The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-11-16
" MOUNTAIN DEW. y"
THI: DIFFERENT WAYS OF DIS
TIL.I.INCs DESCRIBED.


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the ARDENT, i'm Western rSortr1
Carolina.
Illicit distilling is always carried on
in the most secluded and inaccessible
spots. The most picturesque regions,
where nature presents itsrlfin all it's rug
gcdncsS and grandeur, where prccipitous
lifts aflor,fa hazardous apuroach, and
where even the sure footed chamos
would have difficulty in climbing, there
will be found the haunts Of the "moon-
sinner" There in his rocky fortress he
bids defiance to the law, and high amid
the iutting crags and cliffs he posts his
lookout to give notice Of the approach of
Uncle Sans officials, or to shoot them
down as they Stcallhly creep onward
and upward in order to surprise him at
his work. Thus an Internal revenue Off
Ger takes his lite in his own hands. His
career is full OF pcrilous escapes and ad-
ventures, and he who passes safely
through these dangers can tell many an
interesting tale. Col. Baird, our es-
tccned city marshal, is one of these lat
ter, who has faced danger in all it's many
guiscs, and show a stern, uuyiclding
'front.' and an mdauuted spirit ofcour-
age and bravery in CARRYING out the exc
yution OF the law, in arrcsting the illicit
listlcrs of "mountain dew" and in
breaking up their stills. The bare-tootcd
.irl OF Bald mountain is the name piven
By the Charleston News and Courier to
one OF his adventures which has been
chroniclcd far and wide 1t is from him
chat we have obtained the following ac-
count OF the manufacture of whiskev in
those rude mountainous districts:
Il was in the internal rcvcnnc service
for four years during Clevcland's admin
istration, aud in that time became
pretty well acquainted with the methods
used by the "moonshncrs" in distiling
whiskey. You wish to hear ANYTHING
about the process used, shall be very
glad to tell it to you.
First the meal is taken and put into
tub, and on this is poured the hot
scalding slops. What mean by slops is
the rcslduum left in the still after distil-
lation of the whiskcv. Enough of the
SlopS is poured in to give the entire mass
the consistency of a thick mush, and this
is then technically called the mash
Having stirred the mash well, it is left
to stand for twcntv-lour hours. After
this period has clapscdit will have formed
a cake. This is broken up and certain
amount Of malt is added to it, can't re-
member the exact quantity. A moon
sinner makes his maltbv taking the corn
and having it upon planks. He then
keeps this continually moistencd until
the corn sprouts. When the sprouts are
of sufficient length they are taken and
dried, and then ground I'D. The product
is what is generally called malt. The
malt having been added, whatever
amount il may be. water is then poured
upon it until the liquid rises to within
three inches of the TOP. Ifthis space is
not left in the tub the resulting tcrmcnta.
ton would canse the liquid to run over.
The liquid is then thoroughly stirred
UP and left standing for sevcntv-two
honrs and alowcdto lcrment until it has
the aciditv or SHARPNESS of sour butter
milk. In this state It's called beer We
are now ready for distillation.
The beer is poured into a large copper
still and allowed to boil for a few min
utcs and then a copper or wooden can is
fastened on. As the heat increases the
vapor or steam arises and passes out
through the arm of the still, which is n
wooden tube generally made of sassairas
as this is supposed to give a better fla
vor to the huuor. The vapour passes
through the arm into the worm. which
is a coilcd pine The worm has its coil
placed in a barrel filed with cold wafer,
At the side and bottom of the barrel is a
spipot where the coil of pine emerges
from the barrel. Now as the steam
passes through the worm it is condensed
bytnc GOODNESS produced bv the water sur.
rounding the pipes and comes ont of tn,
spipot as a LIQUID. The liuuor thus oh
/ tanned is called 'sinplinrs' and is caupht
in what is known as the Singing tank.
The 'sinplings' is very strong. and in
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ith''S' undergo l''e professor uouplinS'