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AND THE REASON THAT THE SKY IS BLUE
IS THAT COLORS HAVE DIFFERENT WAVELENGTHS.
AND BLUE IS THE LONGEST WAVELENGTH.
THE LONGER THE WAVELENGTH,
THE MORE THAT COLOR IS DOMINANT, OKAY?
OUR SKY WOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO COLOR,
IT WOULD BE COMPLETELY CLEAR,
IF THERE WAS NO MOISTURE IN THE ATMOSPHERE.
BUT THE MOISTURE IN THE ATMOSPHERE
REFLECTS THE COLOR OF THE SUNLIGHT.
SO, YOU COULD ACTUALLY LOOK AT A SUNSET IN ONE LOCATION,
MOVE 5 MILES DOWN THE WAY JUST ANY DIRECTION
AND LOOK AT THE SUNSET AGAIN,
AND IT WILL LOOK COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
THAT IS HOW YOUR EYES DETERMINE WHAT THE SUNSET LOOKS LIKE.
I ASKED MY SCIENCE TEACHER ABOUT IT.
HE WAS LIKE, "HOLY [BLEEP] I GOT TO GO CHECK THAT OUT."
AND HE COME BACK TO ME AND WAS LIKE, "WOW."
READY, BILL?
HOPEFULLY WE DON'T BLOW UP.
Narrator: TONIGHT ON "MOONSHINERS"...
Bill: THE TIME FOR PLAYING IS LONG OVER.
IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG HERE, WE'LL BE BLOWN SKY-HIGH.
MY DAD'S CAR IS RIGHT OUT THERE.
LOADED WITH MOONSHINE?
200 GALLONS, YEAH.
WE NEED TO GO GET IT. IT'D BE LIKE A TREASURE HUNT.
[ CANS RATTLING ]
YEAH.
Chuck: FIRE!
Mark: MOONSHINE IS A PART OF OUR HISTORY.
IT EXISTS, BUT IT DOESN'T, ALMOST LIKE A MYTH.
[ CUTIE PIE BARKS ]
Tim: I'M AMERICA'S MOST-WANTED MOONSHINER.
[ LAUGHS ]
Tickle: THAT'S NOT A GOOD FEELING TO BE WANTED BY THE LAW.
Don: I LIVE ON THE EDGE OF ANARCHY.
Chuck: POLICE! SEARCH WARRANT!
IT'S VERY HARD TO CATCH MOONSHINERS.
LET'S SKEDADDLE.
Chuck: THEY'RE VERY SMART.
Josh: THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE CHIEF.
I'M WONDERING IF WE'RE GONNA PULL THIS THING OFF.
UH-OH.
GOLLY, THAT'S GOOD.
Jeff: WE COULD SUPPLY THE WHOLE WORLD WITH MOONSHINE,
AND EVERYBODY WOULD BE HAPPY.
Bill: IF YOU REALLY LOVE YOUR COUNTRY,
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOVE MOONSHINE.
Narrator: JUST OUTSIDE STRASBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA...
IT'S A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING, THAT'S FOR SURE.
...ROOKIE MOONSHINERS JOSH AND BILL
ARE FINALLY BREWING THEIR FIRST BATCH OF SHINE OF THE SEASON.
WE GOT THE GAS UP WIDE OPEN.
WE'RE AT 120 DEGREES RIGHT NOW.
[ CUTIE PIE BARKING ]
BUT JUST AS THEY WERE ABOUT TO PRODUCE
THEIR FIRST *** OF THE SEASON,
CUTIE PIE'S BARK SIGNALED DANGER.
SHE'S OFF ON SOMETHING.
WHAT IS IT, CUTIE PIE?
[ BARKING CONTINUES ]
WHAT IS IT, GIRL?
Narrator: IF IT'S HUNTERS, THEY'RE IN HOT WATER.
BUT IF IT'S THE LAW,
THEY'RE DONE FOR PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
[ BARKING CONTINUES ]
Josh: WHAT IS IT?
[ METAL CLINKING ]
[ GUNSHOT ]
Narrator: HUNTERS.
NOW THESE ROOKIES WILL HAVE TO FINISH THEIR BREW AND FAST,
EVEN WITH BULLETS FLYING NEARBY.
WE GOT TO GET THIS LIQUOR RUN. WE'RE IN A HURRY.
BILL, WE ACTUALLY HAVE LIQUOR COMING THROUGH THERE.
Bill: [BLEEP] LIQUOR!
WE GOT LIQUOR COMING OUT!
OH, JOSH!
Narrator: 120 MILES TO THE NORTHEAST...
...JEFF AND MARK ARE GETTING READY TO DELIVER A SHIPMENT
OF THEIR HISTORIC GEORGE WASHINGTON MOONSHINE.
IN ORDER TO GET THEIR SEASON FINANCIALLY BACK ON TRACK,
JEFF DECIDED TO TRY A LITTLE-KNOWN MOONSHINE RECIPE.
IT USES CHEAPER INGREDIENTS
AND ALLOWS THEM TO CHARGE MORE MONEY.
[ COUGHS ] WHOA.
NOW WITH WORD OUT TO CUSTOMERS ABOUT THEIR HISTORIC MOONSHINE,
THEY'RE CRISSCROSSING THE COUNTY PLANTING SEEDS
FOR WHAT THEY HOPE WILL BE A BUMPER CROP OF ORDERS
THAT MIGHT SAVE THEIR SEASON.
EACH BUYER WILL GET TWO BOTTLES OF THEIR ONE-OF-A-KIND BREW
WITH AN OPTION FOR AN ADDITIONAL CASE,
SHOULD THEY LIKE IT AND WANT MORE.
