1 00:00:05,767 --> 00:00:07,767 [narrator] This time on Master Distiller. 2 00:00:07,767 --> 00:00:09,367 It can be worth more than gold. 3 00:00:09,367 --> 00:00:11,367 [narrator] In the hills of Appalachia, 4 00:00:11,367 --> 00:00:14,367 moonshiners share their hiding places 5 00:00:14,367 --> 00:00:17,500 with a special breed of treasure hunter. 6 00:00:17,500 --> 00:00:19,166 Here's some ginseng. 7 00:00:19,166 --> 00:00:21,500 [narrator] Rare and protected by law. 8 00:00:21,500 --> 00:00:22,700 [dog whimpering] 9 00:00:22,700 --> 00:00:24,133 [man] Hey, bud, what are you doing? 10 00:00:25,066 --> 00:00:26,367 Ginseng hunting. 11 00:00:26,367 --> 00:00:30,367 [narrator] Wild ginseng can command thousands of dollars a pound. 12 00:00:30,367 --> 00:00:31,300 [man 2] That's what he's doing. 13 00:00:31,300 --> 00:00:32,300 Hunting ginseng. 14 00:00:32,300 --> 00:00:33,400 Gonna make a little money. 15 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:36,767 [narrator] And potential felony charges for picking it. 16 00:00:36,767 --> 00:00:38,567 But for our distillers... 17 00:00:38,567 --> 00:00:40,367 Don't you guys be looking at my secret ingredient. 18 00:00:40,367 --> 00:00:42,367 [narrator] ...a run of ginseng liquor... 19 00:00:42,367 --> 00:00:44,400 Most expensive mash in history. 20 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:46,367 [narrator] ...can mean hitting the jackpot. 21 00:00:46,367 --> 00:00:48,166 That right there, you can sell that jar. 22 00:00:59,667 --> 00:01:02,867 All right, guys. Welcome to Master Distiller. 23 00:01:02,867 --> 00:01:07,400 You're going to build us some liquor infused with ginseng. 24 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:11,367 We want the flavor, plus the benefits of that ginseng. 25 00:01:11,367 --> 00:01:13,400 At the end of this contest, 26 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:16,667 one of y'all will be named Master Distiller. 27 00:01:16,667 --> 00:01:18,567 Appalachian wild ginseng 28 00:01:18,567 --> 00:01:21,567 for centuries has been used as a tonic. 29 00:01:21,567 --> 00:01:25,266 It can be made into tea, or infused into moonshine. 30 00:01:25,266 --> 00:01:28,500 Depending on the size and the age of the root, 31 00:01:28,500 --> 00:01:30,867 it can be worth more than gold. 32 00:01:30,867 --> 00:01:33,967 [Digger] Now, hunting ginseng's a little bit dangerous, folks. 33 00:01:33,967 --> 00:01:35,266 If you get it from a wrong spot, 34 00:01:35,266 --> 00:01:36,767 say, the national park, 35 00:01:36,767 --> 00:01:39,667 you could find yourself in jail if you ain't careful. 36 00:01:39,667 --> 00:01:41,800 This is a very specialty liquor. 37 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:45,066 If it's done right, there's a global market out there. 38 00:01:45,066 --> 00:01:49,033 But it is getting harder and harder to get wild ginseng. 39 00:01:49,767 --> 00:01:52,166 Tickle, tell us all about it. 40 00:01:53,166 --> 00:01:55,867 Wild ginseng is a slow-growing perennial 41 00:01:55,867 --> 00:01:59,000 that grows in shady forests all over Appalachia. 42 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:00,467 It peaks in late summer 43 00:02:00,467 --> 00:02:03,066 and is traditionally harvested in the autumn. 44 00:02:03,066 --> 00:02:05,500 It's been used for centuries in Appalachia 45 00:02:05,500 --> 00:02:07,567 as a tonic by the Cherokees. 46 00:02:07,567 --> 00:02:09,867 And later, European settlers infused it 47 00:02:09,867 --> 00:02:11,800 into teas and moonshine. 48 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:14,367 Wild ginseng is known around the world 49 00:02:14,367 --> 00:02:15,867 for its medicinal properties, 50 00:02:15,867 --> 00:02:18,200 especially in the Asian market, 51 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:22,367 where prices average $8,000 a pound. 52 00:02:22,367 --> 00:02:24,200 With limited season and risk 53 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:26,166 from dangerous poachers and bandits, 54 00:02:26,166 --> 00:02:28,000 ginseng infused moonshine 55 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:30,567 is becoming as rare as the roots themselves. 56 00:02:30,567 --> 00:02:33,400 But a delicious spirit infused with wild ginseng 57 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:35,300 with a market this hot, 58 00:02:35,300 --> 00:02:37,333 that's an investment worth making. 59 00:02:40,100 --> 00:02:41,000 All right, guys, 60 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,266 you're going to incorporate into your liquor 61 00:02:43,266 --> 00:02:45,300 this precious, precious root, 62 00:02:45,300 --> 00:02:47,767 and also make it delicious enough 63 00:02:47,767 --> 00:02:49,600 to where it is marketable. 64 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:51,367 You don't have to add your ginseng 65 00:02:51,367 --> 00:02:53,266 in your base spirit run, 66 00:02:53,266 --> 00:02:55,567 but we do need your base spirit run 67 00:02:55,567 --> 00:02:59,300 to complement the ginseng, not overwhelm it. 68 00:02:59,300 --> 00:03:02,266 You've got the choice of where you want to insert it. 69 00:03:02,266 --> 00:03:05,500 And we do need to taste the ginseng in your final jar. 70 00:03:05,500 --> 00:03:07,500 All right, guys, time for y'all to build us 71 00:03:07,500 --> 00:03:09,233 a mash for your base spirit. 72 00:03:10,100 --> 00:03:11,467 We ain't going to do it in here, guys. 73 00:03:11,467 --> 00:03:12,967 We're going out in the great outdoors 74 00:03:12,967 --> 00:03:14,000 where we belong. 75 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:15,200 Come with me and Mark. 76 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:17,000 Tim's going to stay here and guard that copper. 77 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:18,667 Yeah, I'm going to stay inside where it's warm. 78 00:03:25,500 --> 00:03:26,600 All right, guys, we're out here 79 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:30,000 where the ginseng grows in these hills of East Tennessee. 80 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,200 You have one hour to build us your ginseng mash. 81 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:35,367 Your time starts... now. 82 00:03:35,367 --> 00:03:36,867 Good luck and get with it, guys. 83 00:03:36,867 --> 00:03:38,166 [Mark] Good luck, gentlemen. 84 00:03:41,967 --> 00:03:43,533 Here we got the flame down. 85 00:03:44,667 --> 00:03:45,634 There she goes. 86 00:03:46,367 --> 00:03:48,667 There we go. I got it. 87 00:03:48,667 --> 00:03:53,066 I'm Robert Bowman from Cherokee, North Carolina. 88 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:56,166 I'm 45 years old. 89 00:03:56,166 --> 00:03:58,867 For a living, I do heating and air and electrical work, 90 00:03:58,867 --> 00:04:01,166 basically a little handyman helper. 91 00:04:01,166 --> 00:04:04,066 This is a good place to forage, find what you need, 92 00:04:04,066 --> 00:04:06,700 especially if you know what you're looking for. 93 00:04:06,700 --> 00:04:10,800 I grew up being told what to hunt for, what to look for. 94 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:14,567 A lot of dads around here, they hunt for damn ginseng. 95 00:04:15,300 --> 00:04:17,400 Get this all screwed together here. 96 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:20,367 I didn't start hunting and distilling until about five years ago. 97 00:04:20,367 --> 00:04:23,467 This one, I fully built everything to it. 98 00:04:23,467 --> 00:04:26,767 After 20 years of fabricating metal, 99 00:04:26,767 --> 00:04:30,166 this was a new challenge I really enjoyed. 100 00:04:30,166 --> 00:04:32,700 I just wanted to play mad scientist 101 00:04:32,700 --> 00:04:35,700 and see what kind of spirits I can actually make. 102 00:04:35,700 --> 00:04:39,100 Boys, I believe I've got corn stew going on over here. 103 00:04:39,100 --> 00:04:40,600 It's always a good base. 104 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:45,800 [Robert] My whole mash is a mixture of cracked corn and whole corn. 105 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,600 I use a little bit of honey, a little bit of barley. 106 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:51,066 This is local honey I get from my house. 107 00:04:51,066 --> 00:04:53,467 I'm not going to put ginseng in base mash 108 00:04:53,467 --> 00:04:56,667 because you're not going to get that true flavoring out of it. 109 00:04:56,667 --> 00:05:00,400 -Ginseng is a real woodsy taste when you bite into it. -Oh, yeah. 110 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:02,567 Corn spirits seem to be doing the best 111 00:05:02,567 --> 00:05:05,166 when you're dealing with a woodsy element. 112 00:05:05,166 --> 00:05:07,000 My plan is we're going to make an elixir 113 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:09,567 but with the flavoring of ginseng whiskey. 114 00:05:09,567 --> 00:05:12,200 It's more respect for my people doing the elixir 115 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:14,867 because anytime the Cherokee used ginseng, 116 00:05:14,867 --> 00:05:16,367 it was medicine. 117 00:05:16,367 --> 00:05:19,667 Got you boys some pure Catskill Mountain maple syrup here. 118 00:05:19,667 --> 00:05:21,667 Yeah, we'd rather have that on a pancake. 119 00:05:21,667 --> 00:05:22,934 Wait till you taste this. 120 00:05:23,867 --> 00:05:25,166 [smacks lips] Mmm. 121 00:05:25,166 --> 00:05:26,266 My name is Brian Mulder. 122 00:05:26,266 --> 00:05:28,734 I'm 57 years old from Roxbury, New York. 123 00:05:29,867 --> 00:05:31,567 And I'm the owner and head distiller 124 00:05:31,567 --> 00:05:34,500 and only distiller of Union Grove Distillery. 125 00:05:34,500 --> 00:05:37,066 So our gin we make with Catskill Mountain botanicals. 126 00:05:37,066 --> 00:05:39,767 We use Catskill Mountain wild ginseng. 127 00:05:39,767 --> 00:05:41,967 People really, really love that gin. 128 00:05:41,967 --> 00:05:44,100 We're going to take a little bit of our whiskey out 129 00:05:44,100 --> 00:05:45,867 to see how it's faring. 130 00:05:45,867 --> 00:05:47,600 [Brian] We are a family-run distillery. 131 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:49,967 My wife Penny, she is here full-time with me as well as 132 00:05:49,967 --> 00:05:52,100 our two sons, Tristan and Victor. 133 00:05:52,100 --> 00:05:54,300 -Cheers. -Victor will work behind the bar 134 00:05:54,300 --> 00:05:56,867 and Tristan, who is in a wheelchair, 135 00:05:56,867 --> 00:05:58,500 who suffered an accident a couple of years ago, 136 00:05:58,500 --> 00:05:59,967 helps here when he can. 137 00:05:59,967 --> 00:06:03,667 So we do all of our bottling here by hand. 138 00:06:03,667 --> 00:06:05,467 We are everything there. 139 00:06:05,467 --> 00:06:06,867 There's no other employees on site 140 00:06:06,867 --> 00:06:09,166 except myself, my wife, and a couple bartenders. 