil on long ocean voyages. 140 00:06:23,150 --> 00:06:27,219 The heady mix of liquor and wine quickly gained widespread popularity 141 00:06:27,221 --> 00:06:30,756 and became all the rage on the mainland. 142 00:06:30,758 --> 00:06:35,761 Today, fortified wine is commonly consumed in the states as vermouth, 143 00:06:35,763 --> 00:06:40,132 the staple and cocktails like the martini and the manhattan. 144 00:06:40,134 --> 00:06:43,068 It can also be drunk on its own as a sherry, 145 00:06:43,070 --> 00:06:45,003 port or madeira wine. 146 00:06:46,373 --> 00:06:47,406 Oh, look at that, boss. 147 00:06:47,408 --> 00:06:49,808 Damn pretty, ain't it? Yes, spring time 148 00:06:49,810 --> 00:06:52,911 and grapes ain't in season yet here, 149 00:06:52,913 --> 00:06:55,147 our old buddy, steve, he went into mexico 150 00:06:55,149 --> 00:06:58,083 and he brings them back to these fruit stands and sells them. 151 00:06:58,085 --> 00:06:59,151 But he had some extra. 152 00:06:59,153 --> 00:07:01,019 We wound up getting them from him. 153 00:07:01,021 --> 00:07:03,955 -What do you want for them? -[steve] last year y'all made that juice for me. 154 00:07:03,957 --> 00:07:05,957 If you want to put a jar or something in there, 155 00:07:05,959 --> 00:07:08,293 when you got it back, that'd be fine. There ain't no hurry for it. 156 00:07:08,295 --> 00:07:10,128 Make a little fortified wine, there. 157 00:07:10,130 --> 00:07:11,229 -[steve] yeah. -[mark] yeah, this might be 158 00:07:11,231 --> 00:07:13,165 a pretty good thing for me and huck. 159 00:07:13,167 --> 00:07:16,868 We'd be the first ones to be able to make some liquor out of grapes this year. 160 00:07:16,870 --> 00:07:18,470 -[mark] thank you, man. -[steve] thank you, mark. 161 00:07:18,472 --> 00:07:20,038 -Thank you, huck. -[huck] steve, appreciate it. 162 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:21,339 Yes. Fortified wine. 163 00:07:21,341 --> 00:07:23,842 It's in between a good brandy and a wine, too, 164 00:07:23,844 --> 00:07:26,611 so it should be some of the best liquor we ever made. 165 00:07:40,627 --> 00:07:42,561 [richard] man, you see the fish jumping in this bayou? 166 00:07:42,563 --> 00:07:44,963 [craig] there's a whole lot of things in that bayou, fish, 167 00:07:44,965 --> 00:07:46,665 alligators, turtles. 168 00:07:46,667 --> 00:07:48,733 [richard] stop. I ain't eaten lunch yet. Let's go. 169 00:07:48,735 --> 00:07:51,036 [narrator] in new iberia, louisiana, 170 00:07:51,038 --> 00:07:55,106 richard and his brother craig are returning to their still site, 171 00:07:55,108 --> 00:07:59,678 as the rainy season turns to moonshine season on the bayou. 172 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:01,112 [richard] everybody wants a good drink. 173 00:08:01,114 --> 00:08:03,582 I've been having people coming to me left and right. 174 00:08:03,584 --> 00:08:06,818 Hey, can I get some? Can I get some? So this is the time right now 175 00:08:06,820 --> 00:08:09,321 that we're going to get out here and we're going to produce some liquor. 176 00:08:09,323 --> 00:08:10,822 It's a lot of growth over here. 177 00:08:10,824 --> 00:08:12,157 We ought to have a lot of shade back here. 178 00:08:12,159 --> 00:08:14,392 It's been a couple of months since we've been at the old site, 179 00:08:14,394 --> 00:08:16,428 so we're gonna go over there and see what we got going on. 180 00:08:16,430 --> 00:08:18,096 Look at this mud, craig. 181 00:08:18,098 --> 00:08:19,898 -[richard] oh, my goodness. -[craig] all right. 182 00:08:19,900 --> 00:08:21,299 -So, we're underwater. -[richard] damn! 183 00:08:21,301 --> 00:08:23,268 Our spot from last year, 184 00:08:23,270 --> 00:08:25,904 it's currently sitting in a couple of inches of water. 185 00:08:25,906 --> 00:08:27,539 I'm not going to deal with this right here. 186 00:08:27,541 --> 00:08:30,208 It's a no go. We're going to have to find another spot. 187 00:08:30,210 --> 00:08:32,477 Let's see if there's something else, man, we could deal with. 188 00:08:33,680 --> 00:08:36,147 This area right here is just a little bit too wide open. 189 00:08:36,149 --> 00:08:37,249 Let's see what we can do over here. 190 00:08:37,251 --> 00:08:38,984 Stay pretty close to the bayou, 191 00:08:38,986 --> 00:08:41,152 because that's our main thing, having this cold water. 192 00:08:41,154 --> 00:08:44,956 That's why we're here, not to drink, but for a condenser, it's a1. 193 00:08:44,958 --> 00:08:46,858 I like this little area right here. 194 00:08:46,860 --> 00:08:49,327 It's hidden enough. We got a little brush here. 195 00:08:49,329 --> 00:08:51,830 What we're going to have to do is build a deck or something 196 00:08:51,832 --> 00:08:53,632 to put everything on, so we don't have to go through this. 197 00:08:53,634 --> 00:08:55,901 Even if it's muddy, we could come back here. 198 00:08:55,903 --> 00:08:58,837 This new spot, it's a little higher than the last part that we had. 199 00:08:58,839 --> 00:09:00,205 It's not muddy there. 200 00:09:00,207 --> 00:09:02,040 -[craig] twelve feet by eight feet. -[richard] perfect. 201 00:09:02,042 --> 00:09:03,208 There's enough room. 202 00:09:03,810 --> 00:09:04,843 What do you see? 203 00:09:04,845 --> 00:09:06,411 That is an alligator right there, son. 204 00:09:06,413 --> 00:09:08,680 I told you, I seen that big thing. 205 00:09:08,682 --> 00:09:10,348 [craig] if it come up here... 206 00:09:10,350 --> 00:09:12,284 We ain't got to worry about what we're going to eat 207 00:09:12,286 --> 00:09:14,152 for the rest of this week. I can promise you that. 208 00:09:14,154 --> 00:09:15,120 That will be over. 209 00:09:15,122 --> 00:09:17,088 This is a perfect spot. 210 00:09:17,891 --> 00:09:19,424 The faster we can get this site set up, 211 00:09:19,426 --> 00:09:21,726 man, the faster we can get some cash rolling. 212 00:09:21,728 --> 00:09:23,361 [cell phone ringing] 213 00:09:23,363 --> 00:09:25,597 -what's up, james? -[james on phone] hey, man, what's going on, rich? 214 00:09:25,599 --> 00:09:27,232 Nothing much, man. What's happening? 215 00:09:27,267 --> 00:09:29,734 [james on phone] oh, man, I'm down in new orleans, man, at a barbecue, man. 216 00:09:29,736 --> 00:09:31,136 I had a little bit of that shine with me, man, 217 00:09:31,138 --> 00:09:32,971 that moonshine the one that I got from you... 218 00:09:32,973 --> 00:09:34,806 -[richard] uh-huh. -[james on phone] my people tasted it, bro. 219 00:09:34,808 --> 00:09:36,107 Come on. What do they think? 220 00:09:36,143 --> 00:09:37,976 [james] oh, man, they loved it. And look, what else, man? 221 00:09:37,978 --> 00:09:39,778 They're wondering if you can get some more for them, 222 00:09:39,780 --> 00:09:40,979 you know, I told them, a little. 223 00:09:40,981 --> 00:09:42,314 -They want the green one. -Green? 224 00:09:42,316 --> 00:09:44,282 [james on phone] oh, yeah, green one, the absinthe, man. 225 00:09:44,284 --> 00:09:45,784 Oh, absinthe. 226 00:09:45,786 --> 00:09:47,118 [james] they said that's the good one, man. 227 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:48,386 From what I know about absinthe, 228 00:09:48,388 --> 00:09:50,322 it has a lot of ingredients in it. 229 00:09:50,324 --> 00:09:52,123 I've never made anything like this before. 230 00:09:52,125 --> 00:09:53,892 Definitely got to do some research on it. 231 00:09:53,894 --> 00:09:55,627 But I mean that stuff is expensive, man. 232 00:09:55,629 --> 00:09:58,296 -[james on phone] -you got that money, charged about 250 for a gallon. 233 00:10:00,267 --> 00:10:02,400 -We can do it. -[james on phone] we could make that money. 