MARK AND JEFF HAVE STAGED MULTIPLE DROP-OFF POINTS
IN BACK-ROAD LOCATIONS
THAT ALLOW THEM TO DOUBLE BACK ON THEIR ROUTE
IN ORDER TO GET A LOOK AT ANYONE THAT MAY BE TRAILING THEM
AND GET A SPLIT-SECOND HEAD START,
SHOULD THEY BE FOLLOWED BY JOHNNY LAW.
IT'S A STRATEGY
THAT'S BEEN USED BY BOOTLEGGERS IN THESE PARTS FOR GENERATIONS.
AND ONE THAT'S KEPT MANY A LIQUOR HAULER OUT OF JAIL.
NEARBY, CRACKERJACK MOONSHINERS MIKE AND TWEEDY
ARE HEADED TO A FRIEND'S FARM
TO PICK UP SOME INTERESTING SUPPLIES.
THEY RECENTLY HAD THEIR FIRST SUCCESSFUL DISTILLATION RUN
OF THE SEASON...
...GIVING HOPE THAT THEY'LL RAISE ENOUGH MONEY
TO HELP MIKE'S SICK BROTHER,
WHO'S SUFFERING FROM KIDNEY DISEASE.
FOR THESE VETERANS,
MAKING MOONSHINE HAS BECOME A LIFE-OR-DEATH MATTER.
NOW THEY'RE GETTING READY FOR A BOOTLEG RUN
TO DELIVER THEIR FIRST 25 GALLONS TO A BIG-TIME BUYER.
IF THINGS GO WELL,
SHE'S PROMISED TO QUADRUPLE THE ORDER.
ALL IN, IT COULD MEAN UP TO 15 GRAND TAX-FREE.
[ BRAKES SQUEAL ]
THEY'VE GOT A LOT RIDING ON THIS RUN,
SO THEY'RE TAKING EXTRA PRECAUTION TO NOT GET CAUGHT.
[ COW MOOS ]
THESE MOONSHINE MacGYVERS ARE DIGGING UP
ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE TRICKS OF THEIR TRADE --
MOVING THE SHINE AROUND
UNDER A STEAMING PILE OF COW [BLEEP]
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
Narrator: BACK IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, VIRGINIA...
...MOONSHINER TICKLE HAS HIT ROCK BOTTOM.
Tim: I'M THINKING ABOUT GETTING SOMEBODY ELSE TO HELP ME.
YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M THINKING ABOUT GETTING SOMEBODY ELSE
TO HELP ME DO THIS, TOO.
AFTER A NASTY SPLIT WITH HIS MENTOR, TIM,
THE TRANSITION FROM STILL HAND TO BOSS MAN HAS GONE BUST.
I KNOW YOU'RE WANTING $500 FOR THIS THING.
HE GOT HIMSELF NECK DEEP IN DEBT.
THEY COULD BE SITTING IN THE WOODS RIGHT NOW WAITING ON US.
HIS STILL HAND GOT SPOOKED AND VANISHED.
LET'S GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE.
[ GUNSHOT ]
THEN HE LOST HIS STILL SITE,
AND HIS VIRGINIA STILL POT GOT HACKED TO PIECES.
Tickle: OH [BLEEP]
THAT AIN'T GOOD.
Narrator: NOW WITHOUT MOONSHINE AND WITHOUT MONEY,
TICKLE IS OUT OF OPTIONS,
AND DROWNING HIS SORROWS
IS LOOKING LIKE THE BEST THING TO HAPPEN IN WEEKS.
TIME TO DROWN HIS SORROWS
AND SETTLE THE SCORE WITH HIS OLD STILL HAND HOWARD.
WHAT HAPPENED?
THEN WHERE YOU BEEN?
I BEEN HERE, BROTHER.
I KNOW I AIN'T BEEN WHERE I WAS SUPPOSED TO BEEN.
NO, YOU AIN'T BEEN WHERE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BEEN.
I KNOW.
AND I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU,
AND I'VE BEEN HAVING TO DO [BLEEP] ALL BY MYSELF.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
I KNOW, MAN. I GOT SPOOKED. I AIN'T GONNA LIE TO YOU.
I MEAN...
YOU PUT ME IN A HARD SPOT.
I LET YOU DOWN, MAN, AND I'M SORRY FOR THAT.
Narrator: OVER IN WESTERN KENTUCKY,
MOONSHINER TIM HAS JUST STUMBLED ON THE MOTHER LODE
OF ALL MOONSHINE LEGENDS.
THIS IS A REPLICA OF MY DAD'S MOONSHINE CAR.
HE PUT 200 GALLONS FROM HERE BACK TO THE END OF THE TRUNK.
NICE-LOOKING CAR.
HERE'S WHAT YOU CAME FOR, BUDDY.
YEAH.
Narrator: TIM CAME TO KENTUCKY
TO TALK TO LEGAL MOONSHINER SPENCER,
SEEKING ADVICE ON HIS OWN QUEST TO GO LEGAL.
BUT WHAT HE'S FOUND IS AN OPPORTUNITY
THAT'S GOT HIM LICKING HIS CHOPS.
IT WAS MY DAD'S LAST RUN.
SPENCER'S FATHER, LIKE TIM'S,
WAS A MOONSHINER AND BOOTLEGGER OF THE HIGHEST ORDER.
IN THE LATE 1950s,
HE WAS CARRYING 200 GALLONS OF MOONSHINE ON A BOOTLEG RUN
WHEN HE WAS CAUGHT IN A TRAP SET BY POLICE.
IN ORDER TO ESCAPE ARREST,
HE RAN AHEAD AND DITCHED HIS CAR AND THE MOONSHINE
IN THE CUMBERLAND RIVER
BEFORE THE COPS COULD EVER FIND HIM.
NOW, EVERY SHINER KNOWS
THAT A RARE MOONSHINE WITH HISTORY
IS ALWAYS THE MOST VALUABLE
AND CAN COMMAND THE HIGHEST PRICE ON THE BLACK MARKET.