141 00:06:10,967 --> 00:06:12,567 You guys bring your pancakes? 142 00:06:12,567 --> 00:06:15,667 No, we ain't got enough money to buy all that syrup either. 143 00:06:15,667 --> 00:06:17,166 [all laugh] 144 00:06:17,166 --> 00:06:19,100 [Brian] It helps to know the guy that makes it. 145 00:06:19,100 --> 00:06:21,567 -[Mark] I guess. -Oh yeah, I'd say so. 146 00:06:21,567 --> 00:06:23,266 [Brian] My process is pretty simple. 147 00:06:23,266 --> 00:06:24,867 I want to just use the maple syrup 148 00:06:24,867 --> 00:06:28,700 as the base spirit and show these guys 149 00:06:28,700 --> 00:06:32,300 what can be made from just one sugar, maple syrup. 150 00:06:32,300 --> 00:06:34,800 Back home, I used 55 gallons of syrup at a time. 151 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:35,967 Oh my. 152 00:06:35,967 --> 00:06:37,800 You don't see many people working with maple syrup. 153 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:40,667 -Not on the volume that you are working with. -Right. Right. 154 00:06:40,667 --> 00:06:43,400 The ginseng with the maple in my final spirit 155 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:45,166 is going to be a great tasting product 156 00:06:45,166 --> 00:06:46,567 that's really highly marketable. 157 00:06:46,567 --> 00:06:48,367 I didn't want to put any ginseng in this pot 158 00:06:48,367 --> 00:06:49,500 because you really need to infuse it. 159 00:06:49,500 --> 00:06:52,066 Use the alcohol to extract the properties and the flavors. 160 00:06:52,667 --> 00:06:53,700 It's hard to find, I'll tell ya, 161 00:06:53,700 --> 00:06:55,166 in the Catskills especially. 162 00:06:55,166 --> 00:06:57,667 I'm from Texas and we don't have ginseng down there. 163 00:06:57,667 --> 00:06:59,066 I can tell you that. 164 00:06:59,066 --> 00:07:00,500 I got plenty of mesquite trees. 165 00:07:00,500 --> 00:07:01,800 [laughs] 166 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:03,567 My name's Mike Teague. I'm from Buda, Texas. 167 00:07:03,567 --> 00:07:06,266 I'm 35 years old and I'm a professional firefighter. 168 00:07:06,266 --> 00:07:08,967 We like to get out and train and hone our skills. 169 00:07:08,967 --> 00:07:11,266 And then obviously when we're not in the fire station, 170 00:07:11,266 --> 00:07:12,367 or running calls. 171 00:07:12,367 --> 00:07:13,500 You know, we're cooking 172 00:07:13,500 --> 00:07:15,700 or working on other projects around the shop. 173 00:07:15,700 --> 00:07:18,300 So I have a 15 gallon keg still 174 00:07:18,300 --> 00:07:20,367 that I built with a 7 gallon thumper. 175 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:22,000 Now that we're running, 176 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:23,367 it's just pretty much a waiting game now, 177 00:07:23,367 --> 00:07:24,567 I got to swap out jars. 178 00:07:24,567 --> 00:07:26,767 For me, uh, distilling is most similar to cooking. 179 00:07:26,767 --> 00:07:29,066 You know, different seasonings, different spices, 180 00:07:29,066 --> 00:07:30,867 different fruits, different things like that. 181 00:07:30,867 --> 00:07:32,767 And it really adds an element 182 00:07:32,767 --> 00:07:34,567 of individuality to the creation. 183 00:07:34,567 --> 00:07:36,300 So these are just different recipes. 184 00:07:36,300 --> 00:07:38,467 I was working on a spiced rum for Christmas. 185 00:07:38,467 --> 00:07:41,266 Different variations of flavorings and spices 186 00:07:41,266 --> 00:07:43,000 and kind of come up with different recipes 187 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:44,367 and pick one from that. 188 00:07:44,367 --> 00:07:46,400 I actually started out home brewing beer and wine 189 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:47,467 and through some research, 190 00:07:47,467 --> 00:07:50,300 I found out that distilling is only one more step away 191 00:07:50,300 --> 00:07:51,467 from making beer 192 00:07:51,467 --> 00:07:52,567 and the profiles are real similar. 193 00:07:52,567 --> 00:07:54,100 So that's kind of how that got started. 194 00:07:54,100 --> 00:07:57,767 I average around 140, 150 proof when we're all done. 195 00:07:57,767 --> 00:07:59,667 As you can see, it's like printing money. 196 00:08:00,066 --> 00:08:00,934 [chuckles] 197 00:08:03,100 --> 00:08:04,567 [Digger] Molasses? 198 00:08:04,567 --> 00:08:07,367 Looks like a lot of jars of molasses? 199 00:08:07,367 --> 00:08:08,967 [Mike] Yes, sir. I'm doing a, uh, 200 00:08:08,967 --> 00:08:10,600 pretty similar to basic rum wash. 201 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:12,400 For my base mash, I'm going to be mashing in 202 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:14,300 with a mixture of raw cane sugar. 203 00:08:14,300 --> 00:08:16,467 Which has the natural molasses still attached to it. 204 00:08:16,467 --> 00:08:18,000 I'm going to use some light brown sugar 205 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,767 and then some unsulphured blackstrap molasses. 206 00:08:20,767 --> 00:08:21,867 [Digger] Brown sugar. 207 00:08:21,867 --> 00:08:23,967 -[Mark] Mmm-hmm. -I love it. 208 00:08:23,967 --> 00:08:25,667 [Mark] Yeah, boy. 209 00:08:25,667 --> 00:08:26,600 Just going to carry over well 210 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:28,567 and marry up with the ginseng flavor, 211 00:08:28,567 --> 00:08:30,100 makes it more easy to drink. 212 00:08:30,100 --> 00:08:31,467 Are you going to actually be putting 213 00:08:31,467 --> 00:08:32,767 some ginseng in this mash? 214 00:08:32,767 --> 00:08:34,567 As expensive as it is, I want to save it 215 00:08:34,567 --> 00:08:36,033 for when it matters the most. 216 00:08:36,667 --> 00:08:38,367 Definitely don't want to waste it. 217 00:08:38,367 --> 00:08:40,066 Well, at the end of the day, I think we're going to have 218 00:08:40,066 --> 00:08:42,000 some good liquor on all channels. 219 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:43,000 [Mark] Yes, sir. 220 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,000 Gentlemen, you got 30 minutes left. 221 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:45,867 You're halfway there. 222 00:08:45,867 --> 00:08:47,033 [Mike] Yes, sir. 223 00:08:47,967 --> 00:08:48,900 Gotta watch my heat. 224 00:08:48,900 --> 00:08:50,567 You're getting a lot of sugar in that pot now. 225 00:08:50,567 --> 00:08:52,767 The last couple of years have been pretty hard for us 226 00:08:52,767 --> 00:08:54,767 between the pandemic and my son's accident. 227 00:08:54,767 --> 00:08:57,467 We've worked really hard to try and turn things around 228 00:08:57,467 --> 00:08:59,800 and winning this title would mean a lot. 229 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:01,100 Not only to me, 230 00:09:01,100 --> 00:09:02,634 but to a lot of people that have supported me. 231 00:09:03,467 --> 00:09:04,900 You're done with the heat over there, Mike? 232 00:09:04,900 --> 00:09:06,567 Yeah, I cut it off a little bit ago. 233 00:09:06,567 --> 00:09:08,967 I think I'm still, we're still up around almost 100. 234 00:09:08,967 --> 00:09:09,867 So I think we're doing all right. 235 00:09:09,867 --> 00:09:10,934 [Brian] Yeah, that's where I'm sitting now. 236 00:09:10,934 --> 00:09:12,367 -So that was good enough for me. -[Mike] Yeah. 237 00:09:12,367 --> 00:09:14,367 [Mike] Winning Master Distiller would be massive for me. 238 00:09:14,367 --> 00:09:16,166 My hope is to open my own distillery here 239 00:09:16,166 --> 00:09:18,266 in the near future and winning would hopefully 240 00:09:18,266 --> 00:09:20,667 open the doors that we need to make it happen. 241 00:09:20,667 --> 00:09:22,367 [Digger] 15 minutes, gentlemen. 242 00:09:22,367 --> 00:09:24,467 Better be getting them buttons fastened up. 243 00:09:24,467 --> 00:09:26,567 There's going to be a lot of the Cherokees 244 00:09:26,567 --> 00:09:28,367 that are going to be amazed to see me out here. 245 00:09:28,367 --> 00:09:30,867 And I want to win Master Distiller 246 00:09:30,867 --> 00:09:33,266 and prove that we still make a elixir 247 00:09:33,266 --> 00:09:35,100 that tastes as good as the whiskey. 248 00:09:35,100 --> 00:09:36,266 [Digger] All right, gentlemen, 249 00:09:36,266 --> 00:09:38,467 you actually have four minutes left. 250 00:09:38,467 --> 00:09:39,734 [Robert] Better hoof it to it. 251 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:43,000 Boys, I think I got some caramel corn over here. 252 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:45,567 I burnt my mash, you know, I scorched it a little bit. 253 00:09:45,567 --> 00:09:47,600 But I'm hoping to extract that taste out 254 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:49,266 when I start running. 255 00:09:49,266 --> 00:09:50,700 There we go. 256 00:09:50,700 --> 00:09:55,400 Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, 257 00:09:55,400 --> 00:10:00,600 five, four, three, two, one. 258 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:03,433 Step away from your barrels, men, you're done. 259 00:10:09,266 --> 00:10:11,266 All right, men, welcome back. 260 00:10:11,266 --> 00:10:12,200 It's the big day. 261 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:14,467 You first run, you stripping run. 262 00:10:14,467 --> 00:10:17,500 Get that spirit out of there that you're going to build on 263 00:10:17,500 --> 00:10:19,667 throughout this competition to infuse it 264 00:10:19,667 --> 00:10:21,667 with Appalachian ginseng. 265 00:10:21,667 --> 00:10:25,000 You'll notice you've got the basic pot still here. 266 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:28,467 You're going to have three hours to run your base spirit. 267 00:10:28,467 --> 00:10:30,166 The winner of this challenge 268 00:10:30,166 --> 00:10:33,000 gets to go first into the still house 269 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:34,567 for pick of still parts. 270 00:10:34,567 --> 00:10:35,967 If you think you need something 271 00:10:35,967 --> 00:10:38,800 like a thumper for your second run, 272 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:40,900 you better bring us your best jar. 273 00:10:40,900 --> 00:10:44,700 We only need to taste your ginseng in your final jar. 274 00:10:44,700 --> 00:10:45,967 We know it's pretty valuable, 275 00:10:45,967 --> 00:10:48,967 and you're probably planning on adding it later. 276 00:10:48,967 --> 00:10:50,500 [Digger] All right, guys, that's all the chatter 277 00:10:50,500 --> 00:10:51,300 you're going to hear up here. 278 00:10:51,300 --> 00:10:52,467 You got three hours. 279 00:10:52,467 --> 00:10:55,467 Bring us your best jar of your base spirit 280 00:10:55,467 --> 00:10:57,066 before that time lapses. 281 00:10:57,867 --> 00:11:00,100 Your three hours starts now. 282 00:11:00,100 --> 00:11:01,333 Good luck and get with it. 283 00:11:02,300 --> 00:11:03,533 [Mike] Let's get it done. 284 00:11:05,266 --> 00:11:06,266 There we go. 285 00:11:07,467 --> 00:11:09,367 [Robert] Yeah, we got some flamage going. 