Is making moonshine illegal in TN?

Is making moonshine illegal in TN?

Moonshine is illegal in Tennessee—at least in the way it’s consumed in this shed. The current law specifies that to produce moonshine commercially, a license must be obtained and an annual fee must be paid.

What states ban moonshine?

These can be sold in liquor stores or brewed just for personal use. However, distilling alcohol at home, even for personal use, is illegal under federal law. In 2010, legal moonshine stills opened in some parts of the south, including South Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, and Alabama.

Where do they make moonshine in Tennessee?

Sugarlands Distilling Company and Doc Collier Moonshine also have locations in downtown Gatlinburg. Thunder Road Distillery and Old Forge Distillery are in Kodak and Pigeon Forge, respectively, while Cocke County Moonshine Distillery is in a more rural area but crafts a more authentic product.

When was moonshine legalized in TN?

2010
The state’s first licensed moonshine distillery, the Ole Smoky Distillery in Gatlinburg, opened in 2010. There are other states that sell legal moonshine as well.

What counties in Tennessee Is it legal to make moonshine?

Now one restaurant in Gatlinburg has even created a menu featuring moonshine in foods and beverages. The General Assembly passed legislation in 2009 that made distilleries legal in 41 Tennessee counties, including Sevier.

Can you buy real moonshine?

“It’s a term that’s generally applied to any alcohol that was made illegally. When you break it down, moonshine is really just a high-proof spirit. No real moonshiner accepts store-bought as the real thing.”

Why is making moonshine illegal?

So why is moonshine still illegal? Because the liquor is worth more to the government than beer or wine. In 2005, almost $5 billion of federal excise taxes on alcohol came from legally produced spirits. Until 1978, it was illegal to home-brew liquour or beer—and the rules on wine-making were somewhat ambiguous.

Why do you throw away the first bit of moonshine?

Always dispose of the first bit of moonshine, in order to avoid contamination with methanol (which has a lower boiling point than ethanol). Contagion with methanol can be noticed by the bad smell and taste of your moonshine and needs to be avoided, since it is toxic.