234 00:10:02,402 --> 00:10:04,803 All right. I appreciate it. I'll take care of you on the back end. 235 00:10:04,805 --> 00:10:06,204 [james on phone] all right. Thank you. 236 00:10:06,206 --> 00:10:07,339 All right, appreciate it, my brother. 237 00:10:07,341 --> 00:10:09,307 250 a gallon, that's not bad. 238 00:10:09,309 --> 00:10:11,943 No. But, what the hell is absinthe? What's in it? 239 00:10:11,945 --> 00:10:14,379 I know what's in it. Money. 240 00:10:14,381 --> 00:10:18,683 [narrator] absinthe, the legendary liquor known as the green fairy, 241 00:10:18,685 --> 00:10:22,520 has been shrouded in mystery and myth since it was first invented 242 00:10:22,522 --> 00:10:25,890 by a french doctor in the 1700s. 243 00:10:25,892 --> 00:10:30,395 A potent mix of grain, spirit, and over 12 herbs and botanicals 244 00:10:30,397 --> 00:10:32,864 give absinthe its licorice like flavor 245 00:10:32,866 --> 00:10:35,634 and evocative green hue. 246 00:10:35,636 --> 00:10:39,270 Absinthe was outlawed in 1912 in the united states 247 00:10:39,272 --> 00:10:43,041 when rumors spread that wormwood, the same ingredient 248 00:10:43,043 --> 00:10:46,211 that's said to give absinthe its psychedelic properties, 249 00:10:46,213 --> 00:10:48,179 caused madness. 250 00:10:48,181 --> 00:10:53,218 It was later discovered that no scientific evidence supported the claim. 251 00:10:53,220 --> 00:10:58,089 However, it wasn't until, nearly a century, later in 2007 252 00:10:58,091 --> 00:11:00,659 that the ban was finally lifted 253 00:11:00,661 --> 00:11:05,196 and americans could legally dance with the green fairy once again. 254 00:11:05,932 --> 00:11:07,699 Ain't nobody making no absinthe. 255 00:11:07,701 --> 00:11:09,634 New orleans is all about drinking. 256 00:11:09,636 --> 00:11:11,202 This is a new client and a new city. 257 00:11:11,204 --> 00:11:13,672 I mean, this is the type of customers we're looking for. 258 00:11:13,674 --> 00:11:16,775 If this works, this can open up a whole big market for us. 259 00:11:16,777 --> 00:11:18,309 We got to set up this still site. 260 00:11:18,311 --> 00:11:20,445 I'm gonna leave this here. We're going to let this alligator know 261 00:11:20,447 --> 00:11:21,746 we're here now. 262 00:11:21,748 --> 00:11:23,248 But our reputation is at stake. 263 00:11:23,250 --> 00:11:25,450 What if we turn in a product that's not really good? 264 00:11:25,452 --> 00:11:28,119 It's a high-end customer in new orleans we're dealing with. 265 00:11:28,121 --> 00:11:29,387 I want to give him our best. 266 00:11:32,759 --> 00:11:34,426 We should've got a softer brush. 267 00:11:34,428 --> 00:11:36,294 [huck] make sure you get around your toenails. 268 00:11:36,296 --> 00:11:37,228 You'll have to help me up. 269 00:11:37,230 --> 00:11:38,430 -[laughs] -[mark] yeah, me and huck 270 00:11:38,432 --> 00:11:40,165 just stomping them grapes, you know, 271 00:11:40,167 --> 00:11:41,533 like they done back in the old days. 272 00:11:41,535 --> 00:11:43,001 [huck] oh, you're doing good. I hear them pop. 273 00:11:43,003 --> 00:11:44,402 [mark] talk about slick! 274 00:11:48,742 --> 00:11:52,944 [mark] never, ever had to haul water to a still site to mash in with. 275 00:11:52,946 --> 00:11:56,314 We're gonna have to do something different. We can't live like this. 276 00:11:56,316 --> 00:11:59,184 [digger] well, you know, it's either stupidity or commitment. 277 00:11:59,186 --> 00:12:03,088 We've hauled 275 gallons of water 60 miles across 278 00:12:03,090 --> 00:12:04,155 the mountains of north carolina. 279 00:12:04,157 --> 00:12:06,991 This is probably more effort 280 00:12:06,993 --> 00:12:10,929 and more work than we've ever put into a run of liquor in our lives. 281 00:12:10,931 --> 00:12:12,664 [mark] I'll get us some water going. 282 00:12:12,666 --> 00:12:14,432 To make mark and digger's tennessee whiskey, 283 00:12:14,434 --> 00:12:16,334 it's got to be limestone water. 284 00:12:16,336 --> 00:12:18,203 We got to rig up the pump, 285 00:12:18,839 --> 00:12:20,438 pump the water up the hill. 286 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:22,674 If we didn't have to have this water, 287 00:12:22,676 --> 00:12:25,443 I certainly would not be doing this. 288 00:12:25,445 --> 00:12:27,746 We've got to drag hoses up that bank, 289 00:12:27,748 --> 00:12:30,482 all the way up this hill to the still side. 290 00:12:30,484 --> 00:12:32,984 Then we've got to fire a generator up. 291 00:12:32,986 --> 00:12:36,287 It's a damn sight amount of work to make a run of moonshine liquor, 292 00:12:36,289 --> 00:12:37,756 I'm telling you. 293 00:12:37,758 --> 00:12:40,191 -Hey, it's getting there. -[daniel] oh. 294 00:12:40,193 --> 00:12:43,027 [digger] oh, hey, cramp that hose now. Don't waste it. 295 00:12:43,029 --> 00:12:44,329 We ain't got, but one tote. 296 00:12:44,331 --> 00:12:47,365 You know, we don't have an endless supply of water right now, 297 00:12:47,367 --> 00:12:50,168 so we've got to be careful not to waste any of it. 298 00:12:50,170 --> 00:12:51,836 [daniel] that's tennessee holy water. 299 00:12:51,838 --> 00:12:54,272 Yeah, boy. We're at hallowed ground, I guess 300 00:12:54,274 --> 00:12:57,041 you'd say. This is popcorn's old still site. 301 00:12:57,043 --> 00:12:59,244 -Come on, daniel. -[mark] this is a nice place, 302 00:12:59,246 --> 00:13:01,012 but it ain't the handiest one, is it? 303 00:13:01,014 --> 00:13:03,715 -[daniel] nope. -[digger] so, you know, as far as what we're doing today, 304 00:13:03,717 --> 00:13:04,949 it's worth it. 305 00:13:04,951 --> 00:13:08,019 But as far as making a career, making liquor up here, 306 00:13:08,021 --> 00:13:09,020 ain't going to happen. 307 00:13:09,022 --> 00:13:10,188 Too much work. 308 00:13:10,190 --> 00:13:11,923 -All right. Get her. -Let's get her hot. 309 00:13:11,925 --> 00:13:13,358 Give us a little gas. 310 00:13:14,161 --> 00:13:16,661 [mark] whoa! I think I like your old lady, digger, 311 00:13:16,663 --> 00:13:18,763 -just putting that all over town. -Putting that all over town. 312 00:13:18,765 --> 00:13:19,998 [both laugh] 313 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:21,399 [digger] you know, beyond this water, 314 00:13:21,401 --> 00:13:23,434 we've got to have our white corn, 315 00:13:23,436 --> 00:13:25,870 our malted barley and a rye. 316 00:13:25,872 --> 00:13:28,173 The way we measure up here, 'cause we're not going to bring scales, 317 00:13:28,175 --> 00:13:31,109 we just mark the graduations on our bucket 318 00:13:31,111 --> 00:13:33,845 and we know where the weights are at for which particular grain. 319 00:13:33,847 --> 00:13:35,413 There's the rye. 320 00:13:35,415 --> 00:13:37,715 [mark] as good a guy as daniel is and all the help he's given us 321 00:13:37,717 --> 00:13:39,284 looking out for us, you know, 322 00:13:39,286 --> 00:13:43,688 we feel it's just fair to bring him in as a partner on this tennessee whiskey. 323 00:13:43,690 --> 00:13:47,091 Right. This old stir stick. I got here made out of black walnut. 324 00:13:47,093 --> 00:13:49,194 It's got tennessee shaped holes cut in it. 325 00:13:49,196 --> 00:13:50,395 [daniel] yeah. 326 00:13:50,397 --> 00:13:53,631 So will that have any bearing on tennessee whiskey, 327 00:13:53,633 --> 00:13:55,233 if we make it north carolina? 328 00:13:55,235 --> 00:13:57,702 That'll help make tennessee whiskey, I bet a dollar on it. 329 00:13:57,704 --> 00:13:59,070 [both laugh] 330 00:13:59,072 --> 00:14:00,672 it'll make it a hell of a lot better mash 331 00:14:00,674 --> 00:14:01,706 if it's from tennessee. 332 00:14:01,708 --> 00:14:03,341 Yeah, you'd have to think. 333 00:14:03,343 --> 00:14:06,044 I mean, the mash may not know, but me and you and digger know. 334 00:14:06,046 --> 00:14:07,278 That's right. 