286 00:11:13,100 --> 00:11:14,266 Oh, that's good. 287 00:11:14,266 --> 00:11:16,166 I finally got to see the mash. 288 00:11:16,166 --> 00:11:18,000 I think that I can get as much maple syrup, 289 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,266 it looked right, as it could need a lot of time. 290 00:11:20,266 --> 00:11:22,266 Oh, she smells good too. Oof. 291 00:11:22,266 --> 00:11:24,767 That's some pretty rich mash right there. 292 00:11:24,767 --> 00:11:26,266 Pretty mash. 293 00:11:26,266 --> 00:11:28,900 [Mike] My mash didn't actually get it worked off all the way. 294 00:11:28,900 --> 00:11:30,100 Still working in the barrel, 295 00:11:30,100 --> 00:11:32,367 but I feel like that little residual sugar 296 00:11:32,367 --> 00:11:34,567 that was left over can help me kind of push through 297 00:11:34,567 --> 00:11:36,767 some extra sweetness and flavor through that run. 298 00:11:37,767 --> 00:11:39,000 You're still working? 299 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:40,100 Ooh, yeah. 300 00:11:40,100 --> 00:11:41,166 Still got a little sweet in there. 301 00:11:41,166 --> 00:11:42,266 I don't know if it worked all the way off, 302 00:11:42,266 --> 00:11:43,967 but definitely good. 303 00:11:43,967 --> 00:11:44,900 How about yours? 304 00:11:44,900 --> 00:11:47,166 [Robert] Got that good bitter beer taste to it. 305 00:11:47,166 --> 00:11:50,767 That's going to be what complements that ginseng. 306 00:11:50,767 --> 00:11:53,500 Damn, man, oh, Mark, we know tons of people 307 00:11:53,500 --> 00:11:54,767 that dig ginseng 308 00:11:54,767 --> 00:11:55,700 because, you, know, hell, 309 00:11:55,700 --> 00:11:58,667 you can get $700 to $900 a pound for it. 310 00:11:58,667 --> 00:12:00,467 As a matter of fact, we was making liquor 311 00:12:00,467 --> 00:12:02,100 and some boys walked up on us. 312 00:12:02,100 --> 00:12:05,066 We were in the National Park, wasn't supposed to be there. 313 00:12:05,066 --> 00:12:07,400 -In fact, we was carrying the steel in. -Yeah. 314 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:09,767 And this one guy, he said, "I know what you got in here 315 00:12:09,767 --> 00:12:10,767 and what you're going to do." 316 00:12:10,767 --> 00:12:12,300 He said, "Do you think the park service 317 00:12:12,300 --> 00:12:13,333 won't know what you're doing?" 318 00:12:13,333 --> 00:12:14,667 I said, "I think they're going to know you're in here 319 00:12:14,667 --> 00:12:16,367 digging ginseng." 320 00:12:16,367 --> 00:12:17,600 And he said, "What you mean?" 321 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:20,467 I can see their hands was, I mean, they had mud 322 00:12:20,467 --> 00:12:22,800 up under where the fingernails where they'd been digging. 323 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,066 They kind of realized it's a wash. 324 00:12:25,066 --> 00:12:27,300 I think we reached mutual agreement. 325 00:12:27,300 --> 00:12:28,166 [Mark] Yeah. 326 00:12:28,166 --> 00:12:29,800 Moved on with their own business. 327 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:31,300 [Mark] Yeah. You keep my secret 328 00:12:31,300 --> 00:12:32,834 -and I'll keep yours. -[Digger] Yeah. 329 00:12:33,567 --> 00:12:34,600 [Brian] Yours done, Robert? 330 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:35,634 [Robert] Yeah. 331 00:12:36,767 --> 00:12:39,100 Did scorch my corn just a little bit. 332 00:12:39,100 --> 00:12:40,100 You want a bite of corn? 333 00:12:40,100 --> 00:12:40,934 [Brian] No, thank you. 334 00:12:40,934 --> 00:12:42,066 [Robert] Got some pickled corn over here. 335 00:12:42,066 --> 00:12:43,033 [laughs] 336 00:12:43,033 --> 00:12:44,467 When you scorch your corn, if you're not careful, 337 00:12:44,467 --> 00:12:46,967 gives the alcohol a heavy burnt taste. 338 00:12:50,900 --> 00:12:52,200 I did scorch my mash, 339 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:54,166 but I think if I can break it down far enough, 340 00:12:54,166 --> 00:12:56,166 I can still make some good liquor. 341 00:12:56,166 --> 00:12:58,166 You're putting your ginseng in now, Robert? 342 00:12:58,166 --> 00:13:01,100 No, I'm going to infuse it on the last step. 343 00:13:01,100 --> 00:13:03,000 Do you want to do yours now or? 344 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:04,367 No, I'm going to do it at the last step. 345 00:13:04,367 --> 00:13:07,867 Hey, Tim, you ever had any dealing with ginseng? 346 00:13:07,867 --> 00:13:09,867 I've got some soaking in moonshine. 347 00:13:09,867 --> 00:13:12,800 I've tasted some and I've had people make it for me 348 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:14,166 and it does not taste good. 349 00:13:14,166 --> 00:13:16,567 I mean, I understand the health benefits of it, 350 00:13:16,567 --> 00:13:18,266 but to get people to drink, 351 00:13:18,266 --> 00:13:19,967 it's kind of like before they came out 352 00:13:19,967 --> 00:13:21,266 with flavored cough medicine. 353 00:13:21,266 --> 00:13:24,367 If they run a really good base spirit, 354 00:13:24,367 --> 00:13:27,100 then that changes the ballgame. 355 00:13:27,100 --> 00:13:29,266 All right, men, two hours left. 356 00:13:29,266 --> 00:13:30,767 [Brian] I got some liquor, boys. 357 00:13:31,266 --> 00:13:32,400 First drops. 358 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:33,900 -This will be my first run -[Robert] Copper... 359 00:13:33,900 --> 00:13:36,400 on a small copper pot open-fired still. 360 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:37,767 -Look at you. -Yee-haw. 361 00:13:37,767 --> 00:13:39,367 Here I am competing against Mike and Robert, 362 00:13:39,367 --> 00:13:41,033 who have run this type of still before. 363 00:13:41,667 --> 00:13:43,266 -The heads are even good. -Yeah. 364 00:13:43,266 --> 00:13:45,367 And knowing that my taste profile 365 00:13:45,367 --> 00:13:46,867 was where I wanted it to be, 366 00:13:46,867 --> 00:13:48,467 I was very, very relieved. 367 00:13:48,467 --> 00:13:50,166 I got some running now, boys. 368 00:13:50,166 --> 00:13:51,100 [Brian] All right. 369 00:13:51,100 --> 00:13:52,166 [Mike] Ooh-wee. 370 00:13:52,166 --> 00:13:53,667 That's got plenty in it. 371 00:13:53,667 --> 00:13:55,000 [Robert] There we go. 372 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:56,567 We have liquid, boys. 373 00:13:56,567 --> 00:13:57,600 [Brian] All right. 374 00:13:57,600 --> 00:13:59,066 All right, guys. You're halfway there. 375 00:13:59,066 --> 00:14:01,233 Hour and a half gone, hour and a half left. 376 00:14:01,667 --> 00:14:02,900 Oh, man. 377 00:14:02,900 --> 00:14:05,200 It was tempering down that heat from the liquor 378 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:06,767 and the flavors really started to come through. 379 00:14:06,767 --> 00:14:09,600 The sweetness of that molasses was really on the forefront. 380 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:12,166 I think that's gonna pair in well with the ginseng. 381 00:14:12,166 --> 00:14:16,867 [Digger] Brian and Mike basically got a rum base for their mash. 382 00:14:16,867 --> 00:14:18,300 [Mark] That might pair well. 383 00:14:18,300 --> 00:14:20,967 That might be all that that ginseng needs. 384 00:14:20,967 --> 00:14:21,700 I don't know. 385 00:14:21,700 --> 00:14:23,100 We'll see where it goes. 386 00:14:23,100 --> 00:14:24,166 Just wondered why I was dizzy, 387 00:14:24,166 --> 00:14:25,200 and I realized I've been drinking. 388 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:26,600 -So never mind. -[Brian laughs] 389 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:28,000 [Digger] All right, guys. 390 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:29,367 30 minutes left. 391 00:14:29,367 --> 00:14:30,800 You better be getting where you need to be. 392 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:31,867 Ooh. 393 00:14:31,867 --> 00:14:33,000 You doing good? 394 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:34,100 [Robert] I was very impressed. 395 00:14:34,100 --> 00:14:37,200 And the proof ain't overwhelming. 396 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:39,667 -It still had good flavor. -That the one, boss? 397 00:14:39,667 --> 00:14:41,300 I feel confident in that one. 398 00:14:41,300 --> 00:14:42,734 Crystal clear. 399 00:14:43,467 --> 00:14:44,367 [Brian] I'm very pleased. 400 00:14:44,367 --> 00:14:46,367 I knew that I had the spirit that I wanted. 401 00:14:46,367 --> 00:14:47,867 Had the flavor that I wanted. 402 00:14:47,867 --> 00:14:49,266 I had the proof that I wanted. 403 00:14:49,266 --> 00:14:51,500 Cheers. I hit my mark. 404 00:14:51,500 --> 00:14:52,667 [Mike] The run went really well. 405 00:14:52,667 --> 00:14:54,367 I was really pleased with the way it came out 406 00:14:54,367 --> 00:14:55,767 and honestly surprised myself 407 00:14:55,767 --> 00:14:57,367 with the flavor that came from the run. 408 00:14:57,367 --> 00:14:58,767 Best one there today. 409 00:14:58,767 --> 00:15:01,100 All righty, now that we've got all these jars, 410 00:15:01,100 --> 00:15:04,266 we're going to cut out of here, taste, deliberate. 411 00:15:04,266 --> 00:15:05,567 We'll be back in a little bit. 412 00:15:05,567 --> 00:15:06,433 Sounds good. 413 00:15:06,433 --> 00:15:07,367 -[Mark] Good luck, guys. -[Digger] Good luck. 414 00:15:07,367 --> 00:15:10,667 Well, let's whoop this puppy. 415 00:15:10,667 --> 00:15:13,567 Well, now it's time to get into this base spirit. 416 00:15:13,567 --> 00:15:16,900 Let's see what they're gonna have to mash the ginseng with. 417 00:15:16,900 --> 00:15:18,300 You better have a good moonshine 418 00:15:18,300 --> 00:15:20,400 that can mash that bitter taste. 419 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:21,600 Let's start with Mike. 420 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:24,767 Nice, clear, cold jar. 421 00:15:24,767 --> 00:15:26,300 [Mark] Yeah, looks nice. 422 00:15:26,300 --> 00:15:28,166 I was a little worried that mash hadn't worked 423 00:15:28,166 --> 00:15:29,667 -all the way off. -[Brian] No? 424 00:15:29,667 --> 00:15:31,266 [Mike] No, it was still working. 425 00:15:31,266 --> 00:15:32,367 [Mark] Good taste, ain't it? 426 00:15:32,367 --> 00:15:34,967 -Got a hell of a flavor. -Got a good, heavy, sweet taste. 427 00:15:34,967 --> 00:15:36,867 -[Digger] Yeah, -Yes, it does. 428 00:15:36,867 --> 00:15:38,100 He just made a good jar run. 429 00:15:38,100 --> 00:15:41,066 That brown sugar carried through really, really well. 430 00:15:41,066 --> 00:15:42,467 You know, with ginseng having 431 00:15:42,467 --> 00:15:45,000 more of a bitter taste in that root, 432 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,166 it's going to mellow it out just fine. 433 00:15:47,166 --> 00:15:49,467 This is outstanding to do that with. 434 00:15:49,467 --> 00:15:50,867 Really, really good liquor right there. 