Ole Smoky Distillery is well-known for being the primary working moonshine distillery in Tennessee after the legalization of moonshine there in 2009, in addition to the driving pressure in altering perceptions of the spirit.
This yr’s launch of their Nationwide Moonshine Week celebration (June 1 – 7) incorporates a collection of activations and occasions designed to proceed spreading the phrase about this versatile however usually misunderstood beverage.
Nationwide Moonshine Week has been created to extend consciousness for the spirit throughout the nation. By scanning a QR code on collateral in retail shops, bars and eating places, individuals go to a devoted Nationwide Moonshine Week microsite the place they’ll enter a sweepstakes with a grand prize VIP journey to the Smoky Mountains and discover scrumptious cocktail recipe concepts.
The roots of moonshine stretch again to pre-Prohibition occasions when the ancestors of Ole Smoky’s founders made ‘shine for a century earlier than with the ability to promote it publicly. “Historically, moonshine has been a catch-all time period for any unlawful alcohol, and significantly unaged spirits,” says Stephanie Moraine, Ole Smoky Advertising Director. “Moonshining was extraordinarily in style throughout the Prohibition Period as a result of it may very well be produced and offered shortly with out spending months in barrels.” Throughout this time, the backwoods of Tennessee grew to become a hotbed of moonshine manufacturing. Nevertheless, it nonetheless took greater than seven many years after Prohibition ended for moonshine to be authorized within the Volunteer State.
The opening of the Ole Smoky’s first distillery location, affectionately often called The Holler, nestled within the Nice Smoky Mountains in Gatlinburg was actually a game-changer for the class. In lower than fifteen years, Ole Smoky has been capable of set up itself as the important thing participant for all issues moonshine, in addition to in creating flavored whiskeys, premium straight bourbon whiskey, and a line of RTDs. And The Holler is essentially the most visited distillery within the nation.
Right this moment, the core assortment of Ole Smoky moonshines now options greater than thirty flavors past the Authentic, starting from Strawberry to Mountain Java to Sizzling & Spicy Moonshine Pickles and extra. However moonshine additionally makes for a flexible ingredient in a variety of cocktails.
As we take pleasure in heat summer time days and nights, an effective way to get pleasure from Ole Smoky Moonshine is by mixing it with lemonade. “Crafted for these craving a twist on custom, our lemonades should not solely straightforward to make however irresistibly refreshing,” says Moraine. She suggests enjoying with completely different moonshines and your favourite lemonade. White Lightnin’ Moonshine, Blackberry Moonshine and Hunch Punch Moonshine are all good choices. Simply use two ounces of moonshine and three ounces of lemonade.
Nationwide Moonshine Week additionally shines a highlight on an necessary charity associate, Associates of the Smokies, a company that raises cash to assist protect and shield the Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park. In the course of the week, Ole Smoky is donating a portion of their Moonshine Lemonade cocktail gross sales offered at collaborating bars and eating places across the nation. They will even have desk tents to assist promote this trigger and lift further funds. Scrumptious cocktails and an amazing trigger, how are you going to go fallacious?