335 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:09,314 Well, you always say, it ain't a lie if you believe it. 336 00:14:09,316 --> 00:14:11,983 No, no. It ain't a lie if you don't believe it. 337 00:14:11,985 --> 00:14:13,218 [digger] oh, yeah, that. 338 00:14:13,220 --> 00:14:14,752 [daniel] you know, today they're actually 339 00:14:14,754 --> 00:14:17,322 teaching me the exact measurements 340 00:14:17,324 --> 00:14:20,191 that they put into a 55-gallon drum of mash. 341 00:14:20,193 --> 00:14:22,360 [digger] we've got to stir the hell out of it. 342 00:14:22,362 --> 00:14:24,929 And I am completely honored that... 343 00:14:24,931 --> 00:14:27,966 That mark and digger would trust me with... With the recipe. 344 00:14:27,968 --> 00:14:30,001 Digger, do you think popcorn would be proud of us? 345 00:14:30,003 --> 00:14:32,036 No, he'd have thought... Well, he'd be saying right now, 346 00:14:32,038 --> 00:14:34,806 "I don't know what the hell you boys think you're accomplishing." 347 00:14:34,808 --> 00:14:38,643 [mark] oh, if popcorn know that we was hauling water to make mash and stuff, 348 00:14:38,645 --> 00:14:42,881 he'd call us everything in the book and tell us how damn stupid we was. 349 00:14:42,883 --> 00:14:45,917 And, you know, I'm not so sure that he wouldn't be right. 350 00:14:45,919 --> 00:14:48,453 He made some good liquor and he made terrible liquor, 351 00:14:48,455 --> 00:14:51,022 but now he used whatever he had. 352 00:14:51,024 --> 00:14:52,390 -Oh, yeah. -And that's what-- 353 00:14:52,392 --> 00:14:54,225 [digger] that's what I say all the time, you know, 354 00:14:54,227 --> 00:14:56,794 they holler the popcorn recipe, popcorn recipe. 355 00:14:56,796 --> 00:14:59,163 Which one? Hell, there's nine millions. 356 00:14:59,165 --> 00:15:01,165 He never did anything the same. 357 00:15:01,167 --> 00:15:02,634 Well, we got the mash made. 358 00:15:02,636 --> 00:15:03,668 We just need to bring it down 359 00:15:03,670 --> 00:15:06,004 to temperature, where the yeast will thrive. 360 00:15:06,006 --> 00:15:08,306 Then we're ready to let it ferment, then we'll come back here and run it. 361 00:15:08,308 --> 00:15:10,575 What do you think we cover these things up? 362 00:15:10,577 --> 00:15:13,378 [digger] yep, let mother nature do its thing. 363 00:15:21,922 --> 00:15:23,521 [birds chirping] 364 00:15:27,227 --> 00:15:29,827 [richard] we're ready to go. We're gonna get this set up and put a still on it 365 00:15:29,829 --> 00:15:31,095 and start running. 366 00:15:31,097 --> 00:15:33,031 The faster we can get this site set up, man, 367 00:15:33,033 --> 00:15:35,166 the faster we can get some cash rolling. 368 00:15:35,168 --> 00:15:38,069 [craig] I'm wondering if that alligator is coming back around here. 369 00:15:38,071 --> 00:15:39,938 We're about to see if it came up. 370 00:15:41,107 --> 00:15:42,707 All right. Let's get to work, man. 371 00:15:44,044 --> 00:15:46,177 Put one on the bottom. 372 00:15:46,179 --> 00:15:50,114 The quicker we do this, the quicker we can start mashing this in. 373 00:15:50,116 --> 00:15:52,550 It doesn't have to be the most beautiful thing in the world, 374 00:15:52,552 --> 00:15:54,352 but it does have to be functional. 375 00:15:55,855 --> 00:15:56,988 This is it. 376 00:15:58,892 --> 00:16:00,091 All right, we're done. 377 00:16:00,093 --> 00:16:02,660 They didn't build rome in a day because I wasn't there. 378 00:16:02,662 --> 00:16:05,063 Come on, let's get some stuff and mash in before it gets too late. 379 00:16:05,065 --> 00:16:07,065 Now that our deck is build, 380 00:16:07,067 --> 00:16:08,399 we're going to do our sugar wash, 381 00:16:08,401 --> 00:16:12,904 the high proof neutral spirit for our absinthe. 382 00:16:12,906 --> 00:16:14,238 I've done a lot of research on it. 383 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:16,140 The first thing we have to do with absinthe 384 00:16:16,142 --> 00:16:18,309 is run a base spirit, a neutral spirit, 385 00:16:18,311 --> 00:16:20,712 something that doesn't taste like anything. 386 00:16:20,714 --> 00:16:23,014 Sugar and water, most neutral you can get. 387 00:16:23,016 --> 00:16:25,383 The only flavors that we're gonna introduce into this 388 00:16:25,385 --> 00:16:28,619 is the things that we bring into it with the fennel, the wormwood. 389 00:16:28,621 --> 00:16:30,088 Oh, all the botanicals. 390 00:16:30,090 --> 00:16:31,923 -[richard] the botanicals. -That's where the flavor comes in 391 00:16:31,925 --> 00:16:33,358 on the back end. 392 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:35,994 All that stuff combined is going to give it this vibrant green color. 393 00:16:35,996 --> 00:16:38,896 And when you lose it, when you introduce the water to it, 394 00:16:38,898 --> 00:16:43,301 it turns this whitish color and you could see it kind of darting around, 395 00:16:43,303 --> 00:16:46,371 that's when the oils separate themselves and they start to develop 396 00:16:46,373 --> 00:16:48,006 their aroma and flavor. 397 00:16:48,008 --> 00:16:49,841 This is some mad science [bleep]. 398 00:16:49,843 --> 00:16:52,310 It's the kind of science that will make you mad. 399 00:16:52,312 --> 00:16:53,945 All right. We're at a high enough temperature, 400 00:16:53,947 --> 00:16:55,346 let's start dropping some sugar in here. 401 00:16:55,348 --> 00:16:57,081 -[craig] all right. -[richard] in absinthe, 402 00:16:57,083 --> 00:16:58,449 there are so many complex flavors. 403 00:16:58,451 --> 00:17:01,652 So going in with a base neutral spirit makes so much sense. 404 00:17:01,654 --> 00:17:04,122 It's a hard process, it's a hard product, 405 00:17:04,124 --> 00:17:07,425 but there's never been a liquor that we touched that we couldn't conquer. 406 00:17:11,998 --> 00:17:13,898 Grab the yeast. Let's go. 407 00:17:13,900 --> 00:17:16,434 It's a real good yeast, real good yeast nutrients. 408 00:17:16,436 --> 00:17:17,702 [richard] that's good. 409 00:17:17,704 --> 00:17:18,936 [richard] we'll let that work off. 410 00:17:18,938 --> 00:17:21,305 Hopefully a couple of days, that'll be done. 411 00:17:21,307 --> 00:17:23,274 We'll go ahead and start sourcing all our botanicals. 412 00:17:23,276 --> 00:17:24,509 You got everything out of here? 413 00:17:24,511 --> 00:17:26,310 -That's it. -[craig] I'm going to drink a beer. 414 00:17:26,312 --> 00:17:27,345 [richard] it's beer 30. 415 00:17:27,347 --> 00:17:30,448 It's five o'clock, somewhere. 416 00:17:42,862 --> 00:17:44,896 [huck] oh, god, that's kind of like being a pallbearer, ain't it? 417 00:17:44,898 --> 00:17:47,565 -[mark] it is. -[huck] let's let it down for a minute. 418 00:17:50,336 --> 00:17:52,437 Yeah, we're going to work our grapes over good, 419 00:17:52,439 --> 00:17:55,239 get all the stems out of it, make sure some of them, 420 00:17:55,241 --> 00:17:56,908 you know, ain't molded or nothing, 421 00:17:56,910 --> 00:18:00,011 make a little fortified wine and get a lot of money out of it. 422 00:18:01,014 --> 00:18:02,780 We got a lot of grapes to mash. 423 00:18:02,782 --> 00:18:04,449 [huck] if we have to mash these up with our hands, 424 00:18:04,451 --> 00:18:08,019 like we did once before, we'd probably end up with that carpal tunnel. 425 00:18:08,021 --> 00:18:10,521 Yeah, that's too mean to mash up by hand. 426 00:18:10,523 --> 00:18:12,223 We ain't got no press. 427 00:18:12,225 --> 00:18:14,392 [huck] well, we'll stomp it in with our feet. 428 00:18:14,394 --> 00:18:17,295 You clip your toenails last night, mark? 429 00:18:17,297 --> 00:18:19,897 Yeah, back in the old days. I guess they didn't have press 430 00:18:19,899 --> 00:18:23,401 and all that stuff to mash the juice out of the wine. 431 00:18:23,403 --> 00:18:26,070 I guess they just did foot treading, you know. 432 00:18:26,072 --> 00:18:28,306 We might try that. We got a lot of grapes to mash. 433 00:18:28,308 --> 00:18:30,341 [huck] do you like that brush I got you? 434 00:18:30,343 --> 00:18:32,076 What is it? Is that a commode brush or what is it? 435 00:18:32,078 --> 00:18:34,412 [huck] yeah. It'll work, won't it? 436 00:18:34,414 --> 00:18:36,481 It ain't been used, I got that at the dollar store. 