AND TIM, WITH HIS BACKGROUND
AS A FIRE DEPARTMENT SEARCH-AND-RESCUE LEADER,
CAN HARDLY BELIEVE HIS LUCK.
YOU'RE SAYING STRAIGHT OUT HERE,
THERE'S A '52 CHEVROLET LOADED WITH MOONSHINE?
200 GALLONS, YEP.
YEAH.
THAT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THAT CAR'S OUT THERE
AND NO ONE HAS WENT TO GET IT.
YEAH, NOBODY NEVER RETRIEVED IT.
ALL THE MOONSHINERS, THEY HAVE A CODE.
YOU DON'T SPEAK ABOUT YOUR GOOD RUNS OR YOUR BAD RUNS.
YEAH. YEAH.
SO, IT'S STILL THERE.
SO, THAT CAR
IS IN THE DEEPEST PART, RIGHT OUT THERE.
Narrator: OVER THE YEARS, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF LIQUOR
HAVE BEEN LOST IN THE DEPTHS OF AMERICA'S WATERWAYS.
IN 2010, A DIVER FOUND A SHIPWRECK IN LAKE MICHIGAN.
AFTER SEEING A DARK SPOT ON A MAP ON GOOGLE MAPS,
HE DISCOVERED A CARGO STEAMER FROM 1854,
REPORTEDLY CARRYING $100,000 IN GOLD COINS
AND 280 BARRELS OF WHISKEY.
AND IN 1856, A STEAMER SANK WITH MORE THAN 16,000 GALLONS
OF FINE KENTUCKY BOURBON ON BOARD.
TODAY, THAT'S WORTH OVER $5 MILLION.
TO THIS DAY, NO ONE HAS FOUND IT.
GIVEN THE HIGH VALUE OF SALVAGED WHISKEY,
TIM AND SPENCER COULD BE SITTING ON A GOLD MINE.
Tim: YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TELL ME SOMETHING THAT CAN'T BE DONE,
THAT'S WHEN I WANT TO DO IT.
THERE'S A CUSTOM AMONG MOONSHINERS --
NO GOOD DEED SHOULD EVER GO UNPAID.
AND THIS ONE'S A NO-BRAINER FOR TIM.
I KNOW I'M A LONG WAYS
FROM GETTING TO WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW,
BUT A LITTLE BIT OF MY RETURN
FOR HELPING ME TO THE NEXT STEP.
I GOT SOME BUDDIES IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT,
AND WE CAN JUST FIND OUT, IS IT THERE?
THAT WOULD BE UNBELIEVABLE.
IT'D BE LIKE A TREASURE HUNT.
IF THEY CAN FIND SPENCER'S LOST MOONSHINE,
IT MIGHT EARN THEM BOTH THE PAYDAY OF A LIFETIME.
IF THAT CAR'S DOWN THERE AND THAT MOONSHINE IS IN THERE,
WE'LL GET IT OUT.
OKAY. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.
Narrator: COMING UP...
Bill: IT'S OUR FIRST RUN. I MEAN, IT'S LIQUOR.
UGH! THAT'S DISGUSTING.
Man: THERE'S SOMETHING HERE THAT'S UNUSUAL.
WE GOT SOMETHING TO LOOK AT.
YEAH, LOOKS LIKE A GOOD TARGET.
Bill: WE'RE GONNA BE DEALING WITH THAT PRESSURIZED EXPLOSIVE GAS
AROUND THEM OPEN FLAMES.
WE'RE PAST THE POINT OF NO RETURN.
BILL, WE ACTUALLY HAVE LIQUOR COMING THROUGH THERE.
LIQUOR! WE GOT LIQUOR COMING OUT!
Narrator: IN SOUTH CAROLINA, ROOKIE MOONSHINERS JOSH AND BILL
ARE FINALLY BREWING THEIR FIRST BATCH OF SHINE OF THE SEASON.
[ CUTIE PIE BARKING ]
BUT WHEN THEY LEFT THE STILL
TO INVESTIGATE A DISTRESS CALL FROM JOSH'S DOG, CUTIE PIE...
WHAT IS IT, GIRL?
Narrator: ...THEY MAY HAVE MADE A CRITICAL MISTAKE.
OH, JOSH!
Narrator: JOSH AND BILL ARE USING A STEAMER-TYPE STILL,
A HIGHLY COMBUSTIVE PRESSURE COOKER
THAT NORMALLY WORKS BY PLACING A HEAT SOURCE UNDER A BOILER
TO CREATE STEAM TO COOK THE MASH AND CREATE ALCOHOL.
BUT THIS TIME, THEY'RE TAKING A SHORTCUT.
IN ORDER TO RUN THE STILL WITH LESS PRESSURE,
THEY'RE HEATING THE MASH BARREL DIRECTLY.
Josh: WE WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION FOR A LITTLE WHILE,
THE NEXT THING WE KNOW,
WE WAS RUNNING ABOUT 220-SOMETHING DEGREES.
THAT'S WAY TOO HOT.
I MEAN, WAY TOO HOT.
Narrator: THE IDEAL TEMPERATURE FOR DISTILLING ALCOHOL
IS 173 DEGREES.
IF MASH IS COOKED AT A HIGHER HEAT,
IT RUNS THE RISK OF BEING SCORCHED AND WORTHLESS.
SO NOW, AFTER ALL THEIR HARD WORK,
THIS FIRST BATCH OF THE SEASON COULD BE COMPROMISED.
WE COULDN'T HAVE RUINED THE WHOLE BATCH.
I DON'T KNOW.
WE JUST NEED TO TASTE IT AND FIND OUT.
WE GONNA FILTER THIS?
YES.
THE FIRST TWO GALLONS OF A MOONSHINE RUN
OFTEN CONTAIN IMPURITIES AND PARTICLES OF MASH,
SO STRAINING THE LIQUID THROUGH A CLOTH
CAN HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE WHISKEY.
IT'S OUR FIRST RUN. I MEAN, IT'S LIQUOR.