435 00:15:50,867 --> 00:15:52,166 [Tim] I like it. 436 00:15:52,166 --> 00:15:54,066 All right, let's see what Brian's doing here. 437 00:15:54,066 --> 00:15:55,500 Nice and clean. 438 00:15:55,500 --> 00:15:57,000 [Mark] Yes, it is. 439 00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:58,100 I was nervous at the beginning 440 00:15:58,100 --> 00:15:59,667 because I've never used these before, so. 441 00:15:59,667 --> 00:16:01,000 Well, you didn't surprise me to see 442 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:02,066 you was working with copper. 443 00:16:02,066 --> 00:16:03,600 I figured you'd have been on it for a minute. 444 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:05,533 [Brian] Well, thank you. Thank you. It was a good run. 445 00:16:05,967 --> 00:16:07,467 Got a different smell. 446 00:16:09,667 --> 00:16:11,333 Real close to a honey base. 447 00:16:12,100 --> 00:16:14,667 I think it's real close to good. 448 00:16:14,667 --> 00:16:15,667 It's sweet. 449 00:16:15,667 --> 00:16:17,500 You know, if you're going to put ginseng in that, 450 00:16:17,500 --> 00:16:20,467 I can't see it going too bad wrong. 451 00:16:20,467 --> 00:16:23,266 He gotta mask the bitterness of the ginseng, 452 00:16:23,266 --> 00:16:26,967 and I feel this is an excellent flavor to do it with. 453 00:16:26,967 --> 00:16:28,467 [Digger] It's time to move on. 454 00:16:28,467 --> 00:16:30,767 Mr. Robert, I know he had corn, 455 00:16:30,767 --> 00:16:32,467 barley, honey, yeast. 456 00:16:32,467 --> 00:16:33,467 That's pretty simple. 457 00:16:33,467 --> 00:16:35,066 It is a nice, pretty jar. 458 00:16:35,066 --> 00:16:37,100 I kind of crisp my good corn just a little bit, 459 00:16:37,100 --> 00:16:40,066 but a little extra honey, a little thyme. 460 00:16:40,066 --> 00:16:42,000 Yeah, I think you can keep that flavor out. 461 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:43,166 -I think I got it. -You got it? 462 00:16:43,166 --> 00:16:44,734 -I feel confident about it. -Good. 463 00:16:46,266 --> 00:16:47,300 Hmm. 464 00:16:47,300 --> 00:16:49,667 -He scorched it in the mash. -Yes. 465 00:16:49,667 --> 00:16:50,867 And then he distilled it. 466 00:16:50,867 --> 00:16:53,200 -So it may have cleaned it up a little bit. -Maybe. 467 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:55,367 Well, you know it's very hard to clean that up. 468 00:16:55,367 --> 00:16:56,166 [Mark] It is. 469 00:16:56,166 --> 00:16:57,600 This is a good brew. 470 00:16:57,600 --> 00:16:59,600 Think it's got a lot of good flavor. 471 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:00,800 You got to keep in mind, 472 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:03,667 we got a really, really bitter root 473 00:17:03,667 --> 00:17:07,266 that might transform that scorched flavor 474 00:17:07,266 --> 00:17:08,767 into something else. 475 00:17:08,767 --> 00:17:09,800 But at this point, 476 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:12,100 -we're judging what we have now. -Yeah. 477 00:17:12,100 --> 00:17:13,200 Are we good there? 478 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:15,200 I think we're all on the same bus. 479 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:16,266 Yep. 480 00:17:25,967 --> 00:17:27,567 [Digger] Here we are back. 481 00:17:27,567 --> 00:17:29,100 Robert, I'll start with you. 482 00:17:29,100 --> 00:17:31,166 Corn liquor, that's what we cut our teeth on. 483 00:17:31,166 --> 00:17:33,166 I love the flavor of it front to back. 484 00:17:33,166 --> 00:17:34,600 It was well balanced. 485 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,500 There was just a tiny little scorch in there, 486 00:17:37,500 --> 00:17:40,066 but still a fine drink of liquor. 487 00:17:40,066 --> 00:17:43,367 So Robert, that is a good jar of corn liquor. 488 00:17:43,367 --> 00:17:45,900 It does have a little scorched taste to it, 489 00:17:45,900 --> 00:17:48,266 but it's not the end of the world. 490 00:17:48,266 --> 00:17:49,967 You've got another shot. 491 00:17:49,967 --> 00:17:52,467 We're going to be distilling all of it again, 492 00:17:52,467 --> 00:17:54,467 and it may be good for you. 493 00:17:54,467 --> 00:17:57,500 That flavor may offset that ginseng flavor. 494 00:17:57,500 --> 00:17:58,800 But good luck. 495 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:00,433 Now we move on to Brian. 496 00:18:01,367 --> 00:18:03,300 With all that maple syrup, 497 00:18:03,300 --> 00:18:05,667 I'm telling you, it brought the flavor. 498 00:18:05,667 --> 00:18:07,500 I don't know how it'll play out 499 00:18:07,500 --> 00:18:09,500 and balance with the bitter. 500 00:18:09,500 --> 00:18:12,166 I'm hoping you got a plan with it, but it's good. 501 00:18:12,166 --> 00:18:13,266 Thank you. 502 00:18:13,266 --> 00:18:15,400 You did a really great job with it. 503 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:18,467 -I don't know where the ginseng fits into it, -Yeah. 504 00:18:18,467 --> 00:18:22,667 but I'm sure wherever it does, you'll find that spot. 505 00:18:23,367 --> 00:18:25,567 Mike, that right yonder, 506 00:18:25,567 --> 00:18:27,467 you could taste everything that was in there. 507 00:18:27,467 --> 00:18:30,266 Molasses, brown sugar and raw cane sugar, is that correct? 508 00:18:30,266 --> 00:18:31,033 Yes, sir. 509 00:18:31,033 --> 00:18:32,400 And every one of them came through. 510 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:34,567 They were discernible in the drink. 511 00:18:34,567 --> 00:18:36,166 Good drink of liquor. 512 00:18:36,166 --> 00:18:37,467 Thank you, sir. 513 00:18:37,467 --> 00:18:40,867 You know, the upside here, nobody's going home here. 514 00:18:40,867 --> 00:18:43,867 It's just simply to put you in a pecking order 515 00:18:43,867 --> 00:18:47,000 who goes into the still house first, second, third. 516 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:49,367 The way we're going into the still house 517 00:18:49,367 --> 00:18:51,600 is Brian, you're number one, 518 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:52,967 Mike, you're number two, 519 00:18:52,967 --> 00:18:55,266 and, Robert, that little bit of scorch 520 00:18:55,266 --> 00:18:56,800 puts you in the third position, 521 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:58,066 but I ain't counting you out, brother. 522 00:18:58,066 --> 00:18:59,367 I promise you. 523 00:18:59,367 --> 00:19:00,734 Tickle! 524 00:19:04,567 --> 00:19:07,600 Well, what have we got going on here today? 525 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,500 Well, we have some ginseng distillers here. 526 00:19:10,500 --> 00:19:11,367 Healthy stuff. 527 00:19:11,367 --> 00:19:12,266 [Tim] Yeah. 528 00:19:12,266 --> 00:19:13,367 [Tickle] All right. 529 00:19:13,367 --> 00:19:14,100 Follow me. 530 00:19:14,100 --> 00:19:15,367 I'll get y'all to the still house. 531 00:19:23,367 --> 00:19:24,266 All right. 532 00:19:24,266 --> 00:19:26,667 We are here to pick still parts 533 00:19:26,667 --> 00:19:29,266 for your ginseng infused liquor. 534 00:19:29,266 --> 00:19:30,967 You're going to have three minutes 535 00:19:30,967 --> 00:19:32,367 in the still house, 536 00:19:32,367 --> 00:19:34,367 in which time you can get your parts. 537 00:19:34,367 --> 00:19:37,900 Brian, your time starts now. 538 00:19:37,900 --> 00:19:39,467 My strategy going into the still house 539 00:19:39,467 --> 00:19:41,166 is to pick a thumper. 540 00:19:41,166 --> 00:19:42,867 Have you got any still parts in there yet, Brian? 541 00:19:42,867 --> 00:19:44,467 I'm looking for some copper parts. 542 00:19:44,467 --> 00:19:47,500 With the thumper, I think that I can add more flavor 543 00:19:47,500 --> 00:19:49,967 and really make that maple flavor pop even more. 544 00:19:49,967 --> 00:19:51,700 Brian, I'm not hearing any noise in there. 545 00:19:51,700 --> 00:19:53,867 You're not curled up in the corner over there, are you? 546 00:19:53,867 --> 00:19:54,800 Got some parts here. 547 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:55,800 You get everything you need? 548 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:57,800 Everything that looks nice and shiny. 549 00:19:57,800 --> 00:19:59,066 All right. Well, that's good 550 00:19:59,066 --> 00:20:00,667 because I think your time's about up. 551 00:20:00,667 --> 00:20:02,166 -All right. -[Tickle] All right, Mike. 552 00:20:02,166 --> 00:20:06,300 You've got three minutes and your time starts now. 553 00:20:06,300 --> 00:20:07,867 All right. Come on, Mike. 554 00:20:07,867 --> 00:20:10,266 And I wasn't 100% sure I was going to get a thumper, 555 00:20:10,266 --> 00:20:11,467 but once I found out 556 00:20:11,467 --> 00:20:12,867 that Robert had some scorch in his mash, 557 00:20:12,867 --> 00:20:15,300 it kind of became a strategy to take that second thumper 558 00:20:15,300 --> 00:20:17,467 because the thumper would have given him an opportunity 559 00:20:17,467 --> 00:20:19,066 to clean his mash up. 560 00:20:19,066 --> 00:20:20,967 And I wanted to give myself the best edge I could. 561 00:20:20,967 --> 00:20:22,800 Are you putting the still together in the still house? 562 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:23,500 [Mike] I'm working on that. 563 00:20:23,500 --> 00:20:24,900 Three minutes is not enough time 564 00:20:24,900 --> 00:20:26,767 to actually put the still together. 565 00:20:26,767 --> 00:20:29,166 Now, I can use that to infuse some more flavor 566 00:20:29,166 --> 00:20:30,200 in my second run, 567 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:32,567 to impart that ginseng flavor a little bit earlier. 568 00:20:32,567 --> 00:20:33,467 You got everything you need? 569 00:20:33,467 --> 00:20:35,200 -I think I got it all. -All right. 570 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:38,266 [Tickle] All right, Robert. You've got three minutes. 571 00:20:38,266 --> 00:20:41,467 And your time starts... now. 572 00:20:41,467 --> 00:20:42,266 All right, Robert. 573 00:20:42,266 --> 00:20:44,300 The three minutes goes by real quick. 574 00:20:44,300 --> 00:20:47,367 I had a pretty good idea that was getting ready to take the thumpers. 575 00:20:47,367 --> 00:20:49,667 Uh, basically see what we got left. 576 00:20:49,667 --> 00:20:51,567 I did and grab two different heads, 577 00:20:51,567 --> 00:20:53,266 so that way I can maybe get rid 578 00:20:53,266 --> 00:20:55,367 of that little scorching mark on it. 579 00:20:55,367 --> 00:20:57,367 All right. Do you have what you want? 580 00:20:57,367 --> 00:20:58,900 -Yeah. -[Tickle] All right, guys. 581 00:20:58,900 --> 00:21:00,066 If y'all will grab y'all's stuff, 582 00:21:00,066 --> 00:21:01,600 we'll head back the way we came. 583 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:02,567 We'll get you back in there 584 00:21:02,567 --> 00:21:04,333 and make y'all's ginseng-infused liquor. 