437 00:18:37,484 --> 00:18:38,983 Brand new. 438 00:18:38,985 --> 00:18:40,485 You're brushing your teeth. 439 00:18:40,487 --> 00:18:42,420 Make sure you get around your toenails. Feels good. 440 00:18:42,789 --> 00:18:44,655 [both laugh] 441 00:18:44,657 --> 00:18:46,991 me and huck knows what our feet's been through. 442 00:18:46,993 --> 00:18:51,529 So I don't think I could drink that liquor if I didn't clean my feet good. 443 00:18:51,531 --> 00:18:54,365 Well, you should have got a softer brush. Well, that's burning. 444 00:18:54,367 --> 00:18:56,434 I mean, it's cleaning. 445 00:18:56,436 --> 00:18:58,402 Wash the bottom of my feet, I done got that dirty. 446 00:19:00,673 --> 00:19:02,039 Oh, that's cold. 447 00:19:02,041 --> 00:19:03,241 Clean the toes. 448 00:19:05,044 --> 00:19:07,011 Now look how red my leg is turning. 449 00:19:07,013 --> 00:19:08,146 [huck] that's good for you. 450 00:19:08,148 --> 00:19:09,313 [mark] like sandpaper. 451 00:19:10,049 --> 00:19:11,215 I got them cleaned, huck. 452 00:19:11,217 --> 00:19:12,316 Yeah, they're clean. 453 00:19:12,318 --> 00:19:13,518 You'll have to help me up. 454 00:19:15,288 --> 00:19:16,854 Talk about slick! 455 00:19:16,856 --> 00:19:19,423 Ah, bigfoot moonshine. 456 00:19:23,296 --> 00:19:24,428 You'll have to help me up. 457 00:19:24,430 --> 00:19:26,531 [huck laughs] 458 00:19:27,033 --> 00:19:28,666 talk about slick! 459 00:19:28,668 --> 00:19:31,302 Yeah, me and huck, just stomping them grapes, you know, 460 00:19:31,304 --> 00:19:32,703 just like they done back in old days. 461 00:19:32,705 --> 00:19:33,838 Ah! 462 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:35,673 [huck] oh, you're doing good. I hear them popping. 463 00:19:35,675 --> 00:19:37,108 -[mark] yeah, they're busting. -[huck] yeah. 464 00:19:37,110 --> 00:19:38,876 Bigfoot moonshine. 465 00:19:38,878 --> 00:19:40,978 Feels like a bucket full of snails or something. 466 00:19:40,980 --> 00:19:43,314 -Bucket full of snails. -[laughter] 467 00:19:43,316 --> 00:19:46,083 we always have a little fun out of everything we do. 468 00:19:46,085 --> 00:19:48,352 [huck] you're about the best at that I've ever seen. 469 00:19:48,354 --> 00:19:51,789 If I had a drink or two I could do this a little faster. 470 00:19:51,791 --> 00:19:53,224 -[huck] they say it's good for your feet. -Oh, is it? 471 00:19:53,226 --> 00:19:55,626 -[huck] yeah. -They need 'em. 472 00:19:55,628 --> 00:19:58,129 [huck] knowing him, he'd probably make a brandy out of it. 473 00:19:58,131 --> 00:20:01,265 Back in old days, they just got some pretty women, you know, 474 00:20:01,267 --> 00:20:03,000 and mashed them up with their feet. 475 00:20:03,002 --> 00:20:05,436 Their feet are softer and they're lighter, 476 00:20:05,438 --> 00:20:08,306 wouldn't mash the seeds, you know, and all that stuff. 477 00:20:08,308 --> 00:20:10,341 -That's slick. -It's slick. 478 00:20:10,343 --> 00:20:12,143 [mark] we ain't got no women around here, 479 00:20:12,145 --> 00:20:13,844 so I guess it's me or huck, 480 00:20:13,846 --> 00:20:15,880 so who do you think is going to do it? 481 00:20:15,882 --> 00:20:17,481 Get some dirty hands all over my-- 482 00:20:17,483 --> 00:20:18,983 [huck] I've done washed my hands. 483 00:20:19,018 --> 00:20:20,918 [laughter] 484 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:24,422 yeah. Crushing them seeds would make that wine real bitter. 485 00:20:24,424 --> 00:20:28,359 I'll just step real easy and try to bust them real gentle, like you know. 486 00:20:28,361 --> 00:20:29,927 Mashed it pretty good, though, ain't it? 487 00:20:29,929 --> 00:20:30,928 [huck] yeah, they are. 488 00:20:30,930 --> 00:20:33,164 Let's get that mash barrel cleaned up. 489 00:20:33,166 --> 00:20:35,099 Start laying the sugar and yeast to it and everything, 490 00:20:35,101 --> 00:20:36,801 and get her to working. 491 00:20:36,803 --> 00:20:39,203 Yeah, fortified wine is just making a good wine 492 00:20:39,205 --> 00:20:41,839 and making it as strong as you can. 493 00:20:41,841 --> 00:20:45,876 These grapes, just we'll use about half of it, we'll work it off as wine 494 00:20:45,878 --> 00:20:50,281 and then probably use about half of it to distill into brandy. 495 00:20:50,283 --> 00:20:53,317 This wine, you know, it might come out 10%, 12%. 496 00:20:53,319 --> 00:20:58,522 And then when we pour our brandy back into it, maybe get it up to 20%. 497 00:20:58,524 --> 00:21:00,791 We just want it stouter than most wines, 498 00:21:00,793 --> 00:21:02,627 maybe charge a little more for it. 499 00:21:02,629 --> 00:21:04,862 Me and huck, we've got to make us money this year. 500 00:21:04,864 --> 00:21:07,331 Oh, only thing we need to do now is cap her off. 501 00:21:07,333 --> 00:21:09,133 [mark] we're gonna let it work all the way off. 502 00:21:09,135 --> 00:21:11,135 Run it whenever we think it's about right. 503 00:21:11,137 --> 00:21:12,703 It should have a good flavor. 504 00:21:12,705 --> 00:21:14,538 Still want it to have the moonshine kick, 505 00:21:14,540 --> 00:21:16,274 but to have a real good wine taste. 506 00:21:16,276 --> 00:21:19,210 [huck] that's good, mark. Good shape. 507 00:21:32,325 --> 00:21:34,191 -[richard] check this wash out, man. -[craig] yeah. 508 00:21:34,193 --> 00:21:36,594 -[richard] I'm nervous about this stuff. -Check this out. 509 00:21:37,730 --> 00:21:40,831 Oh, man. That's crazy. Look at that. 510 00:21:40,833 --> 00:21:42,300 [richard] man, I done kept this mash barrel, 511 00:21:42,302 --> 00:21:44,635 and this thing is rolling like a pot of gumbo. 512 00:21:44,637 --> 00:21:47,071 -This is a good yeast. -[craig] this is so crazy. 513 00:21:47,073 --> 00:21:50,141 [richard] it doesn't smell like anything, but alcohol. 514 00:21:50,143 --> 00:21:53,177 If this is any indication of how our final product is going to be, 515 00:21:53,179 --> 00:21:55,246 we're gonna have a kickass absinthe. 516 00:21:55,248 --> 00:21:58,349 Hell, yeah. It smells like it's ready to drink now. 517 00:21:58,351 --> 00:22:00,518 [richard] yeah, but it needs to go a couple more days. 518 00:22:02,021 --> 00:22:04,955 Come on, we're going to leave it alone, come back. 519 00:22:06,092 --> 00:22:07,692 Hopefully it'll be ready to drink. 520 00:22:07,694 --> 00:22:08,793 [richard] we'll let that work off. 521 00:22:08,795 --> 00:22:10,127 It gives us a little time to sit down 522 00:22:10,129 --> 00:22:12,330 and look at some of these botanicals and try to figure out 523 00:22:12,332 --> 00:22:13,564 what we're gonna put in our absinthe. 524 00:22:13,566 --> 00:22:16,133 [richard] and I got all the little botanicals that we need. 525 00:22:16,135 --> 00:22:19,337 Absinthe has a lot of different characters and flavors. 526 00:22:19,339 --> 00:22:23,240 There's fennel and wormwood. There's anise seed. 527 00:22:23,242 --> 00:22:25,910 From my research, the most important ingredients in absinthe 528 00:22:25,912 --> 00:22:27,978 are fennel, wormwood and anise. 529 00:22:27,980 --> 00:22:29,680 Fennel and anise, this is where 530 00:22:29,682 --> 00:22:31,515 we get the licorice flavor in the absinthe. 531 00:22:31,517 --> 00:22:35,419 It helps counter the bitter taste in the wormwood. 532 00:22:35,421 --> 00:22:36,921 [richard] lemon balm. 533 00:22:36,923 --> 00:22:37,855 [craig] lemon balm. 534 00:22:37,857 --> 00:22:40,391 Lemon balm, it adds a citrus flavor. 