OH, MY GOD.
RIGHT ON. RIGHT ON.
HERE'S TO ALL OUR HARD WORK.
AND HERE'S TO OUR FIRST RUN.
UGH! THAT'S DISGUSTING.
IT'S GOT TO BE SCORCHED.
DAMN IT, MAN!
UGH! THAT'S DISGUSTING.
FIRST RUN TAKES LIKE WE FILTERED IT
THROUGH A POLYESTER COUCH AFTER A HOUSE FIRE.
WE GOT SIX GALLONS OF POISON.
GOD, I'M SO FRUSTRATED.
I SAY WE USE THE STEAMER NEXT TIME.
AIN'T NOTHING TO DO EXCEPT DUMP IT OUT AND START AGAIN.
Narrator: BACK IN NORTH CAROLINA...
...WHILE MAKING DELIVERIES
OF THEIR GEORGE WASHINGTON MOONSHINE
TO ONE OF THEIR STASH POINTS IN THE BRUSH,
MARK AND JEFF HAVE HIT A SNAG.
WHEN THEY SPOTTED THIS THIEF STEALING THEIR WHISKEY,
HE QUICKLY DROPPED IT AND RAN.
BUT NOW THEY NEED TO WORRY
THAT A CONVENIENT ROADSIDE DROP-OFF POINT HAS BEEN EXPOSED.
IF HE TELLS ANYONE WHAT HE KNOWS,
IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE LAW FINDS OUT.
JUST THE SLIGHTEST HINT THAT IT'S BEEN JEFF AND MARK
SUPPLYING THIS DRY COUNTY WITH LIQUOR
COULD LAND THEM BEHIND BARS.
BACK IN VIRGINIA,
TICKLE'S SETTLING THE SCORE WITH HIS OLD STILL HAND HOWARD.
THINGS DIDN'T WORK OUT TOO GOOD FOR ME.
I GOT PEOPLE I OWE MONEY TO.
MY POT DONE GOT BUSTED UP.
NOW I CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO PAY 'EM.
I KNOW I DONE SCREWED YOU THIS TIME.
I GOT SPOOKED, MAN. I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU.
HERE'S WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO.
YOU GOT TO DAMN GROW A SET OF NUTS THIS BIG AROUND,
AND THEY GOT TO BE BRASS.
AND AFTER YOU DONE DONE IT ABOUT 10 YEARS,
THEY'LL TURN INTO STAINLESS STEEL.
RIGHT NOW, I GOT GUPPY NUTS, MAN.
IT COMES WITH TIME.
HAVE YOU TALKED TO TIM?
MNH-MNH.
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA DO.
BACK IN NORTH CAROLINA,
BEARING BALLS OF STEEL,
LEGENDARY BOOTLEGGER DON WOOD IS HEADING OUT ON THE OPEN ROAD.
Don: I AM DON WOOD.
I'M FROM THE GREAT STATE OF TENNESSEE.
SOME OF UNCLE TED'S FINEST, STRAIGHT FROM TENNESSEE.
I LIVE ON THE EDGE OF THIS PLANET.
SOME PEOPLE SKYDIVE. I RIDE AROUND WITH MOONSHINE.
THAT'S HAPPY JUICE RIGHT THERE.
Narrator: A BOOTLEGGER FOR THE LAST 11 YEARS,
DON IS CARRYING OUT A RENEGADE TRADITION
THAT'S GENERATIONS IN THE MAKING.
Don: I PUT BETWEEN 50,000 AND 60,000 MILES A YEAR
ON MY MOTORCYCLES.
I SLEEP IN THE WOODS A LOT.
THIS MORNING, I BRUSHED MY TEETH OUTSIDE.
Narrator: DON IS ABOUT TO EMBARK ON AN EPIC RUN
FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO COLORADO WITH MULTIPLE STOPS ON THE WAY.
I THINK ABOUT JAIL TIME,
BUT TO ME, IT'S WORTH IT BECAUSE IT IS AMERICAN.
PRESIDENTS HAVE MADE MOONSHINE.
THERE WAS A TIME IT WAS CURRENCY IN THIS COUNTRY.
IT'S NOT A HOBBY. THIS IS WHAT I DO.
THIS IS WHO I AM.
Narrator: BUT FIRST, HE'S GOT TO PICK UP A LOAD OF SHINE.
DUE TO A SEASON COMPROMISED BY DROUGHT
AND POLICE BUSTS THROUGHOUT THE REGION,
DON IS BREAKING ONE OF THE FIRST RULES OF BOOTLEGGING --
BUYING MOONSHINE FROM A SOURCE HE'S NEVER MET.
Don: THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO THROUGH MY MIND
WHEN I'M PULLING UP.
IT'S A TENSE SITUATION FOR ME.
I AM IN A HURRY. CAN WE MAKE THIS HAPPEN?
YEAH, LET'S DO IT.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER HE'S BEING WATCHED
OR IF HIS PHONE'S BEING TAPPED.
I DON'T WANT HELICOPTERS IN THE AIR.
I DON'T WANT SQUAD CARS COMING BY.
Narrator: BECAUSE HIS USUAL SOURCES HAVE SOLD OUT THEIR SUPPLY,
HE'S TRUSTING THE TIP OF A FELLOW BOOTLEGGER
AND BUYING SHINE HE DOESN'T KNOW.
IT'S A BIG RISK TO HIS REPUTATION.
THIS STUFF ANY GOOD?
BACK UP IN THE MOUNTAINS...
...MARK, JEFF, AND JIM TOM
NEED TO STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT.
ORDERS FOR THEIR GEORGE WASHINGTON MOONSHINE
ARE PILING UP.
BUT A RUN-IN WITH A THIEF
HAS COMPROMISED THEIR ABILITY TO DISTRIBUTE THEIR SHINE.