585 00:21:05,166 --> 00:21:06,233 [Robert] Without the thumper, 586 00:21:06,233 --> 00:21:08,433 I'm just waiting to see what I can damn come up with. 587 00:21:14,567 --> 00:21:17,100 Well, fellers, we made it back. 588 00:21:17,100 --> 00:21:18,867 I'mma leave them with y'all. 589 00:21:18,867 --> 00:21:20,066 [Digger] All right, Steve. 590 00:21:20,066 --> 00:21:22,467 -Go get your nap. You've earned it. -We'll see y'all later. 591 00:21:22,467 --> 00:21:25,166 All right, guys. Everybody feel like they got what they needed? 592 00:21:25,166 --> 00:21:26,600 Think so. 593 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:29,166 You' got 30 minutes to get that still assembled. 594 00:21:29,166 --> 00:21:30,900 Your 30 minutes starts... 595 00:21:30,900 --> 00:21:33,033 now. Good luck and get with it, guys. 596 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:35,433 [straining] 597 00:21:36,166 --> 00:21:37,967 [clattering] 598 00:21:37,967 --> 00:21:39,133 [Robert] Here we go. 599 00:21:39,133 --> 00:21:41,800 The still wasn't a very hard still to actually put together. 600 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:44,600 But I think I'm gonna use a different head to my advantage. 601 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:47,567 To basically get all the damn scorch out of my corn. 602 00:21:47,567 --> 00:21:48,800 [Mark] Robert's done. 603 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:51,500 Damn. Robert's ready to put the mash in. 604 00:21:51,500 --> 00:21:53,266 Well, I think I'm ready to go, boys. 605 00:21:53,266 --> 00:21:54,767 -You're done? -[Robert] Yeah. 606 00:21:54,767 --> 00:21:56,767 Ready for party time. 607 00:21:56,767 --> 00:21:58,300 [Mark] You got going on over there, Mike? 608 00:21:58,300 --> 00:22:00,166 [Brian] You went more complicated than I did. 609 00:22:00,166 --> 00:22:01,200 [laughing] 610 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:02,667 I'm happy that I went ahead and grabbed the thumper 611 00:22:02,667 --> 00:22:05,100 because I felt like that was the the easiest way 612 00:22:05,100 --> 00:22:08,667 to really get a ginseng infusion during the distillation. 613 00:22:08,667 --> 00:22:10,266 [Brian] Looking over to Robert and Mike 614 00:22:10,266 --> 00:22:12,700 to see how their steel build was going, and I noticed 615 00:22:12,700 --> 00:22:15,767 that mine was matching theirs, so I knew I was doing a good job. 616 00:22:15,767 --> 00:22:17,467 Ready to rock and roll, boys. 617 00:22:17,467 --> 00:22:18,867 Anybody need more time? 618 00:22:18,867 --> 00:22:19,767 -Think we're good. -We're good. 619 00:22:19,767 --> 00:22:21,400 All right, guys. Y'all are ready to rock. 620 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:22,967 Got four hours. 621 00:22:22,967 --> 00:22:24,967 Bring us your best jar to this table. 622 00:22:24,967 --> 00:22:27,400 Being ginseng-infused spirit 623 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:29,367 before that time passes. 624 00:22:29,367 --> 00:22:31,834 At the end of this run, somebody's gonna go home. 625 00:22:32,367 --> 00:22:34,100 Your four hours starts now. 626 00:22:34,100 --> 00:22:35,834 Good luck and get with it, guys. 627 00:22:40,367 --> 00:22:41,467 Fire in the hole. 628 00:22:41,467 --> 00:22:42,367 [Robert] Time to party. 629 00:22:43,300 --> 00:22:44,166 Yes. 630 00:22:45,367 --> 00:22:47,266 [Mike] I knew I had a good spirit, so... 631 00:22:47,266 --> 00:22:48,800 my strategy going into the second run 632 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:50,800 was to add some ginseng in my run 633 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:52,100 so it could kind of steep through the run 634 00:22:52,100 --> 00:22:54,533 and get that mild ginseng flavor coming through. 635 00:22:56,100 --> 00:22:57,700 Did he put his ginseng in? 636 00:22:57,700 --> 00:22:59,000 [Digger] He put some ginseng in. 637 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:00,500 Don't think he put all of it in there. 638 00:23:00,500 --> 00:23:01,634 But he put some. 639 00:23:02,300 --> 00:23:04,667 I added, uh, ginseng into my pot 640 00:23:04,667 --> 00:23:07,500 'cause I wanted kind of a mild ginseng spiced rum 641 00:23:07,500 --> 00:23:09,033 with bananas and pecans. 642 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:13,667 Mike, I'm noticing a bunch of citrus peel. 643 00:23:13,667 --> 00:23:16,166 I actually have two ginseng roots in my, uh, main pot. 644 00:23:16,166 --> 00:23:18,700 I added pecans and bananas and stuff in here. 645 00:23:18,700 --> 00:23:20,367 And then I've got a cinnamon stick, a vanilla bean 646 00:23:20,367 --> 00:23:22,000 and some citrus here. 647 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:23,166 All those things really play together well 648 00:23:23,166 --> 00:23:24,900 and mellow out that ginseng flavor. 649 00:23:24,900 --> 00:23:26,467 Sounds like a solid plan. 650 00:23:26,467 --> 00:23:28,500 -We look forward to tasting it. -I hope so. 651 00:23:28,500 --> 00:23:31,367 He's putting enough stuff in there that certainly shouldn't 652 00:23:31,367 --> 00:23:33,567 overrun that ginseng in there. 653 00:23:33,567 --> 00:23:35,500 You making us lunch over there, Mike? 654 00:23:35,500 --> 00:23:37,700 I'm very confident going into the second run. 655 00:23:37,700 --> 00:23:39,600 I'm ready to kick it up a notch, 656 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:41,367 make an exceptional spirit, 657 00:23:41,367 --> 00:23:43,266 and win this competition. 658 00:23:43,266 --> 00:23:44,767 I had a little bit of leftover mash. 659 00:23:44,767 --> 00:23:46,000 I put that in my thumper, 660 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:47,567 along with some more maple syrup. 661 00:23:47,567 --> 00:23:49,734 To really kick that maple flavor up. 662 00:23:50,767 --> 00:23:53,000 Brian, did you put any ginseng in it? 663 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:55,500 I did not put any ginseng in this pot. 664 00:23:55,500 --> 00:23:56,767 No ginseng in my thumper. 665 00:23:56,767 --> 00:23:59,000 I'm gonna do all my ginseng flavoring afterwards. 666 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:00,367 [Mark] I like your confidence 667 00:24:00,367 --> 00:24:02,367 in the fact that you... pretty sure 668 00:24:02,367 --> 00:24:05,767 you'll still be here after this run to get to that point. 669 00:24:05,767 --> 00:24:08,066 -I came here with a lot of confidence. -[Mark] All right. 670 00:24:08,066 --> 00:24:09,734 Sounds like a solid plan. 671 00:24:11,367 --> 00:24:13,166 [Robert] All that pretty liquor. 672 00:24:13,166 --> 00:24:15,200 The strategy I have going into this, 673 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:17,367 I'm gonna kind of mellow out the flavoring. 674 00:24:17,367 --> 00:24:20,367 Keep my proof, but get rid of the scorch. 675 00:24:20,367 --> 00:24:23,000 Robert ain't got no thumper to put nothing in. 676 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:24,166 [Tim] He needed a thumper. 677 00:24:24,166 --> 00:24:26,266 And what's he gonna do with them tree branches over there? 678 00:24:26,266 --> 00:24:27,567 [Digger] He's gonna put that in there. 679 00:24:27,567 --> 00:24:29,000 It mellows the liquor out. 680 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:30,467 [Tim] He gonna put it in his still? 681 00:24:30,467 --> 00:24:32,300 He'll have to put them in his still. 682 00:24:32,300 --> 00:24:34,367 Might take some of that flavor out. 683 00:24:34,367 --> 00:24:37,200 [Robert] Let's fix this taste just a little bit. 684 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:39,400 I'm going to introduce the spice with ginseng 685 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:41,266 into the corn liquor itself 686 00:24:41,266 --> 00:24:43,166 to merge them into smoother 687 00:24:43,166 --> 00:24:45,300 and better tasting whiskey. 688 00:24:45,300 --> 00:24:48,166 Guys. You burned an hour of you time. You got three left. 689 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:50,800 Stay good, gentlemen. We have fire in the hole. 690 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:52,367 -You got liquor? Oh, my God. -I got liquor. 691 00:24:52,367 --> 00:24:53,667 I can smell that from here. 692 00:24:53,667 --> 00:24:55,166 -[Mike] Oh, there she is. -[Brian] Man. 693 00:24:55,166 --> 00:24:56,500 -You got liquor? -Oh, yeah. 694 00:24:56,500 --> 00:24:57,467 There you go. 695 00:24:57,467 --> 00:24:58,333 I've got liquor. 696 00:24:58,333 --> 00:25:00,500 All of the judges really loved my product. 697 00:25:00,500 --> 00:25:03,266 So I chose to nail my proof and my maple flavor. 698 00:25:03,266 --> 00:25:04,433 -Oh, boy. -Yeah. 699 00:25:04,567 --> 00:25:05,333 Woo. 700 00:25:05,467 --> 00:25:06,467 Woo! 701 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:08,166 [laughs] 702 00:25:08,166 --> 00:25:10,000 [Mike] The ginseng's coming through right there. 703 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:11,567 Man, that's good. 704 00:25:11,567 --> 00:25:12,900 [Brian] But I am getting a little nervous. 705 00:25:12,900 --> 00:25:15,567 I did not put ginseng in my pot 706 00:25:15,567 --> 00:25:16,667 or my thumper. 707 00:25:16,667 --> 00:25:18,900 And both of my competitors did. 708 00:25:18,900 --> 00:25:21,967 I hope they don't ding me for not doing much more than this one maple flavor. 709 00:25:22,100 --> 00:25:23,166 Um... 710 00:25:23,166 --> 00:25:25,200 [Digger] All right, guys. 30 minutes left. 711 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:26,867 Better be getting that pretty jar ready. 712 00:25:26,867 --> 00:25:27,767 -[Mike] Yes, sir. -All right. 713 00:25:27,767 --> 00:25:29,567 We got this, gentlemen. 714 00:25:29,567 --> 00:25:32,000 [Mike] Oh, God, it's so hot still. 715 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:33,967 Go on and back her on down just a touch. 716 00:25:33,967 --> 00:25:35,166 Going into the second run, 717 00:25:35,166 --> 00:25:37,166 I expected it to be a fairly high proof. 718 00:25:37,166 --> 00:25:39,166 And I was really hoping that I'd find my perfect jar 719 00:25:39,166 --> 00:25:40,767 without having to temper down with any water, 720 00:25:40,767 --> 00:25:42,233 and then lose some of that flavor. 721 00:25:42,233 --> 00:25:45,100 You got a lot of flavor, and they're all different as these jars are changing. 722 00:25:45,100 --> 00:25:45,967 [Brian] Yeah. 723 00:25:45,967 --> 00:25:47,500 [Mike] Let's see how the day plays. 724 00:25:47,500 --> 00:25:49,600 Gentlemen, five minutes left. 725 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:51,266 You better be shining them up. 726 00:25:51,266 --> 00:25:52,800 [Brian] Working on it. 727 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:54,066 [Mike] Think that's the one, boys. 728 00:25:54,066 --> 00:25:56,166 Mike. Looks to me like from here, 729 00:25:56,166 --> 00:25:58,100 you're all said and done over there. 