535 00:22:40,393 --> 00:22:42,126 It smells like what it sounds like. 536 00:22:42,128 --> 00:22:44,261 Some spearmint and hyssop. 537 00:22:45,431 --> 00:22:49,033 Hyssop is something different, it's in the mint family, too. 538 00:22:49,035 --> 00:22:51,235 Hyssop, it's an old, old, old herb, 539 00:22:51,237 --> 00:22:54,672 and this is going to give a little softness to our complexity. 540 00:22:54,674 --> 00:22:55,740 Come on, I want to try some of this. 541 00:22:55,742 --> 00:22:57,308 [craig] all right. Let's try it. 542 00:22:57,377 --> 00:23:00,378 [richard] you know, some of these herbs I've never really even heard of, 543 00:23:00,380 --> 00:23:03,180 just tasting them is taking your taste buds 544 00:23:03,182 --> 00:23:05,249 somewhere it's never been before. 545 00:23:05,251 --> 00:23:06,817 I'm gonna bite this whole star anise. 546 00:23:06,819 --> 00:23:08,285 [richard] true licorice tasting plant. 547 00:23:08,287 --> 00:23:11,222 It tastes just like licorice, man, very overpowering. 548 00:23:11,224 --> 00:23:13,424 This is anise seed right here. 549 00:23:16,429 --> 00:23:20,931 This little bit of seed right here has way, way, way more flavor 550 00:23:20,933 --> 00:23:24,235 than this bigger seed in this thing right here. 551 00:23:24,237 --> 00:23:26,504 Wormwood, major ingredient right here. 552 00:23:27,707 --> 00:23:30,007 What is this going to taste like? 553 00:23:30,009 --> 00:23:33,577 It actually smells good, so I take a little pinch to taste. 554 00:23:34,180 --> 00:23:35,546 And man... 555 00:23:36,949 --> 00:23:39,216 -Oh, my... -That's wormwood. 556 00:23:39,218 --> 00:23:41,886 [craig] tastes like a worm. Oh, my god, don't taste that. 557 00:23:41,888 --> 00:23:43,087 Whoo. 558 00:23:43,089 --> 00:23:45,022 Okay, now you see that right there, ain't good for you. 559 00:23:45,024 --> 00:23:47,124 Wormwood definitely surprises you. 560 00:23:47,126 --> 00:23:50,227 This is complex that's why you taste so much in this drink. 561 00:23:50,229 --> 00:23:51,762 We've researched a lot of recipes. 562 00:23:51,764 --> 00:23:53,931 We've researched a lot of history with absinthe. 563 00:23:53,933 --> 00:23:55,966 So we're gonna take all of those recipes 564 00:23:55,968 --> 00:23:58,369 and kind of take a little bit of this, a little bit of that, 565 00:23:58,371 --> 00:23:59,970 kind of muddle some... Some of the stuff. 566 00:23:59,972 --> 00:24:01,338 We're gonna give it a little early start. 567 00:24:01,340 --> 00:24:02,940 We're gonna put all that together 568 00:24:02,942 --> 00:24:05,109 and come up with our own absinthe recipe. 569 00:24:05,111 --> 00:24:08,279 Trying to get that, that smell and that taste consistency 570 00:24:08,281 --> 00:24:10,181 right, kind of in a powder form. 571 00:24:10,183 --> 00:24:12,450 All the time and the effort that we're investing in this, 572 00:24:12,452 --> 00:24:14,952 I mean, it's a lot of time it takes to do this drink. 573 00:24:14,954 --> 00:24:16,921 This is a real complicated process. 574 00:24:16,923 --> 00:24:19,924 If this doesn't work, not only we will be losing a customer, 575 00:24:19,926 --> 00:24:21,258 but we'll be losing a lot of time 576 00:24:21,260 --> 00:24:23,260 and that's something that you can't get back. 577 00:24:23,262 --> 00:24:24,328 Let's see what we got. 578 00:24:27,266 --> 00:24:30,968 Man! It smells good, man. This is different. 579 00:24:30,970 --> 00:24:32,803 I don't know if I want to wear it, drink it, 580 00:24:32,805 --> 00:24:34,371 eat it, something. 581 00:24:34,373 --> 00:24:35,906 The stakes are real high with this, 582 00:24:35,908 --> 00:24:37,374 but I think we're really going to nail this. 583 00:24:37,376 --> 00:24:38,976 We're going to leave it right here. 584 00:24:38,978 --> 00:24:40,978 -[craig] time to make that money, man. -That's it. 585 00:24:46,252 --> 00:24:48,285 [siren wailing] 586 00:24:54,227 --> 00:24:56,160 [digger] today is the day, girls. 587 00:24:56,162 --> 00:24:58,963 Today is the day we run tennessee whiskey 588 00:24:58,965 --> 00:25:00,965 in the great state of north carolina. 589 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:03,300 Let's see what we got here. 590 00:25:03,302 --> 00:25:07,004 Oh, yeah, caps failed and it's very little left on top. 591 00:25:07,006 --> 00:25:09,573 [mark] the mash is dead as last year's calendars. 592 00:25:09,575 --> 00:25:12,877 We've done everything exactly as we did in tennessee, 593 00:25:12,879 --> 00:25:17,181 but you never know what you're gonna get till you put it in the still. 594 00:25:17,183 --> 00:25:20,584 Three tennessee moonshiners in the tar heel state. 595 00:25:20,586 --> 00:25:22,920 There you go, dan, there's the lighting device. 596 00:25:22,922 --> 00:25:24,221 All right. 597 00:25:27,927 --> 00:25:29,260 How about like that right up there, buddy? 598 00:25:29,262 --> 00:25:31,395 That looks good to me. 599 00:25:31,397 --> 00:25:33,998 [daniel] you know, this is the sacred spot right here 600 00:25:34,000 --> 00:25:38,302 that me as a moonshiner, I'll take to my grave. 601 00:25:38,304 --> 00:25:40,671 [mark] with that being said, my thing is, 602 00:25:41,674 --> 00:25:45,576 this is a damn extremely out-of-the-way place. 603 00:25:45,578 --> 00:25:46,944 [digger] yeah. 604 00:25:46,946 --> 00:25:53,384 And I ain't never in my life hauled mash and water to a still site. 605 00:25:53,386 --> 00:25:56,420 It's an honor to run at popcorn sutton's old still site, 606 00:25:56,422 --> 00:25:58,422 but it's completely inefficient 607 00:25:58,424 --> 00:26:01,091 hauling water 100 miles each and every time 608 00:26:01,093 --> 00:26:03,193 we want to do a run of tennessee whiskey. 609 00:26:03,195 --> 00:26:04,995 I think it's just crazy. 610 00:26:04,997 --> 00:26:06,397 [digger] figure our time into it 611 00:26:06,399 --> 00:26:09,333 and the time we've got driving all the time trying to get over here 612 00:26:09,335 --> 00:26:11,001 and make a run of tennessee whiskey, 613 00:26:11,003 --> 00:26:13,370 plus our fuel for two and three vehicles, 614 00:26:13,372 --> 00:26:14,738 it's cutting in on the profits. 615 00:26:14,740 --> 00:26:18,108 So we... No, this is, this is insane. 616 00:26:18,110 --> 00:26:22,913 We need a still site in the same location as the limestone water source. 617 00:26:22,915 --> 00:26:26,116 If we stay here, it's going to kill our season. 618 00:26:33,092 --> 00:26:34,525 [huck] want to smell it, mark? 619 00:26:34,527 --> 00:26:35,993 Let's see if it's ready. 620 00:26:36,662 --> 00:26:37,995 Mmm-hmm. 621 00:26:38,497 --> 00:26:39,964 [exhales sharply] 622 00:26:39,966 --> 00:26:41,365 got the alcohol in it. 623 00:26:41,934 --> 00:26:43,467 Well, it does, don't it? 624 00:26:43,469 --> 00:26:46,971 [mark] when making fortified wine, what we're gonna do is 625 00:26:46,973 --> 00:26:50,074 we're gonna save half of the barrel of the wine for later. 626 00:26:50,076 --> 00:26:52,309 And then we're gonna run half of it 627 00:26:52,311 --> 00:26:54,778 into some good high proof brandy to 628 00:26:54,780 --> 00:26:56,313 mix back into our wine. 629 00:26:56,315 --> 00:26:58,582 Well, that's pretty right there. 630 00:26:58,584 --> 00:27:01,352 People this year, they want some good stuff to drink 631 00:27:01,354 --> 00:27:04,955 and this... It ought to be about as good a tasting liquor as we ever made. 632 00:27:04,957 --> 00:27:06,357 Huck, probably that's about enough, 633 00:27:06,359 --> 00:27:08,025 or that's about half of it, ain't it? 634 00:27:08,027 --> 00:27:09,159 -Got it, don't you? -[mark] yeah. 635 00:27:11,063 --> 00:27:13,864 [mark] the best wood in these mountains is locust. 