SO, JEFF HAS REACHED OUT TO AN OLD FRIEND AND BOOTLEGGER
TO HAUL THEIR LIQUOR FOR THEM.
HAVING A THIRD PARTY RUNNING THEIR LIQUOR
HAS AN ADDITIONAL BENEFIT.
SO, NOW THEY CAN RAMP UP PRODUCTION
AND CONTINUE TO STAY HIDDEN FROM THE LAW.
[ LAUGHS ]
NEARBY...
IS IT ANY GOOD?
...LEGENDARY BOOTLEGGER DON WOOD
IS PICKING UP A LOAD OF SHINE FROM AN UNKNOWN SUPPLIER.
THAT'S NOT BAD.
LUCKY FOR HIM IT'S GOOD TO GO.
HE'S GOT A LOT RIDING ON THIS RUN.
HIS HIGHEST PROFILE BUYER IS GETTING MARRIED IN FOUR DAYS,
2,000 MILES AWAY IN COLORADO.
HE NEEDS TO KEEP THIS CLIENT HAPPY.
TAKE CARE.
BE CAREFUL OUT THERE.
ONLY A BOOTLEGGER WITH AS MANY MILES ON THE ROAD AS DON
WOULD ATTEMPT A RUN OF THIS MAGNITUDE.
IT'LL TAKE ALL HIS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
FOR HIM TO PULL THIS OFF AND GET THERE ON TIME.
Don: THE JUGS ARE EXPOSED.
THERE'S NOT MUCH I CAN DO TO CAMOUFLAGE.
IF WE GET TO THIS POINT WHERE THEY'RE SEARCHING MY VEHICLE,
IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW IT'S CAMOUFLAGED.
I CARRY A CLEAR LIQUID IN GALLON JUGS.
I'M HEADED OUT TO THE DESERT. I TOTE MY OWN WATER.
IF HE TAKES A DRINK OF IT, I'LL PROBABLY GO TO JAIL.
Narrator: COMING UP...
Spencer: CAVALRY'S HERE.
Tim: WE'RE GONNA FIND SPENCER'S DAD'S MOONSHINE IN THE WATER,
AND WE'RE GONNA PULL IT OUT.
Narrator: MIKE AND TWEEDY ARE ON A DANGEROUS LATE-NIGHT RUN
TO DROP OFF A FRESH BATCH OF SHINE TO A BIG-TIME BUYER.
MIKE AND TWEEDY MAY HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE GAME FOR A WHILE,
BUT THEY STILL HAVE SOME TRUSTED CONNECTIONS
FROM BACK IN THE DAY.
THEY'VE REACHED OUT TO AN OLD FRIEND FROM GEORGIA.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS AND VULNERABLE TIMES
TO BE A MOONSHINER.
GETTING CAUGHT WHILE TRANSPORTING
AND MAKING A TRANSACTION INVOLVING MOONSHINE
IS A LEGAL HOT ZONE
AND OFTEN MEANS THE HARSHEST OF JAIL SENTENCES.
MIKE AND TWEEDY DIG THE BOTTLES OUT FROM UNDER
THE PILE OF MANURE THEY USED TO CAMOUFLAGE THEIR MOONSHINE.
SOME IDEAS ARE MORE CLEVER THAN OTHERS.
NOT ONLY ARE THEY AT THEIR MOST VULNERABLE,
THEY ALSO SMELL LIKE [BLEEP]
BUT IT WORKED.
THESE VETERANS HAVE MADE THEIR FIRST RUN IN 15 YEARS
WITHOUT A HITCH.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY'VE GOT THEIR FIRST BIT OF CASH,
$2,500 TO HELP OUT MIKE'S SICK BROTHER.
DON IS ON THE OPEN ROAD AND HEADING TO COLORADO
TO SUPPLY HIS LARGEST BUYER WITH MOONSHINE.
THIS STUFF ANY GOOD?
HE PICKED UP 40 GALLONS
FROM AN UNKNOWN SELLER IN NORTH CAROLINA
AT THE START OF HIS JOURNEY...
D.W.
WHAT'S HAPPENING, BROTHER?
...AND IS NOW STOPPING AT AN OLD FRIEND'S PLACE
IN THE HILLS OF SOUTHERN MISSOURI.
OH, HOT DOG.
A BOOTLEG RUN OF THIS MAGNITUDE ISN'T CHEAP.
DON IS PREPARING HIS SIGNATURE DRINK,
APPLE CINNAMON MOONSHINE,
WHICH HE'LL SELL AT STOPS ALONG THE WAY.
Don: BACK IN THE OLD DAYS,
THEY WOULD USE WHATEVER CROP THEY HAD AVAILABLE
TO MAKE LIQUOR.
WHAT I'VE MIXED UP, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CALLING IT APPLE PIE.
IT'S REALLY NOT APPLE PIE.
APPLE PIE IS MADE WITH APPLE CIDER.
APPLE CINNAMON, WHAT I MAKE, IS MADE WITH APPLE JUICE.
I WAS WATCHING ON TV THIS MORNING,
THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING THE ERIE CANAL.
THE IRISHMEN GOT PAID 50 CENT A DAY
AND 32 OUNCES OF WHISKEY.
AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN
BEING A TEETOTALER, NEVER HAD ALCOHOL.
BUT HE OWNED THREE TAVERNS.
MOONSHINE'S BEEN PART OF OUR CULTURE SINCE THE BEGINNING.
WITH NO TIME TO LOSE,
DON IS BACK ON THE ROAD TOWARDS COLORADO.
IF HE MISSES THIS WEDDING, HE'LL LOSE HIS LARGEST BUYER.
BACK IN NORTH CAROLINA,
NOW THAT JEFF, MARK, AND JIM TOM HAVE A PLAN
TO DISTRIBUTE THEIR NEW PATRIOTIC SHINE,
THEY'LL NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO KEEP UP WITH HIGH DEMAND.