730 00:25:58,100 --> 00:25:59,567 -[Mike] Yes, sir. -I'm feeling really confident. 731 00:25:59,567 --> 00:26:00,867 I found that perfect jar 732 00:26:00,867 --> 00:26:02,266 with all the flavors coming through. 733 00:26:02,266 --> 00:26:03,767 I had the ginseng on the nose, 734 00:26:03,767 --> 00:26:06,467 the citrus was there. All the spices, the banana. 735 00:26:06,467 --> 00:26:07,467 Bring it in here. 736 00:26:07,467 --> 00:26:08,567 Alrighty, gentlemen. 737 00:26:08,567 --> 00:26:10,000 [Digger] Bring it in, boss. 738 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:11,767 It's the best one for you. 739 00:26:11,767 --> 00:26:13,567 You head on back to your station. 740 00:26:13,567 --> 00:26:14,767 [Mike] Thank you, sir. 741 00:26:14,767 --> 00:26:16,400 Ooh. That's it. I think. 742 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:19,066 I'm really excited because it's super clear jar. 743 00:26:19,066 --> 00:26:21,767 The proof, I think, is spot on at about 100, 105, 744 00:26:21,767 --> 00:26:24,367 and I was very pleased with the taste. 745 00:26:24,367 --> 00:26:26,634 I know that was the best spirit I could produce. 746 00:26:27,100 --> 00:26:28,567 [Mark] It looks awful good. 747 00:26:28,567 --> 00:26:30,100 Head on back to your station. 748 00:26:30,100 --> 00:26:31,166 -All right, guys. Thank you. -[Digger] Good luck. 749 00:26:31,166 --> 00:26:32,400 -[Mark] Good luck, sir. -[Brian] Bye. 750 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:33,667 [Robert] This might be it. 751 00:26:33,667 --> 00:26:36,266 The alcohol content was spectacular. 752 00:26:36,266 --> 00:26:39,567 I think I've almost removed all the scorch. 753 00:26:39,567 --> 00:26:41,667 I hope you enjoy that. 754 00:26:41,667 --> 00:26:45,166 Well, Robert, we're going to go taste and deliberate 755 00:26:45,166 --> 00:26:47,367 and come back with a verdict. 756 00:26:47,367 --> 00:26:49,100 -Good luck. -Good luck to each and every one of you. 757 00:26:49,100 --> 00:26:50,634 -Thank you, gentlemen. -Thank you, sir. 758 00:26:53,100 --> 00:26:54,700 Ginseng. 759 00:26:54,700 --> 00:26:55,834 Let's start with Mike. 760 00:26:57,867 --> 00:27:00,066 Well, he's not too high proof. 761 00:27:00,066 --> 00:27:01,700 He's under 100. 762 00:27:01,700 --> 00:27:03,900 It was like 80 right? In the beginning. 763 00:27:03,900 --> 00:27:05,467 He has a run base. 764 00:27:05,467 --> 00:27:08,200 I feel like I waited the whole run for that one jar 765 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:09,567 and I'm happy with it. 766 00:27:09,567 --> 00:27:11,266 It's right at the proof I wanted it to be at. 767 00:27:11,266 --> 00:27:13,367 I think almost everything comes out of that. 768 00:27:13,367 --> 00:27:15,800 I got citrus, I got, you know, the banana. 769 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:16,700 Well, it was good. 770 00:27:16,700 --> 00:27:19,200 I mean, it's got a delicious smell. 771 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:20,867 [Mark] Yeah, it smells rummy. 772 00:27:20,867 --> 00:27:22,967 It's a little lower proof. Ain't no bite on it. 773 00:27:22,967 --> 00:27:25,767 And I'm gonna say it's probably 70 to 80. 774 00:27:25,767 --> 00:27:29,467 I get a rum nose, but then you don't really have a rum taste. 775 00:27:29,467 --> 00:27:31,667 Think all the bananas and and pecans 776 00:27:31,667 --> 00:27:33,467 and stuff is what I'm picking up. 777 00:27:33,467 --> 00:27:35,200 -Yeah. -I've never tasted anything like. 778 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:36,667 It ain't a rum no more. 779 00:27:36,667 --> 00:27:37,767 No, it's not a rum. 780 00:27:37,767 --> 00:27:38,667 It's something new. 781 00:27:38,667 --> 00:27:41,900 But we know for a fact it has ginseng in it. 782 00:27:41,900 --> 00:27:44,700 I think he did a good job on covering up the ginseng though. 783 00:27:44,700 --> 00:27:45,667 [Tim] All right. 784 00:27:45,667 --> 00:27:48,133 Right. Let's see what his proofing skills does. 785 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:52,600 -[Mark] Pretty good. -Yeah, he's up there. 786 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:55,667 He's gonna be in the neighborhood of 105, 110. 787 00:27:55,667 --> 00:27:57,767 -[Mark] Looks good. -[Tim] I bet it's gonna be maple. 788 00:27:57,767 --> 00:27:59,200 You know, if I threw ginseng in the thumper 789 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:01,266 and I tripled down on my ginseng flavor, 790 00:28:01,266 --> 00:28:02,266 I'd never get that out. 791 00:28:02,266 --> 00:28:03,600 -Right. -It would be too much. 792 00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:05,700 [Digger] That's maple. Front, back, middle, 793 00:28:05,700 --> 00:28:07,600 upside down. Any way you wanna go. 794 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:10,166 Oh, it's smooth, though. I'm happy for the proof it is. 795 00:28:10,166 --> 00:28:12,266 A hundred and ten proof? That's pretty doggone proof. 796 00:28:12,266 --> 00:28:13,667 Probably like a 90 proof liquor. 797 00:28:13,667 --> 00:28:16,100 He didn't put any ginseng into the mix. [bleep]. 798 00:28:16,100 --> 00:28:18,166 And it's a good drink of liquor. But to me, 799 00:28:18,166 --> 00:28:20,467 it's not changed from his first round 800 00:28:20,467 --> 00:28:21,500 to this round. 801 00:28:21,500 --> 00:28:24,300 No, ain't nothing changed other than it got richer. 802 00:28:24,300 --> 00:28:25,867 But you can't take away the fact 803 00:28:25,867 --> 00:28:28,066 that it's extremely good. 804 00:28:28,066 --> 00:28:29,700 Let's see what Robert's done. 805 00:28:29,700 --> 00:28:32,100 I mean, he's got one clean jar. 806 00:28:32,100 --> 00:28:34,767 I mean, that's as clear a jar as we've seen today. 807 00:28:34,767 --> 00:28:36,767 Let's see what he's working with on proof. 808 00:28:38,166 --> 00:28:39,000 Yeah. 809 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:40,266 [Robert] Feel pretty good. 810 00:28:40,266 --> 00:28:42,066 Were you able to get that scorch out of there? 811 00:28:42,066 --> 00:28:43,233 -Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. -[Mike] Yeah. 812 00:28:45,967 --> 00:28:47,166 [Tim] Mmm... mmm. 813 00:28:47,767 --> 00:28:49,166 Well... 814 00:28:49,166 --> 00:28:51,100 [smacks lips] ...how about them apples? 815 00:28:51,100 --> 00:28:52,667 He's got a sweet aftertaste. 816 00:28:52,667 --> 00:28:54,000 [Mark] And that's the cleanest... 817 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:56,767 -[Tim smacks lips] Yeah. -...prettiest jar on the table. 818 00:28:56,767 --> 00:28:58,200 Still scorched, though. 819 00:28:58,200 --> 00:28:59,867 He didn't have a thumper. 820 00:28:59,867 --> 00:29:02,467 He had the little bitty condenser tube. 821 00:29:02,467 --> 00:29:04,800 But I think he almost 822 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:06,100 cleaned it up. I really do. 823 00:29:06,100 --> 00:29:08,700 He did a good job getting it almost out of there. 824 00:29:08,700 --> 00:29:11,100 That right there, you can sell that jar. 825 00:29:11,100 --> 00:29:12,800 -By looks. -And you'd say... Yeah, by looks. 826 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:14,066 But you ain't gonna sell another one. 827 00:29:14,266 --> 00:29:15,266 Right. 828 00:29:15,266 --> 00:29:16,300 Well, I know where I'm at. 829 00:29:16,300 --> 00:29:18,867 All the jars look good. They're clean. 830 00:29:18,867 --> 00:29:20,600 All the guys know what they're doing. 831 00:29:20,600 --> 00:29:22,100 -We're in agreement, right? -Yeah. 832 00:29:22,100 --> 00:29:23,567 One hundred percent. 833 00:29:23,567 --> 00:29:25,233 All right. Let's go get with it. 834 00:29:28,467 --> 00:29:29,634 [Tim] Here they are, boys. 835 00:29:30,900 --> 00:29:32,934 [Tim] All right, man. Come on up and get your jars. 836 00:29:33,367 --> 00:29:34,800 [Mark] Great jars, guys. 837 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:37,166 You know, I'm proud of every one of you. 838 00:29:37,166 --> 00:29:38,367 But this is the time. 839 00:29:38,367 --> 00:29:40,867 It's come where one of you has to go home. 840 00:29:43,166 --> 00:29:44,300 -Brian. -[Brian] Yes, sir. 841 00:29:44,300 --> 00:29:46,166 I got maple syrup, front to back, 842 00:29:46,166 --> 00:29:48,667 center, crossways, sideways. 843 00:29:49,266 --> 00:29:51,100 But it tasted like it aged 844 00:29:51,100 --> 00:29:52,600 -a little bit, maybe. -Yeah. 845 00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:54,367 And I don't know how that came about, 846 00:29:54,367 --> 00:29:56,667 but it was a fantastic job. 847 00:29:56,667 --> 00:29:57,767 Thank you. 848 00:29:57,767 --> 00:29:58,634 Brian. 849 00:29:58,800 --> 00:29:59,834 Yes. 850 00:29:59,834 --> 00:30:02,300 We haven't seen you put in the ginseng in yet, right? 851 00:30:02,300 --> 00:30:03,400 -You're still... -Correct. 852 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:05,400 -Correct. Holding off. -[Tim] You're still holding off. 853 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:08,767 It is a very bold, solid maple, 854 00:30:08,767 --> 00:30:11,000 and I think really, it's hiding the proof. 855 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:13,567 I think it's about 110, at least. 856 00:30:13,567 --> 00:30:15,767 But there's so much maple in there, 857 00:30:15,767 --> 00:30:18,100 it's overpowering the alcohol flavor. 858 00:30:18,100 --> 00:30:19,367 -Yep. -[Tim] I don't know what's going to happen 859 00:30:19,367 --> 00:30:21,166 when you put the ginseng in it though. 860 00:30:21,166 --> 00:30:22,367 I hope we don't clash with it. 861 00:30:22,367 --> 00:30:23,567 [Brian chuckling] 862 00:30:23,567 --> 00:30:24,867 -But, outstanding. -Thank you. 863 00:30:24,867 --> 00:30:26,667 Now, Mike, down here, 864 00:30:26,667 --> 00:30:29,934 put everything but the kitchen sink in there. 865 00:30:30,467 --> 00:30:32,166 I mean, it was complex. 866 00:30:32,166 --> 00:30:33,967 I mean, all those spices. 867 00:30:33,967 --> 00:30:36,000 I mean, they were all over the page. 868 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:37,900 When I see that much going in, 869 00:30:37,900 --> 00:30:39,634 I worry about what's gonna come out. 870 00:30:40,166 --> 00:30:41,800 But it came out well. 871 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:43,600 Your proof was a little bit low, but... 872 00:30:43,600 --> 00:30:45,000 it's something you can work with 873 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:46,867 and something you can build a drink with. 874 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:47,967 Big Mike. 875 00:30:47,967 --> 00:30:50,100 You're bringing a lot of flavor. 876 00:30:50,100 --> 00:30:53,166 And you actually put ginseng in your pot. 877 00:30:53,166 --> 00:30:55,500 -I did. Yes, sir. -[Mark] You've done initiated 878 00:30:55,500 --> 00:30:57,700 the challenge that we asked you to do. 879 00:30:57,700 --> 00:30:58,667 Good job. 880 00:30:59,100 --> 00:30:59,934 Robert. 