636 00:27:13,866 --> 00:27:15,432 We got some locust right here. 637 00:27:15,434 --> 00:27:17,267 Now this is fixing to get hot. 638 00:27:17,269 --> 00:27:19,870 It's less smoke, more heat. 639 00:27:19,872 --> 00:27:22,239 It's really the best wood you can burn. 640 00:27:22,241 --> 00:27:24,174 Well, let's see if we can cap 'er off. 641 00:27:24,944 --> 00:27:26,877 Yeah, it feels so good. 642 00:27:26,879 --> 00:27:29,013 Cap'll make it run off all day. 643 00:27:29,915 --> 00:27:33,350 I've used rye, meal, oatmeal. 644 00:27:33,352 --> 00:27:35,653 I learned a few years back this plumbers putty 645 00:27:35,655 --> 00:27:37,354 is getting soft and it seals good. 646 00:27:37,356 --> 00:27:39,823 You reuse it, but every dime you can save, 647 00:27:39,825 --> 00:27:42,393 that's just more that's going to help you get through the winter. 648 00:27:42,395 --> 00:27:45,763 We're going to turn this 25-gallon of wine into brandy. 649 00:27:45,765 --> 00:27:48,966 We should get at least five-gallon out of it. 650 00:27:48,968 --> 00:27:52,269 When we mix it all up, we should wind up around 30 gallons 651 00:27:52,271 --> 00:27:54,071 of good fortified wine. 652 00:27:54,073 --> 00:27:55,673 That's a pretty good bit of liquor. 653 00:27:55,675 --> 00:27:57,408 We should make some good money off of it. 654 00:27:57,410 --> 00:27:59,410 [mark] yup, she's running. 655 00:27:59,412 --> 00:28:02,246 [huck] yeah, I see that, it's starting to drip pretty good now, isn't it? 656 00:28:02,248 --> 00:28:04,148 We got our stream about right. 657 00:28:04,150 --> 00:28:05,516 We'll throw them heads off. 658 00:28:10,356 --> 00:28:11,989 Well, it's stout. 659 00:28:13,325 --> 00:28:15,392 Make your eyes water right there. 660 00:28:15,394 --> 00:28:16,960 Oh, it is, ain't it? 661 00:28:16,962 --> 00:28:19,430 -Are you ready to make some mixing? -Yep. 662 00:28:19,432 --> 00:28:22,900 What we're wanting to do is put the alcohol to the wine, 663 00:28:22,902 --> 00:28:26,203 maybe get it at 20% or even better if we can. 664 00:28:26,205 --> 00:28:28,672 -Them big beads. -Mmm-hmm. 665 00:28:28,674 --> 00:28:31,275 Make a good high proof fortified wine. 666 00:28:33,679 --> 00:28:35,112 That's a pretty color, ain't it? 667 00:28:35,147 --> 00:28:37,381 -That's color of a pink grapefruit, ain't it? -[mark] yeah. 668 00:28:45,991 --> 00:28:48,559 But this might be just a little bit low on the proof though, 669 00:28:48,561 --> 00:28:50,294 just a little bit. 670 00:28:50,296 --> 00:28:54,898 Checking it, and tasting of it and noticed it's a little bit too sweet. 671 00:28:54,900 --> 00:28:56,100 [huck] it's a little bit low, ain't it? 672 00:28:56,102 --> 00:28:57,468 [mark] just a little bit. 673 00:28:57,470 --> 00:28:59,837 The beads were small and going away quick. 674 00:28:59,839 --> 00:29:01,071 We know it is low proof, 675 00:29:01,073 --> 00:29:04,141 so we need to put some more good, high proof brandy in it. 676 00:29:04,143 --> 00:29:06,009 So I reckon a gallon makes her about right. 677 00:29:06,011 --> 00:29:07,377 [huck] let's try. 678 00:29:07,379 --> 00:29:10,314 Mixing the brandy in, we got to go real slow. 679 00:29:11,350 --> 00:29:13,150 We don't want to change the taste of it much. 680 00:29:13,152 --> 00:29:16,220 We want to have it to get grape taste and a good high proof. 681 00:29:19,225 --> 00:29:22,993 Hmm. Watch... Smell this. Smell that. Just try it, mate. 682 00:29:22,995 --> 00:29:24,628 -Well, it smells good, don't it? -Just try it. 683 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:29,366 How did that taste? 684 00:29:29,368 --> 00:29:32,169 Hmm. Probably wouldn't hurt to put a tad more of that in. 685 00:29:32,171 --> 00:29:34,104 [mark] I'm glad we saved this. 686 00:29:34,106 --> 00:29:36,073 Yeah, we're down to our last gallon. 687 00:29:36,075 --> 00:29:37,741 It's ain't burn off, I'll tell you that. 688 00:29:37,743 --> 00:29:39,543 [huck] no, it ain't... It ain't much. 689 00:29:39,545 --> 00:29:43,280 If we can't get this mixed up right, we're out of grapes. 690 00:29:43,282 --> 00:29:46,150 We can't send steve back to mexico to get more grapes, 691 00:29:46,152 --> 00:29:48,685 so we may be up a creek without a paddle. 692 00:29:50,089 --> 00:29:52,022 Try it again, huck. 693 00:29:58,464 --> 00:30:00,430 You wouldn't believe how good that is. 694 00:30:00,432 --> 00:30:01,431 That's perfect. 695 00:30:01,433 --> 00:30:03,100 Oh, my goodness. 696 00:30:03,102 --> 00:30:05,202 You get that good grape taste. 697 00:30:05,204 --> 00:30:06,904 That's about right, right there. 698 00:30:06,906 --> 00:30:09,740 That's right, mate. The wine part of it cools it down, doesn't it? 699 00:30:09,742 --> 00:30:11,975 I believe we need to leave it alone. 700 00:30:11,977 --> 00:30:15,179 Yeah. I'd say it's about the smoothest and the stoutest wine 701 00:30:15,181 --> 00:30:16,613 that we've ever tasted. 702 00:30:16,615 --> 00:30:19,416 But I guarantee you, you take about three drinks of that, 703 00:30:19,418 --> 00:30:21,185 that there good drinks, 704 00:30:21,187 --> 00:30:22,452 you'll be ready to dance. 705 00:30:22,788 --> 00:30:24,154 Got a little bite to it, 706 00:30:24,290 --> 00:30:28,959 you know, the brandy has, but it's a smooth bite. Fortified wine, 707 00:30:28,961 --> 00:30:30,027 we won't have trouble selling that. 708 00:30:30,029 --> 00:30:32,062 -That's pretty, ain't it? -[huck] mmm-hmm. 709 00:30:32,064 --> 00:30:34,798 The only problem we got, me and huck will have to stay out of it. 710 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:37,034 We don't want to drink our profit up. 711 00:30:51,417 --> 00:30:54,852 I tell you what, it's really an honor to get to make liquor here. 712 00:30:54,854 --> 00:30:57,154 -Yeah. -With you, daniel, and you, digger. 713 00:30:57,156 --> 00:30:58,956 But after this run, I say we pack up 714 00:30:58,958 --> 00:31:00,691 and get the hell out of north carolina. 715 00:31:00,693 --> 00:31:02,359 It's time to vacate it. 716 00:31:02,361 --> 00:31:05,362 [mark] we cannot continue hauling hundreds of gallons 717 00:31:05,364 --> 00:31:09,066 of limestone water a hundred miles 718 00:31:09,068 --> 00:31:11,702 to a still site to make tennessee whiskey. 719 00:31:11,704 --> 00:31:15,105 Time to let it... Go on back to nature the way we found it. 720 00:31:15,107 --> 00:31:20,210 We need a still site in the same location as the limestone water source. 721 00:31:20,212 --> 00:31:22,212 Oh, oh, look at here, boys. 722 00:31:22,214 --> 00:31:23,247 Yep, you got it, boy. 723 00:31:23,249 --> 00:31:25,816 -Hot dang, daniel, there you go. -Like a fist. 724 00:31:25,818 --> 00:31:28,986 -Yeah, boy. -[daniel] all that pop needs is a clicker stick in it. 725 00:31:28,988 --> 00:31:32,189 [digger] here she comes. That'll warm her up. 726 00:31:32,191 --> 00:31:34,524 Perfect stream right there, boys. 727 00:31:34,526 --> 00:31:35,959 [daniel] that does look good. 728 00:31:35,961 --> 00:31:37,995 [mark] don't matter if you do it one time or a thousand times. 729 00:31:37,997 --> 00:31:39,663 When the liquor starts coming out of the worm, 730 00:31:39,665 --> 00:31:41,331 it gives you a little boost of adrenaline. 731 00:31:41,333 --> 00:31:43,500 I'll get these heads out. 732 00:31:43,502 --> 00:31:46,370 I'm charged up. I'm ready to see what we've made. 733 00:31:49,608 --> 00:31:51,742 Phew! Damn! 734 00:31:51,744 --> 00:31:56,580 That'll make your damn sticker pack up and your feeder feel good. 735 00:31:56,582 --> 00:31:59,483 Tastes like mark and digger's tennessee whiskey. 736 00:31:59,485 --> 00:32:04,154 You can, as we have proven, make tennessee whiskey in north carolina. 737 00:32:08,227 --> 00:32:10,227 Yeah, let's just get drunk. 