JEFF'S GEORGE WASHINGTON RECIPE HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL...
...THEY NOW HAVE MORE ORDERS THAN THEY CAN HANDLE.
Narrator: OVER IN WESTERN KENTUCKY,
TIM'S BEEN DRAWN BACK INTO THE ILLEGAL WORLD OF MOONSHINE.
HE'S RETURNED TO THE LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES
TO MEET SPENCER
TO HELP FIND A STASH OF WHISKEY
RESTING IN THE OLD CUMBERLAND RIVER CHANNEL
ON THE BOTTOM OF LAKE BARKLEY.
SPENCER.
THIS BOUNTY WAS ABANDONED BY SPENCER'S FATHER
WHEN HE HAD TO DITCH HIS CAR IN THE RIVER
ON HIS LAST MOONSHINE RUN EVER.
HE GOT AWAY, BUT HIS CAR,
A 1952 CHEVY WITH 200 GALLONS OF SHINE IN THE BACKSEAT,
HAS REMAINED UNTOUCHED AND UNDISTURBED IN THE WATER
FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
CAVALRY'S HERE.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
Tim: SPENCER, HE HAD TOLD ME A STORY
ABOUT HIS DAD RUNNING OFF THE BRIDGE.
WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT IF SPENCER'S DAD'S CAR
IS STILL UNDERWATER.
AND IF IT'S GOT 200 GALLONS OF MOONSHINE IN IT,
WE'RE GONNA PULL IT OUT.
WE'VE GOT PAT HERE.
HIYA, PAT. GOOD TO MEET YOU.
HE'S GOT SOME EQUIPMENT THAT'LL GO DOWN
AND SEE WHAT'S UNDER THE WATER,
AND I'VE GOT SOME DIVERS ON THEIR WAY.
SO, IF PAT SAYS, "YES, IT'S SAFE,"
AND IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING FOR,
SOMETHING LIKE A '52 CHEVROLET,
THEN WE MAY WANT TO GO DOWN AND PULL THIS THING OUT.
THAT SOUNDS GREAT.
Narrator: OUT ON THE WATER,
THE SEARCH-AND-RESCUE DIVE TEAM AWAITS THEIR ORDERS...
...WHILE PAT, AN UNDERWATER TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPPING EXPERT,
GETS READY FOR THE HUNT.
PAT TELLS ME IF IT'S DOWN THERE, HE CAN FIND IT.
MAYBE WE'LL GET LUCKY, YOU KNOW?
Narrator: COMING UP...
[ LAUGHS ]
Josh: WE'RE GONNA RUN IT AS A STEAMER-STYLE STILL.
IT'LL BE VERY DANGEROUS IF IT'S NOT MADE PROPERLY.
WALK THAT AROUND
AND INTRODUCE IT TO YOUR FRIENDS.
WHOA! LOOK AT THE WOMEN! YEAH!
IT'S A NEW KIND OF FISHING TRIP, AIN'T IT?
IT SURE IS.
ONE ABOUT 50 YEARS LATE, I TELL YOU.
Narrator: TIM AND SPENCER
ARE ON A MOONSHINE TREASURE HUNT LIKE NO OTHER,
TO LOCATE 200 GALLON-SIZED BOTTLES OF MOONSHINE
IN THE BACKSEAT OF A 1952 CHEVY AT THE BOTTOM OF LAKE BARKLEY.
IF THE SHINE IS FOUND IN MINT CONDITION,
THE VALUE OF THIS LOST CACHE
COULD BE WORTH A WHOPPING $1,000 A GALLON
ON THE BLACK MARKET.
Spencer: DAD'S STORY ALWAYS WAS THAT IT TOOK 6 MINUTES
FOR A '52 CHEVY TO SINK IN THE CUMBERLAND RIVER.
Narrator: SPENCER'S FATHER ABANDONED HIS MOONSHINE-FILLED CAR
TO AVOID BEING CAUGHT BY AUTHORITIES.
HE DROVE IT INTO WHAT WAS THEN KNOWN AS THE CUMBERLAND RIVER.
DURING THE 6 MINUTES IT TOOK TO SINK,
RIVER CURRENTS MAY HAVE CARRIED THE CAR
UP TO 3/4 OF A MILE AWAY FROM THE BRIDGE.
TO FURTHER COMPLICATE THE SEARCH,
IN 1972, THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY DAMMED UP THE RIVER,
WHICH NOW MEANS THE ABANDONED MOONSHINE COULD BE ANYWHERE
IN AN AREA AS LARGE AS 2 SQUARE MILES.
TIM MAY AS WELL BE LOOKING FOR A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.
THIS IS WHERE THE BRIDGE IS, THIS DARK.
YEAH.
THEN YOU HAVE A ROAD ON EACH SIDE OF THE BRIDGE.
HERE'S THE RIVER CHANNEL RIGHT HERE.
SO, GO MORE TO THE RIGHT, PAT.
25 FEET NOW. SEE?
WHEN IT'S GETTING READY TO DROP OFF,
THAT'S WHERE THE RIVER'S AT.
OH, 30 FEET. OKAY.
46 FEET.
50 FEET.
GETTING DEEPER, ISN'T IT?
SO, THAT TELLS ME THAT CAR'S GOT TO BE RIGHT THERE.
Narrator: BACK ON DRY LAND,
DON IS MAKING A STOP IN KANSAS AT A BIKER RALLY
TO TEST AND SELL SOME OF HIS OWN APPLE CINNAMON SHINE.
Don: IT TOOK ALMOST 12 HOURS TO GET HERE TODAY.
YOU JUST DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO TO MAKE YOURSELF HAPPY.
Narrator: DON'S GOT TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO SELL HIS SHINE.
IF HE DOESN'T,
HE WON'T HAVE ENOUGH CASH TO MAKE IT TO COLORADO.
WALK THAT AROUND AND INTRODUCE IT TO YOUR FRIENDS.