881 00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:02,367 Your proofreading skills... 882 00:31:02,367 --> 00:31:04,100 You need to be teaching class. 883 00:31:04,100 --> 00:31:05,900 You brought scorched liquor the first time, 884 00:31:05,900 --> 00:31:08,100 and you just about got every bit of it out there. 885 00:31:08,100 --> 00:31:10,300 And I don't know whether it was spice wood. 886 00:31:10,300 --> 00:31:12,567 I don't really know what it was. I can't put my finger on it. 887 00:31:12,567 --> 00:31:15,100 There was a real sweet note right in the middle. 888 00:31:15,100 --> 00:31:17,700 Damn fine recovery, my friend. 889 00:31:17,700 --> 00:31:18,767 Thank you, sir. 890 00:31:18,767 --> 00:31:20,367 Outstanding proof. 891 00:31:20,367 --> 00:31:21,500 Couldn't be any better. 892 00:31:21,500 --> 00:31:24,166 -Thank you, sir. -We knew you scorched it in the beginning. 893 00:31:24,166 --> 00:31:25,567 You know, when you mashed in. 894 00:31:25,567 --> 00:31:28,166 And it's really hard to recover from that, you know. 895 00:31:28,166 --> 00:31:30,567 Especially when you didn't use a thumper neither 896 00:31:30,567 --> 00:31:32,166 to-to help clean that up. 897 00:31:32,166 --> 00:31:35,066 Uh, you kind of was behind the 8-ball from the beginning. 898 00:31:35,066 --> 00:31:38,266 But right now you got a good jar in your hand. 899 00:31:38,266 --> 00:31:39,266 -Outstanding. -Thank you, sir. 900 00:31:39,266 --> 00:31:41,500 Well, I think we about said all we can say. 901 00:31:41,500 --> 00:31:43,667 You know, at the end of the day, our job comes, 902 00:31:43,667 --> 00:31:44,934 we have to let somebody go. 903 00:31:44,934 --> 00:31:48,467 And this was a really particularly tough situation we're facing. 904 00:31:49,166 --> 00:31:50,767 And that being said, 905 00:31:53,867 --> 00:31:56,467 Robert, that jar bought you a ticket home, my friend. 906 00:31:56,467 --> 00:31:57,567 I'm awfully sorry. 907 00:31:57,567 --> 00:32:00,300 -That's okay. -[Digger] Got nothing to be ashamed of. 908 00:32:00,300 --> 00:32:02,166 -You're headed in the right direction. -Yeah. 909 00:32:02,166 --> 00:32:03,166 Thank you, sir. 910 00:32:03,166 --> 00:32:05,200 To come here, representing my hometown 911 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:08,266 with Cherokee and North Carolina... 912 00:32:08,266 --> 00:32:10,967 I might've come in third, but I think a lot of 'em still gonna be proud. 913 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:13,600 'Cause I'm here. 914 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:15,700 And one thing I'll never do again 915 00:32:15,700 --> 00:32:17,367 is scorch my corn. 916 00:32:17,367 --> 00:32:19,667 And to hear from Mark and Digger that 917 00:32:19,667 --> 00:32:22,200 I was able to extract 918 00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:24,000 just about every bit of that char... 919 00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:27,266 It made me really proud and that's... 920 00:32:27,266 --> 00:32:29,867 [sucks teeth] ...some pretty good encouragement. Keep going. 921 00:32:29,867 --> 00:32:31,500 Uh, thank you, gentlemen, very much. 922 00:32:31,500 --> 00:32:33,767 It was an honor and privilege to judge you, my friend. 923 00:32:33,767 --> 00:32:35,600 -It's an honor. -Thank you, sir. 924 00:32:35,600 --> 00:32:36,867 -Good to see you. -[Robert] Thank you. 925 00:32:36,867 --> 00:32:38,600 -[Tim] Good job, Rob. -Great to meet you guys. 926 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:39,600 [Tim] Yeah. Mmm-hmm. 927 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:43,834 The only part of this job that is not pleasurable. 928 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:47,266 All right, guys. Final challenge. 929 00:32:47,266 --> 00:32:49,500 Final flavoring and getting that ginseng 930 00:32:49,500 --> 00:32:51,367 infused into that spirit. 931 00:32:51,367 --> 00:32:53,767 You know, ginseng. That's what we're looking for. 932 00:32:53,767 --> 00:32:55,767 Brian, you haven't added any yet. 933 00:32:55,767 --> 00:32:58,100 Mike, you've got a little bit of a jump start. 934 00:32:58,100 --> 00:33:01,867 So you both made outstanding base spirits. 935 00:33:01,867 --> 00:33:03,467 Put the ginseng in them. 936 00:33:03,467 --> 00:33:04,867 Do not destroy them. 937 00:33:04,867 --> 00:33:07,166 One of you will be going home 938 00:33:07,166 --> 00:33:09,200 with the Master Distiller title. 939 00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:11,467 All right, guys. You got 30 minutes 940 00:33:11,467 --> 00:33:13,166 to get that ginseng 941 00:33:13,166 --> 00:33:14,867 infused into that spirit. 942 00:33:14,867 --> 00:33:16,500 Your 30 minutes starts... 943 00:33:16,500 --> 00:33:19,000 now. Good luck and get with it. 944 00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:21,300 Coming in this final challenge, obviously, I wanna win. 945 00:33:21,300 --> 00:33:23,567 My strategy is to impart a handful of flavors 946 00:33:23,567 --> 00:33:24,767 to do sipping cream. 947 00:33:25,967 --> 00:33:26,867 Buttermilk. 948 00:33:27,967 --> 00:33:29,033 That's what I'm talking about. 949 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:33,767 I'm just befuddled at what Mike's doing over there. 950 00:33:33,767 --> 00:33:36,266 If he don't stop eating it, we ain't gonna get nothing to drink. 951 00:33:36,266 --> 00:33:38,300 [Mark] He put something... Caramel milk 952 00:33:38,300 --> 00:33:39,634 or chocolate milk. 953 00:33:39,634 --> 00:33:42,467 [Mike] I've got a banana brown sugar reduction that I make and... 954 00:33:42,467 --> 00:33:45,667 an almond milk dulce de leche cream that's gonna go in it. 955 00:33:45,667 --> 00:33:47,400 [Digger] Mike, bring us up to date 956 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:49,667 on your method of madness down there. 957 00:33:49,667 --> 00:33:51,967 You know, one of the things that's most popular right now 958 00:33:51,967 --> 00:33:52,934 is sipping cream. 959 00:33:53,867 --> 00:33:56,100 And I've got a nice, earthy ginseng flavor 960 00:33:56,100 --> 00:33:58,100 that's carrying over into that. And I think that 961 00:33:58,100 --> 00:34:00,100 with what's in the spirit and what's in this cream, 962 00:34:00,100 --> 00:34:01,967 it's gonna marry up really well. 963 00:34:01,967 --> 00:34:03,934 Well, Brian, you better add some more maple. 964 00:34:04,700 --> 00:34:06,066 [laughing] 965 00:34:06,066 --> 00:34:08,000 My strategy going into the final flavoring 966 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:10,166 is to get this spirit to taste like 967 00:34:10,166 --> 00:34:12,700 it's been in a barrel for nine months. 968 00:34:12,700 --> 00:34:15,600 And to finally put the ginseng in. 969 00:34:15,600 --> 00:34:18,000 Got some ginseng here, slice this up. 970 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:20,367 That's a big old root that Brian's got over there. 971 00:34:20,367 --> 00:34:21,734 Big piece of ginseng. 972 00:34:22,700 --> 00:34:24,433 [Tim] I've had that ginseng before. 973 00:34:24,667 --> 00:34:26,000 It's tough. 974 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:28,567 You gotta know what you're doing, with that stuff. 975 00:34:28,567 --> 00:34:31,233 You don't know what you're doing, but it would destroy it. 976 00:34:32,166 --> 00:34:35,166 Do you think Brian's not gonna heat anything up? 977 00:34:35,166 --> 00:34:37,467 [Digger] Doesn't look like it. Looks like you're just gonna pressurize it 978 00:34:37,467 --> 00:34:39,266 with with some alcohol. 979 00:34:39,266 --> 00:34:41,600 Looks to me like he'd have to do a vacuum on it 980 00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:44,667 after he did the pressurization to get the sap out. 981 00:34:44,667 --> 00:34:46,400 With my whipped cream machine, 982 00:34:46,400 --> 00:34:47,767 I'm gonna pressurize the vessel 983 00:34:47,767 --> 00:34:51,100 and get that flavor to come through with the fresh ginseng. 984 00:34:51,100 --> 00:34:53,166 [Mark] There's something with some color and flavor. 985 00:34:54,300 --> 00:34:57,000 [Brian] I have maple spirit with some oak chips 986 00:34:57,000 --> 00:35:00,266 to try and get that barrel flavor into that spirit, 987 00:35:00,266 --> 00:35:02,166 along with some more maple syrup. 988 00:35:02,166 --> 00:35:04,634 Now, don't you guys be looking at my secret ingredient over here. 989 00:35:05,066 --> 00:35:06,000 Uh... 990 00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:07,200 -[Digger] Uh... -[Mark] Maple. 991 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:09,300 Oh, my God. Yes. 992 00:35:09,300 --> 00:35:11,867 I started getting a little nervous about what the judges were thinking. 993 00:35:11,867 --> 00:35:15,100 With the fact that I used maple syrup to make my spirit. 994 00:35:15,100 --> 00:35:17,667 Sweeten that maple spirit with more maple syrup. 995 00:35:17,667 --> 00:35:20,233 And more maple syrup in the final flavoring round. 996 00:35:20,867 --> 00:35:22,000 Whoa, snap. 997 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:23,700 All I know is that jar comes over here, 998 00:35:23,700 --> 00:35:25,233 it better have some ginseng in it. 999 00:35:29,467 --> 00:35:31,266 [Mark] Mmm. It's gonna be interesting, fellas. 1000 00:35:31,266 --> 00:35:32,100 [Tim] It is. 1001 00:35:32,100 --> 00:35:35,000 Basically all that we have to go on here, 1002 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:36,800 there's no way of knowing 1003 00:35:36,800 --> 00:35:40,467 what the medicinal value of this liquor is 1004 00:35:40,467 --> 00:35:42,600 by the amount of ginseng you put in it. 1005 00:35:42,600 --> 00:35:44,367 There's no way we can determine that. 1006 00:35:44,367 --> 00:35:46,266 So we need a ginseng proof. 1007 00:35:46,266 --> 00:35:47,467 Well, drinking liquor 1008 00:35:47,467 --> 00:35:49,567 and getting some medicinal properties from it at the same time, 1009 00:35:49,567 --> 00:35:51,300 that's not a bad combination in my book. 1010 00:35:51,300 --> 00:35:53,667 Oh. Healthy liquor. Be wonderful. 1011 00:35:53,667 --> 00:35:56,000 -[Digger] Yeah. -I need some to make you younger. 1012 00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:58,333 [all laughing] 1013 00:35:59,567 --> 00:36:01,734 Now here goes Mike's mix-up over there. 1014 00:36:03,100 --> 00:36:05,567 I like me some sipping creams. 1015 00:36:05,567 --> 00:36:06,767 [Mike] I'm gonna give them 1016 00:36:06,767 --> 00:36:08,734 you know, an opportunity to go on a journey 1017 00:36:08,734 --> 00:36:09,834 when they drink that jar 1018 00:36:09,834 --> 00:36:11,867 and really be able to find all those flavors in there. 1019 00:36:11,867 --> 00:36:13,066 I can promise you that 1020 00:36:13,066 --> 00:36:14,567 it'll be the best thing they ever tasted. 