738 00:32:14,233 --> 00:32:18,035 Whoa! Damn, damn. 739 00:32:18,037 --> 00:32:21,805 This is way too high proof jug to be drinking out of. 740 00:32:21,807 --> 00:32:23,573 Oh, that's got to be tempered. 741 00:32:23,575 --> 00:32:26,209 It's spot on to what we've been making in tennessee. 742 00:32:26,211 --> 00:32:28,312 So the only difference is real estate 743 00:32:28,314 --> 00:32:31,548 it was run on with just a little ways across the state line. 744 00:32:31,550 --> 00:32:34,184 You get that block and I've got a rag. I'll get the cap. 745 00:32:34,186 --> 00:32:36,853 That being said, we're going to break this still down. 746 00:32:36,855 --> 00:32:38,088 We're going to take it out of here. 747 00:32:38,090 --> 00:32:41,291 And this was the last damn run of liquor made at this spot. 748 00:32:41,293 --> 00:32:43,894 [mark] I want to get this still up on digger's back. 749 00:32:43,896 --> 00:32:45,329 I wish other one was was a lot narrower. 750 00:32:45,331 --> 00:32:48,298 Yeah. It has a little narrow body. This is a fat boy. 751 00:32:48,300 --> 00:32:50,734 -You got it? -I got all I can get. 752 00:32:50,736 --> 00:32:53,203 That's all for this place, jb rader. 753 00:32:54,206 --> 00:32:57,140 That hump on the old man's back helped him out a lot. 754 00:32:57,142 --> 00:32:59,142 [mark] he had something to balance it on, didn't he? 755 00:32:59,144 --> 00:33:01,244 -[digger] yep. -[mark] ain't but one thing left to do 756 00:33:01,246 --> 00:33:03,146 other than get out of dodge. 757 00:33:03,148 --> 00:33:08,618 The last thing to do is to take down popcorn's sign and go home. 758 00:33:08,620 --> 00:33:11,955 I don't guess this will ever be hung back here again. 759 00:33:11,957 --> 00:33:13,223 I'd say you're right. 760 00:33:13,225 --> 00:33:15,125 [digger] let's get the hell out of here. 761 00:33:15,127 --> 00:33:18,762 You know, digger and myself, now we've got the unenviable chore 762 00:33:18,764 --> 00:33:23,000 of finding not only limestone water source back in tennessee, 763 00:33:23,002 --> 00:33:25,902 but we've got to find a suitable still site 764 00:33:25,904 --> 00:33:29,473 next to that water and move forward in our season. 765 00:33:39,451 --> 00:33:43,653 -If we go ahead and sweat this end of this hook. -Yeah. 766 00:33:50,162 --> 00:33:52,229 [mark laughing] 767 00:33:55,667 --> 00:33:57,467 son of a bitch. 768 00:33:57,469 --> 00:33:59,403 [mark laughing] I forgot to open the valve! 769 00:34:02,074 --> 00:34:03,140 Woo-ee! 770 00:34:03,142 --> 00:34:05,042 We made a gun out of that thing. 771 00:34:05,344 --> 00:34:06,877 I'd say that was shot. 772 00:34:06,879 --> 00:34:09,212 Well, I'm saying I forgot... 773 00:34:09,214 --> 00:34:11,248 [mark laughing] 774 00:34:13,185 --> 00:34:16,653 [huck] damn. Whoo. Dangerous. 775 00:34:23,429 --> 00:34:24,828 [richard] what time is it, craig? 776 00:34:24,830 --> 00:34:26,930 [craig] it's time to fire up again. 777 00:34:26,932 --> 00:34:29,299 It's time to run some moonshine. 778 00:34:29,301 --> 00:34:32,369 Today is the first actual run of our absinthe. 779 00:34:32,371 --> 00:34:35,572 It's going to be the best absinthe anyone's ever made. 780 00:34:35,574 --> 00:34:38,175 Today is the day we run the sugar wash. 781 00:34:38,177 --> 00:34:39,376 All right. 782 00:34:40,846 --> 00:34:43,080 [richard] all right, we're going to get this pumped in. 783 00:34:43,082 --> 00:34:46,016 Smells awesome, smells like sake, smells like a rice wine. 784 00:34:46,018 --> 00:34:47,317 I know it's just sugar and water, 785 00:34:47,319 --> 00:34:49,653 but man, it has some different notes to it. 786 00:34:49,655 --> 00:34:51,154 We got 30 gallons in the barrel. 787 00:34:51,156 --> 00:34:54,124 We're gonna get right close to three gallons out of this run. 788 00:34:54,126 --> 00:34:56,159 All right. We're going to put some heat on this thing. 789 00:35:00,899 --> 00:35:03,100 Man, that smells good. Mmm-hmm. 790 00:35:03,102 --> 00:35:05,402 [richard] so, craig, we got a decision to make, too. 791 00:35:05,404 --> 00:35:08,105 -What's that? -The guy that made this order for this absinthe, 792 00:35:08,107 --> 00:35:10,407 he said, "I could pay you in crypto." 793 00:35:11,610 --> 00:35:12,876 really? 794 00:35:12,911 --> 00:35:14,845 He said he'll probably give us more than it's worth in crypto 795 00:35:14,847 --> 00:35:17,114 -'cause it's easy for him to give it up. -[craig] he's not lying. 796 00:35:17,116 --> 00:35:20,016 That cryptocurrency back in the day when I tried to get you in 797 00:35:20,018 --> 00:35:21,184 was worth 7,000. 798 00:35:21,186 --> 00:35:25,055 That same cryptocurrency is worth $35,000 today. 799 00:35:25,057 --> 00:35:27,257 If we accept this crypto from this guy, 800 00:35:27,259 --> 00:35:30,427 we stand a chance of doubling, maybe tripling our money. 801 00:35:30,596 --> 00:35:33,196 Oh, yeah. 802 00:35:33,198 --> 00:35:36,166 Yeah. But can I walk in the bank and say, "I want to see it"? 803 00:35:36,168 --> 00:35:38,401 I walk in the bank and tell him, "let me see my money. 804 00:35:38,403 --> 00:35:39,836 -I want to see it." -[craig] no. 805 00:35:39,838 --> 00:35:41,404 I can see this. 806 00:35:41,406 --> 00:35:43,206 I know what this is. 807 00:35:43,208 --> 00:35:44,975 Cryptocurrency, you have to hand it to me 808 00:35:44,977 --> 00:35:46,910 on something like this, a flash drive. 809 00:35:46,912 --> 00:35:49,045 I don't trust something I can't see. 810 00:35:49,047 --> 00:35:52,249 It's being held in your wallet off to the side. 811 00:35:52,251 --> 00:35:53,450 You're your own bank. 812 00:35:53,452 --> 00:35:56,486 Plus, crypto moves up and down. I mean, this can go down. 813 00:35:56,488 --> 00:35:58,722 This can take a nosedive and we could lose everything. 814 00:35:58,724 --> 00:36:00,257 I think we should take a chance. 815 00:36:02,761 --> 00:36:05,328 You take charge of this one, I'll let you talk to him about that. 816 00:36:05,330 --> 00:36:08,265 Craig knows a lot about it, so I'm going to trust him, 817 00:36:08,267 --> 00:36:10,667 see if what he says actually works. 818 00:36:10,669 --> 00:36:12,469 There we go. It's dripping. 819 00:36:12,471 --> 00:36:14,671 We're getting our first little drip drop, 820 00:36:14,673 --> 00:36:16,473 the beginning of something good. 821 00:36:16,475 --> 00:36:18,275 Go ahead and throw that off. 822 00:36:20,145 --> 00:36:22,179 This is 160, 170, for sure. 823 00:36:22,181 --> 00:36:23,713 That's strong, man. 824 00:36:23,715 --> 00:36:27,784 So we're hoping to get at least three gallons of our base spirit. 825 00:36:27,786 --> 00:36:30,220 -Get another jar so we don't lose all of this. -[craig] oh, yeah. 826 00:36:30,222 --> 00:36:32,989 It's putting off more liquor than we thought. 827 00:36:32,991 --> 00:36:34,925 [richard] it's running like crazy. 828 00:36:34,927 --> 00:36:36,393 Man, this is the last jar, man. 829 00:36:36,395 --> 00:36:37,961 Give me that bucket. 830 00:36:37,963 --> 00:36:39,362 This'll be good to go. 831 00:36:39,364 --> 00:36:41,331 All right. The next thing that we're gonna do 832 00:36:41,333 --> 00:36:43,900 is we're gonna take all this distillate that we got out of here. 833 00:36:43,902 --> 00:36:45,435 We're gonna through a maceration process. 834 00:36:45,437 --> 00:36:47,003 We're gonna take the fresh herbals, 835 00:36:47,005 --> 00:36:48,838 the fresh botanicals that we have, 836 00:36:48,840 --> 00:36:51,675 and we're gonna put them in here, let them sit for 24 hours. 837 00:36:51,677 --> 00:36:52,943 Now that we have our base spirit, 838 00:36:52,945 --> 00:36:55,111 we're gonna add all of these herbs to it. 839 00:36:55,113 --> 00:36:57,347 All right. So that's 40 grams of anise seed. 840 00:36:57,349 --> 00:36:58,848 Dump that in there. Dump. 841 00:36:58,850 --> 00:37:00,050 I'm gonna write that down. 842 00:37:00,052 --> 00:37:01,418 We're weighing all these herbs. 