WOULD YOU DO THAT FOR ME?
THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.
THAT LITTLE CROCK WILL MAKE ITS WAY AROUND THE FIRE,
AND A LITTLE BIT LATER,
I'LL INTRODUCE THIS APPLE CINNAMON TO THE CROWD.
AND THEY'LL SAY, "MAN, THAT'S REAL GOOD."
Narrator: THIS IS A DANGEROUS TIME FOR DON.
THE LAW IS KNOWN TO INFILTRATE BIKER RALLIES.
HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE'S WALKING INTO,
BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE A CHOICE.
DO YOU WANT STRAIGHT MOONSHINE, OR DO YOU WANT APPLE CINNAMON?
ONE WRONG SALE COULD END HIS BOOTLEGGING CAREER
WITH A TRIP TO JAIL.
IT'S A CALCULATED RISK DON MUST TAKE
IF HE'S GOING TO COMPLETE HIS TRIP TO COLORADO
AND KEEP HIS BIGGEST CLIENT HAPPY.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A GOOD TIME.
WHOA! LOOK AT THE WOMEN! YEAH!
HA, PERFECT.
WHOO!
Narrator: BACK IN NORTH CAROLINA...
...JEFF, MARK, AND JIM TOM
HAVE MORE ORDERS THAN THEY CAN FILL.
LEGENDARY MOONSHINER JIM TOM IS DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST,
PUTTING HIS 30-PLUS YEARS OF STILL-BUILDING EXPERTISE TO WORK
IN CONSTRUCTING THE THIRD STILL THEY'LL USE
TO RUN THEIR POPULAR GEORGE WASHINGTON SHINE.
JIM TOM DOESN'T NORMALLY MAKE COPPER PRO BONO.
BUT JEFF ISN'T JUST ANYONE.
JIM TOM'S BEEN MENTORING JEFF, ALONG WITH HIS FATHER,
SINCE HE WAS KNEE-HIGH TO A GRASSHOPPER.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: BACK IN SOUTH CAROLINA,
IT'S TAKE TWO FOR JOSH AND BILL.
IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE TIME,
THEY'VE TURNED THEIR STEAM STILL INTO A TRADITIONAL POT STILL
AND SCORCHED THE MASH, MAKING IT UNDRINKABLE.
[ COUGHS ]
AIN'T NOTHING TO DO NOW EXCEPT FOR DAMN DUMP IT OUT
AND DAMN START AGAIN.
GOD, I'M SO FRUSTRATED.
I SAY WE USE THE STEAMER NEXT TIME.
DAMN IT, MAN.
Bill: YOU TAKE A SIP OF SCORCHED LIQUOR,
AND IT TASTES LIKE YOU'RE DRINKING THE DISHWATER
OUT THE BOTTOM OF A BURNT CORNBREAD PAN.
Josh: IT'S PRETTY DEPRESSING
TO WASTE THAT TIME AND EFFORT AND MONEY ON THE MASH
AND THEN STILL GETTING SLAPPED BACK DOWN.
Narrator: THERE'S ONLY ONE OPTION LEFT FOR THESE ROOKIES,
AND IT'S A DANGEROUS ONE --
PUTTING THEIR ULTRA-HIGH-PRESSURE STEAM STILL
TO THE TEST.
SO, THIS TIME, WE'RE GONNA RUN IT AS A STEAMER-STYLE STILL.
IT'LL BE VERY DANGEROUS IF IT'S NOT MADE PROPERLY.
Narrator: JOSH AND BILL
ARE NOW USING THE STEAMER STILL AS IT SHOULD BE.
RATHER THAN PLACING THE HEAT SOURCE
DIRECTLY BELOW A POT OF MASH,
IT'S PLACED UNDERNEATH A LARGE BOILER BARREL
FILLED WITH WATER.
THE WATER IS HEATED,
TURNED INTO A LARGE VOLUME OF STEAM,
WHICH IS THEN PIPED TO THE POT TO HEAT THE MASH.
HOWEVER, THESE SHINERS
PUT THEIR OWN SPECIAL TWIST ON THINGS.
Bill: ONCE WE GET THIS THING CRANKED UP,
WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME SUPPLEMENTAL HEAT
UNDER OUR MASH.
WE'RE GONNA BE DEALING WITH
THAT PRESSURIZED, EXPLOSIVE GAS, MAN.
I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE THIS A LOT MORE SERIOUSLY
THAN WE HAVE BEEN.
IT'S GONNA BE A LONG NIGHT, MAN.
WE'D BETTER GET THIS THING CRANKING.
BUT IF WE GET THIS RIGHT, IT'S GONNA BE PAY DIRT.
Narrator: MIKE AND TWEEDY ARE $2,500 RICHER
AND RIDING HIGH AFTER THEIR FIRST SUCCESSFUL RUN.
THE FIRST 25 GALLONS OF MOONSHINE THEY BREWED
WENT TO THEIR CONTACT IN ATLANTA
WITH THE PROMISE OF MORE IF SHE LIKED IT.
AND SHE DID.
SHE LIKED IT SO MUCH,
SHE PLACED AN ORDER THAT WAS WAY LARGER THAN THEY EXPECTED,
ENOUGH MOONSHINE TO CLEAR 15 GRAND TAX-FREE,
IF THEY CAN GET IT DONE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Narrator: THEY NEED TO GO BIG -- REAL BIG.
[ CANS RATTLING ]
[ CANS RATTLING ]
[ TWIG SNAPS ]
[ CANS RATTLING ]
Narrator: IN GRAHAM COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA,
MIKE AND TWEEDY ARE ON HIGH ALERT.
[ CANS RATTLING ]
SOMETHING OR SOMEONE HAS DISTURBED THEIR TRIP WIRE.
IF IT'S A HUNTER OR THE LAW,
THEIR DAYS AS MOONSHINERS ARE NUMBERED.