1021 00:36:14,567 --> 00:36:16,100 One minute left, gentlemen. 1022 00:36:16,100 --> 00:36:18,300 Those jars, they'd be on this table. 1023 00:36:18,300 --> 00:36:19,467 Thinking there's all this good liquor 1024 00:36:19,467 --> 00:36:21,967 and putting ginseng in it. And, gosh. 1025 00:36:21,967 --> 00:36:23,100 I know I've done my best. 1026 00:36:23,100 --> 00:36:26,000 I know the combination of the maple with the oak. 1027 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:29,000 And the ginseng really worked together to complement each other. 1028 00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:31,634 Ten, nine, eight, 1029 00:36:32,200 --> 00:36:34,867 seven, six, five, 1030 00:36:35,300 --> 00:36:39,000 four, three, two, 1031 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:42,734 one. Right down to the damn wire is what I'm talking about. 1032 00:36:42,734 --> 00:36:44,567 We're gonna take these jars 1033 00:36:44,567 --> 00:36:46,667 and taste and deliberate. 1034 00:36:46,667 --> 00:36:48,300 Then we'll come back and we will name 1035 00:36:48,300 --> 00:36:50,066 a new Master Distiller. 1036 00:36:50,066 --> 00:36:51,000 -All right. -Thank you, gentlemen. 1037 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:51,867 Here we go. 1038 00:36:52,600 --> 00:36:53,433 Oof. 1039 00:36:54,166 --> 00:36:55,600 All right, guys. Ginseng. 1040 00:36:55,600 --> 00:36:57,867 It's a growing market in the United States, 1041 00:36:57,867 --> 00:37:00,867 and I can't think of anything better to market it in 1042 00:37:00,867 --> 00:37:02,266 than a little bit of liquor. 1043 00:37:02,266 --> 00:37:04,100 Let's taste that one first, Tim. 1044 00:37:04,100 --> 00:37:06,200 [Tim] Mike's ginseng sipping cream. 1045 00:37:06,200 --> 00:37:08,667 [Mark] Sipping creams are the hottest thing 1046 00:37:08,667 --> 00:37:10,667 on the market right now. 1047 00:37:10,667 --> 00:37:14,734 So if you get a really good ginseng sipping cream, 1048 00:37:15,300 --> 00:37:17,066 who knows what it could do. 1049 00:37:17,066 --> 00:37:18,367 Win, lose or draw, I can tell you, 1050 00:37:18,367 --> 00:37:20,166 it's the best damn spirit I put up on the table. 1051 00:37:20,166 --> 00:37:21,266 I can promise you that. 1052 00:37:21,266 --> 00:37:22,467 [Tim] Looking pretty creamy. 1053 00:37:22,467 --> 00:37:25,166 It's got bananas and it's got cream, 1054 00:37:25,166 --> 00:37:27,266 and it's got ginseng in it. 1055 00:37:27,900 --> 00:37:29,166 Still got some liquor in it. 1056 00:37:29,166 --> 00:37:32,000 It's got some alcohol right there and you know, so... 1057 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:33,066 [Tim] It smells earthy. 1058 00:37:34,367 --> 00:37:35,967 There's some ginseng in there. 1059 00:37:35,967 --> 00:37:38,066 And I have to say, I believe he got some alcohol in it. 1060 00:37:38,066 --> 00:37:39,867 He's knee deep in that alcohol. 1061 00:37:39,867 --> 00:37:41,667 [smacks lips] Kind of thick and creamy, ain't it? 1062 00:37:41,667 --> 00:37:42,967 -Yeah. -[Mark] Oh, yeah. 1063 00:37:42,967 --> 00:37:45,567 Very complex recipe in process. 1064 00:37:45,567 --> 00:37:48,000 And the downside of sipping creams 1065 00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:49,266 is shelf life. 1066 00:37:49,266 --> 00:37:51,166 Once you open them, 1067 00:37:51,166 --> 00:37:53,600 they have to be refrigerated from there on out. 1068 00:37:53,600 --> 00:37:54,800 -[Tim] Mmm-hmm. -[Mark] And another thing. 1069 00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:57,567 Sipping creams are very high fat content. 1070 00:37:57,567 --> 00:38:01,467 Health-conscious people don't buy sipping creams. 1071 00:38:01,467 --> 00:38:03,200 It's time to move on and see if we can find 1072 00:38:03,200 --> 00:38:04,900 any maple in Brian's. 1073 00:38:04,900 --> 00:38:06,500 Check the bead on that, would you? 1074 00:38:06,500 --> 00:38:07,900 [Mark] Looks like tea. 1075 00:38:07,900 --> 00:38:08,867 [Tim] Looks like tea, don't it? 1076 00:38:08,867 --> 00:38:11,367 Peeling that ginseng slowed me down a little bit. 1077 00:38:11,367 --> 00:38:12,433 Oh, you peeled it. 1078 00:38:12,433 --> 00:38:13,667 Yeah. I wanted to try to make it as thin as possible. 1079 00:38:13,667 --> 00:38:15,467 'Cause, uh, the infusion process 1080 00:38:15,467 --> 00:38:16,800 did give it a little bit of flavor. 1081 00:38:16,800 --> 00:38:18,000 That's got ginseng in it 1082 00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:19,567 -[Mark] That's got ginseng in it. -Whoa. Whoa. 1083 00:38:19,567 --> 00:38:21,266 And there ain't no doubt about it. 1084 00:38:21,266 --> 00:38:23,100 But it's not overwhelming. 1085 00:38:23,100 --> 00:38:25,166 But I'm gonna say it's pretty high on that proof, too. 1086 00:38:25,166 --> 00:38:26,567 It's got a little bite to it. 1087 00:38:26,567 --> 00:38:28,667 I like the taste of it a lot. 1088 00:38:28,667 --> 00:38:31,767 -Yeah. -Even though it does have that little earthy 1089 00:38:31,767 --> 00:38:33,200 note of that root. 1090 00:38:33,200 --> 00:38:35,567 Uh, I would call this a genteel whisky. 1091 00:38:35,567 --> 00:38:38,400 This right here would be exactly what I think 1092 00:38:38,400 --> 00:38:41,767 a ginseng liquor shopper would reach for. 1093 00:38:41,767 --> 00:38:43,800 I think it's highly marketable. 1094 00:38:43,800 --> 00:38:44,767 Yeah, it's good. 1095 00:38:44,767 --> 00:38:47,300 I-I think it was mission accomplished on his part. 1096 00:38:47,300 --> 00:38:49,767 We're looking at marketability, shelf life. 1097 00:38:49,767 --> 00:38:51,667 Will it move? Does it collect dust? 1098 00:38:51,667 --> 00:38:54,967 I believe we've got one on the table that will move quicker 1099 00:38:54,967 --> 00:38:57,266 on the ginseng market than the other. 1100 00:38:57,266 --> 00:38:58,066 I agree on that. 1101 00:38:58,066 --> 00:39:00,066 Well, gentlemen, it seems like we're all 1102 00:39:00,066 --> 00:39:01,500 sitting on the same pew. 1103 00:39:01,500 --> 00:39:03,500 [Digger] Let's go name the next Master Distiller. 1104 00:39:03,500 --> 00:39:06,033 -Ginseng Master Distiller. -Ginseng Master Distiller. 1105 00:39:09,467 --> 00:39:10,533 Fellers. 1106 00:39:12,900 --> 00:39:14,734 [Tim] All right, men. Come up and get your jars. 1107 00:39:17,000 --> 00:39:19,767 Ginseng. That's what we asked y'all to bring us. 1108 00:39:19,767 --> 00:39:21,967 Damn fine job on both y'all. 1109 00:39:21,967 --> 00:39:23,367 -Thank you. -Thank you. 1110 00:39:23,367 --> 00:39:25,233 I'm gonna go ahead and start with Brian here. 1111 00:39:25,667 --> 00:39:27,000 Right off the bat. 1112 00:39:27,000 --> 00:39:29,166 Boom. There's alcohol. 1113 00:39:29,166 --> 00:39:30,967 And then there's that ginseng. 1114 00:39:30,967 --> 00:39:33,166 It wasn't as bitter as I expected it to be. 1115 00:39:33,166 --> 00:39:35,000 And it was really a pleasant surprise. 1116 00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:35,834 Thank you. 1117 00:39:36,367 --> 00:39:37,900 It was not as sweet a drink 1118 00:39:37,900 --> 00:39:39,867 as it was previously. 1119 00:39:39,867 --> 00:39:42,066 Which told me the bitterness 1120 00:39:42,567 --> 00:39:44,567 from the ginseng 1121 00:39:44,567 --> 00:39:46,166 -had come through. -Yeah. 1122 00:39:46,166 --> 00:39:49,166 But it did not overpower your original flavor. 1123 00:39:49,166 --> 00:39:51,667 I think the oakiness from the chips 1124 00:39:51,667 --> 00:39:52,967 just enhanced it. 1125 00:39:52,967 --> 00:39:55,767 You did a good job of putting your personality in that jar. 1126 00:39:55,767 --> 00:39:57,667 It seemed like every step was adding maple. 1127 00:39:57,667 --> 00:39:59,400 I added some maple. Yes, I did. 1128 00:39:59,400 --> 00:40:00,300 -[laughing] -Yeah. 1129 00:40:00,300 --> 00:40:01,867 Which you know, kind of a con, 1130 00:40:01,867 --> 00:40:03,667 I guess, would be as expensive. 1131 00:40:03,667 --> 00:40:05,100 -Yeah. -[Tim] You got some alcohol. 1132 00:40:05,100 --> 00:40:06,300 You got some proof in there. 1133 00:40:06,300 --> 00:40:07,600 -Good job. -Thank you. 1134 00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:10,667 And there's Mike over here with the great big sipping cream. 1135 00:40:10,667 --> 00:40:12,767 There were so many flavors in there, so many layers. 1136 00:40:12,767 --> 00:40:15,166 I mean, there was a little bit of banana, a little bit of caramel, 1137 00:40:15,166 --> 00:40:17,467 and then the bitterness from the ginseng. 1138 00:40:17,467 --> 00:40:19,600 -Yes, sir. -[Digger] And then it went into alcohol 1139 00:40:19,600 --> 00:40:22,567 and then finished off so smooth on that back end. 1140 00:40:22,567 --> 00:40:24,367 [Tim] You got a lot of alcohol in there, 1141 00:40:24,367 --> 00:40:26,166 and it is very creamy. 1142 00:40:26,166 --> 00:40:28,900 I think I would have liked it a little bit thinner. 1143 00:40:28,900 --> 00:40:29,934 A little bit lighter. 1144 00:40:30,667 --> 00:40:33,000 Your sipping cream was not as sweet 1145 00:40:33,000 --> 00:40:34,967 as most sipping creams are. 1146 00:40:34,967 --> 00:40:37,667 And I think that's simply because, 1147 00:40:37,667 --> 00:40:39,467 bitterness from your ginseng root. 1148 00:40:39,467 --> 00:40:41,967 -Yes, sir. -[Tim] And I found that not unpleasant at all. 1149 00:40:41,967 --> 00:40:42,967 I think it was excellent. 1150 00:40:46,367 --> 00:40:48,166 This is a very tough decision, 1151 00:40:48,166 --> 00:40:49,667 but we can only have 1152 00:40:49,667 --> 00:40:51,934 one Master Distiller named out of the flight. 1153 00:40:55,100 --> 00:40:57,500 And, Brian, you're the next Master Distiller, my friend. 1154 00:40:57,500 --> 00:40:59,000 -Congratulations. -[exhales] 1155 00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:00,734 Winning the title of Master Distiller 1156 00:41:00,734 --> 00:41:03,166 would mean the world to me, the world to my family 1157 00:41:03,166 --> 00:41:05,200 and all the people who have supported me over the years 1158 00:41:05,200 --> 00:41:07,500 to help get my distillery off the ground. 1159 00:41:07,500 --> 00:41:09,367 -Congratulations, buddy. -Thank you. 1160 00:41:09,367 --> 00:41:10,667 There's a lot of hard work to come. 1161 00:41:10,667 --> 00:41:12,367 -Oh, my God. -And winning this title 1162 00:41:12,367 --> 00:41:14,867 makes that all seem a little easier and attainable. 1163 00:41:14,867 --> 00:41:16,533 You got nothing to be ashamed of. 1164 00:41:17,100 --> 00:41:18,166 -At all. -Not at all. 1165 00:41:18,166 --> 00:41:20,000 You both made good products. 1166 00:41:20,000 --> 00:41:21,166 [Digger] Get on out of here, men. 1167 00:41:21,166 --> 00:41:23,300 -Good job on all y'all parts. -Thank you. 1168 00:41:23,300 --> 00:41:25,300 Just so you know, you all are welcome 1169 00:41:25,300 --> 00:41:26,667 in Tennessee anytime. 1170 00:41:26,667 --> 00:41:27,400 -We appreciate it. -Thank you. 1171 00:41:27,400 --> 00:41:28,800 -We appreciate it, guys. -Thank you.