843 00:37:01,420 --> 00:37:02,786 We want to be able to replicate this 844 00:37:02,788 --> 00:37:05,021 if this comes out right and don't have to guess. 845 00:37:05,023 --> 00:37:08,658 Star anise is something else, man, this is powerful, strong. 846 00:37:08,660 --> 00:37:11,061 I look at this sugar wash like a blank canvas. 847 00:37:11,063 --> 00:37:13,230 All we have to do is put it on the easel, 848 00:37:13,232 --> 00:37:15,699 get our botanicals and paint them on. 849 00:37:15,701 --> 00:37:18,268 Spearmint. A little of this goes a long way. 850 00:37:18,270 --> 00:37:20,704 This high proof alcohol is going to start to break down 851 00:37:20,706 --> 00:37:23,940 all of these oils, which is an essential part of absinthe. 852 00:37:23,942 --> 00:37:25,909 We're gonna go with your friend here, 853 00:37:25,911 --> 00:37:28,311 mr. Wormwood is a staple in this. 854 00:37:32,050 --> 00:37:33,416 -I know. -[craig] I don't really know 855 00:37:33,418 --> 00:37:35,018 with what we're gonna end up with. 856 00:37:35,020 --> 00:37:37,821 Hopefully, it doesn't taste nothing like wormwood. 857 00:37:37,823 --> 00:37:40,156 Man, we got a concoction here. 858 00:37:40,158 --> 00:37:41,424 [richard] so we dump all this into here. 859 00:37:41,426 --> 00:37:43,059 We let it sit for 24 hours. 860 00:37:43,061 --> 00:37:44,928 All of these oils are gonna soak out. 861 00:37:44,930 --> 00:37:46,129 Hold both sides of the cap. 862 00:37:46,131 --> 00:37:48,098 We lose that, you're gonna have to swim home. 863 00:37:48,100 --> 00:37:50,033 We'll come back in and run it through the still. 864 00:37:50,035 --> 00:37:53,169 What comes out at this point is a white absinthe. 865 00:37:53,171 --> 00:37:55,438 We want to be careful with this. There's a lot at stake here. 866 00:37:55,440 --> 00:37:57,307 We don't have a whole lot of alcohol to work with. 867 00:37:57,309 --> 00:38:00,176 All right. Well, that's it. Let's go ahead and get out of here, man. 868 00:38:00,178 --> 00:38:02,412 The stakes are real high. We got one shot at this. 869 00:38:02,414 --> 00:38:04,014 We're gonna make sure we do this right. 870 00:38:04,016 --> 00:38:06,349 [birds chirping] 871 00:38:18,130 --> 00:38:21,298 there are springs in every cave over there on that bluff. 872 00:38:21,300 --> 00:38:22,766 That's all limestone. 873 00:38:22,768 --> 00:38:24,200 [mark] pull in here and let's look. 874 00:38:24,202 --> 00:38:26,269 Digger and I, you know, we're back in tennessee 875 00:38:26,271 --> 00:38:28,204 on a hunt for a limestone water. 876 00:38:28,206 --> 00:38:31,941 In order for us to continue in making tennessee whiskey, 877 00:38:31,943 --> 00:38:35,211 we need both our limestone water and our still site 878 00:38:35,213 --> 00:38:37,047 in exactly the same place. 879 00:38:37,049 --> 00:38:39,249 Every bit of this is limestone, end-to-end. 880 00:38:39,251 --> 00:38:42,052 Now there's a spring, comes out of that bluff right there. 881 00:38:42,054 --> 00:38:44,921 [mark] there's a lot of limestone springs around here, 882 00:38:44,923 --> 00:38:48,825 but, you know, sadly, we've not found anything very promising at all. 883 00:38:48,827 --> 00:38:51,394 And we're getting down pretty low on the bottom of the list. 884 00:38:51,396 --> 00:38:54,998 So, you know, it's... It's soon or never, I guess. 885 00:38:55,000 --> 00:38:56,700 We'd be safe over there, but... 886 00:38:56,702 --> 00:38:58,301 Can't get to none of it. 887 00:38:58,303 --> 00:39:01,938 [digger] when I was, you know, 15, 16, 17 years old 888 00:39:01,940 --> 00:39:04,474 it wasn't anything to climb up them rock bluffs, 889 00:39:04,476 --> 00:39:07,410 but anymore, I can't, I can't do it. 890 00:39:07,412 --> 00:39:09,346 [mark] and don't matter how much good water we find, 891 00:39:09,348 --> 00:39:10,914 if we can't access it. 892 00:39:10,916 --> 00:39:13,416 -[digger] moving on. -[mark] moving on here, boss. 893 00:39:13,418 --> 00:39:16,252 Well, let's go up here at this one little old spot. 894 00:39:16,254 --> 00:39:17,854 I used to own that property. 895 00:39:17,856 --> 00:39:19,189 Wish I still did. 896 00:39:19,191 --> 00:39:23,026 It's got a real good spring on it. It's right up here. 897 00:39:23,729 --> 00:39:26,062 Well, that pretty much says it all. 898 00:39:26,064 --> 00:39:28,365 [mark] oh, yeah. Well, that don't look good. 899 00:39:28,367 --> 00:39:30,700 We're getting nowhere in a great big hurry. 900 00:39:30,702 --> 00:39:31,868 Well... 901 00:39:31,970 --> 00:39:34,871 We have zero options after a whole day of hunting. 902 00:39:34,873 --> 00:39:36,906 I'm horribly disheartened with this. 903 00:39:36,908 --> 00:39:40,977 We need a still site that's close a good source of limestone water 904 00:39:40,979 --> 00:39:43,113 that we've got a footprint to set a bigger still, 905 00:39:43,115 --> 00:39:47,684 where we can ramp up production, and we need it now. 906 00:39:47,686 --> 00:39:50,120 The only thing I know to do ahead is go down here 907 00:39:50,122 --> 00:39:53,857 and talk to john down here at english mountain spring water. 908 00:39:53,859 --> 00:39:55,992 You know, the guy that owns the english mountain spring water 909 00:39:55,994 --> 00:39:58,328 is a guy by the name of john burleson. 910 00:39:58,330 --> 00:40:00,296 Digger knows john better than I do, 911 00:40:00,298 --> 00:40:03,400 but english mountain spring water was judged 912 00:40:03,402 --> 00:40:08,071 and voted to be the best tasting water in the world. 913 00:40:08,073 --> 00:40:10,340 Hell, we ain't got nothing to lose. 914 00:40:10,342 --> 00:40:13,877 We'll just approach him with kind of bended knees and hat in hand. 915 00:40:13,879 --> 00:40:17,247 The mineral content's perfect. It's... It's good and sweet. 916 00:40:17,249 --> 00:40:19,115 I know it's limestone water. 917 00:40:19,117 --> 00:40:22,385 We've got tempering water out of it for years from the runoff. 918 00:40:22,387 --> 00:40:24,621 Reckon you can pull a nose hair out of your nose 919 00:40:24,623 --> 00:40:27,023 -and maybe tear up a little bit? -I don't know. 920 00:40:27,025 --> 00:40:30,393 Hell, we've looked hell west and crooked for limestone water. 921 00:40:30,395 --> 00:40:33,062 This is pretty much the end of the line for us. 922 00:40:33,064 --> 00:40:34,464 We don't know where else to look. 923 00:40:34,466 --> 00:40:38,234 We have to make this source of water work for us. 924 00:40:39,271 --> 00:40:41,771 [digger] it's our last resort right here. 925 00:40:41,773 --> 00:40:44,674 We're going to ask john at english mountain spring water 926 00:40:44,676 --> 00:40:48,278 if we can run liquor at his facility, on his spring, 927 00:40:48,280 --> 00:40:50,947 you know, away from his business. 928 00:40:50,949 --> 00:40:54,451 Um, but I think the likelihood is slim to none. 929 00:40:55,887 --> 00:40:58,888 [mark] well, I guess, no luck. 930 00:40:58,890 --> 00:41:02,158 That's what we'll call it. We're kind of out of choices here. 931 00:41:02,160 --> 00:41:03,226 Right. 932 00:41:03,228 --> 00:41:04,327 Can I help you? 933 00:41:05,163 --> 00:41:06,696 Hey, how are you? 934 00:41:06,698 --> 00:41:08,231 You wouldn't happen to remember us, would you? 935 00:41:08,233 --> 00:41:09,866 I do. 936 00:41:09,868 --> 00:41:12,769 [digger] well, we've... We've come back to you again to talk. 937 00:41:12,771 --> 00:41:13,870 [john] good to see you. 938 00:41:13,872 --> 00:41:15,972 We have a request we'd like to make. 939 00:41:15,974 --> 00:41:18,308 We'd like to talk about your water. 940 00:41:18,310 --> 00:41:22,078 We really was wondering if you'd care if we captured a little of it. 941 00:41:22,080 --> 00:41:24,948 And let us come in here and run on this spot.