BACK ON THE LAKE,
TIM LEADS A SEARCH-AND-RESCUE TEAM
ON A MISSION TO FIND A LOST STASH OF ILLEGAL MOONSHINE.
AFTER 50 YEARS, IT MOVED ON DOWN.
I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE A ONE-MILE-AN-HOUR CURRENT,
IT CAN EASILY DRIFT BEFORE IT ACTUALLY HITS BOTTOM.
THEY'RE EXPLORING AN AREA
THAT COULD BE AS LARGE AS 2 SQUARE MILES.
46 FEET.
GO MORE TO THE RIGHT, PAT.
RIGHT IN HERE. RIGHT IN HERE. DON'T GO TOO FAR.
ALL RIGHT. GO TO THE RIGHT.
SEE? SEE? IT'S DROPPING OFF.
SO, ABOUT RIGHT HERE PROBABLY.
NOW PAT DROPS HIS SIDE-SCAN SONAR
INTO THE MURKY WATERS.
IT'S JUST ONE PART OF A COMPLEX, $50,000 SATELLITE SONAR SYSTEM
THAT WILL MAKE THE INVISIBLE VISIBLE.
THE SONAR MISSILE HANGS OFF THE FRONT OF THE BOAT,
BOUNCING SOUND WAVES INTO THE DEPTHS.
IMAGES OF THE LAKE BED ARE RECORDED,
AND PAT INTERPRETS THE SONIC SHADOWS,
LOOKING FOR ANYTHING UNUSUAL.
YEAH, THAT'S DEEP.
POTENTIAL HITS START TO READ ON THE SCREEN.
THERE'S SOMETHING HERE THAT'S UNUSUAL.
THE ROUGH DIMENSIONS ARE ABOUT RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT 8 FOOT WIDE.
THIS ONE LOOKS THE MOST PROMISING.
LUCKY FOR THEM, THE INTRUDER WASN'T HUMAN.
BUT THEIR TROUBLES AREN'T OVER.
THE LEAVES ARE STARTING TO CHANGE,
LEAVING THEM DANGEROUSLY EXPOSED.
THEY CAN STAY AND RISK EVERYTHING
OR RELOCATE AND LOSE PRECIOUS TIME.
THERE'S SOMETHING HERE THAT'S UNUSUAL.
THE ROUGH DIMENSIONS ARE ABOUT RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT 8 FOOT WIDE.
TIM'S GOT A LIVE ONE
IN HIS QUEST FOR THE LOST MOONSHINE TREASURE.
Tim: WE GOT THREE POINTS THAT WE WANT TO LOOK AT.
BUT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SITTING RIGHT ON TOP OF THIS --
IT LOOKS LIKE A CAR. I DON'T KNOW.
ALL RIGHT.
SO, RIGHT THERE IS WHERE WE NEED TO PUT A DIVER IN.
WE GOT SOMETHING TO LOOK AT.
YEAH. A GOOD TARGET.
Narrator: TIM CALLS
IN THE OTHER HALF OF THE SEARCH-AND-RESCUE TEAM,
THE DIVERS...
HEY. HOW YOU DOING, MAN?
GLAD TO SEE Y'ALL.
WELL, Y'ALL GUYS GET SUITED UP.
AND WE SEE A BIG OBJECT DOWN THERE.
Narrator: ...AND SENDS THEM 50 FEET DOWN INTO THE FRIGID, MURKY WATERS
WITH NO IDEA WHAT'S WAITING FOR THEM.
TURN THAT GAS ON, BROTHER.
[ GAS HISSES ]
WATCH YOUR FINGERS.
IN SOUTH CAROLINA, JOSH AND BILL ARE GETTING READY
TO USE THEIR STEAMER STILL FOR THE FIRST TIME.
RUNNING IT AS A TRADITIONAL POT STILL
RESULTED IN SCORCHED MASH.
[ COUGHS ]
CONTACT.
LIKE THESE ROOKIE SHINERS, THEIR STEAMER STILL IS UNTESTED.
IF THERE ARE ANY LEAKS IN THE STILL,
THE HIGHLY FLAMMABLE GAS COULD ESCAPE
AND BE IGNITED BY THE PROPANE BURNERS
AND BLOW THE WHOLE THING SKY HIGH.
THAT'S SOME SERIOUS HEAT.
Bill: WITH THIS RIG THAT WE GO, MAN,
WE'RE GONNA BE DEALING WITH THAT PRESSURIZED, EXPLOSIVE GAS
AROUND THEM OPEN FLAMES.
THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS, MAN.
THE TIME FOR PLAYING IS LONG OVER.
SHE'S BEEN BUILDING.
I CAN FEEL HER COOKING.
WE'RE OUT HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAMN WOODS
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
WE GOT THESE PROPANE TANKS.
IT REALLY DON'T MATTER NOW.
WE'RE PAST THE POINT OF NO RETURN.
LET'S GET IT DONE OR DON'T GET IT DONE.
IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG HERE, WE'D BE BLOWN SKY HIGH.
[ STEAM HISSES ]
UGH!
OHH! YAH!
Narrator: NEXT TIME ON "MOONSHINERS"...
AND IT'S LATE, TICKLE.
I'M OWING SOME PEOPLE SOME MONEY.
CAN YOU HELP ME?
Josh: I'M AFRAID THAT THIS PROJECT IS DOOMED.
WE'RE BEHIND SCHEDULE AS ALWAYS.
THAT [BLEEP] $36 A GALLON, MAN.
YOU HEAR THAT?
FIRE TRUCK. DAMN IT.
I'M NERVOUS AS A *** IN CHURCH.
ME TOO.
THAT THERE'S YELLOW JACKETS. RUN, RUN, RUN!
Tim: WE JUST KNOW
THEY'RE GONNA COME UP WITH A PIECE OF THIS CAR.
[ CUTIE PIE WHINES ]