Next time you're in Charlotte for a NASCAR Hall of Fame visit and develop a thirst after seeing the moonshine still display, you can quench it in high dollar fashion around the corner at Charlotte's Mint Museum "Uptown" location.
According to a recent story in South Park magazine and reprinted today in the Charlotte Observer, the Mint Museum is now serving slightly watered down 80 proof moonshine mixed drinks, some from the distillery partially owned by Wilkes County legend, Junior Johnson.
One of the moonshine distillers says she wants to remind people that there was a long tradition of moonshine before NASCAR. Kinda like the tradition of stock car racing before NASCAR.
The photo below is of the museum's moonshine & honey based "Shanghai Speakeasy."
Joys of moonshine at the Mint Uptown
By Julie Reed Bell
SouthPark Magazine
Posted: Friday, Feb. 03, 2012
This fall saw a strange sight invade the upscale confines of the Mint Museum Uptown and its chic restaurant, Halycon. A bluegrass band played in the lobby, and a special menu was offered featuring that most North Carolina of spirits: moonshine. No Mason jars to be found here, though. These were upscale cocktails created by Maggie Ruppert, Halycon's resident mixologist.
Coinciding with a renaissance of artisan spirits like gin, bourbon and brandy, moonshine is enjoying its own rebirth. This is not your granddaddy's 'shine. That acrid, mouth-burning sensation has been replaced by spices and smoothness. It's no longer pure grain alcohol, either. As Ruppert says, "It's 80 proof, so nobody is going to go blind or fall down the stairs."
To create her specialty beverages, Ruppert used three brands that are native to North Carolina: Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine and Midnight Moon (both from Piedmont Distillers in Madison) and Troy & Sons (in Asheville). Ruppert blended Catdaddy with oolong tea, saffron, local honey and tamarind to create the Shanghai Speakeasy. It's very smooth and subtly spiced, finishing with just a touch of honey.
Catdaddy's was the first product of Piedmont Distillers, founded in 2005. Its name comes from Prohibition legend - at the time, only the best moonshine was called "the catdaddy."
The recipe is closely guarded, but it is made from American corn in a copper still and triple-distilled. The distillery says some people taste vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg or citrus in Catdaddy, but none of those ingredients go into it. They say its flavor is best described as "a little sweet, with a little spice."
In May 2007, moonshine and racing legend Junior Johnson became part owner of Piedmont Distillers, and together they introduced Junior Johnson's Midnight Moon. Based on the Johnson family's generations-old moonshine recipe, it's also made from corn in a copper still, crafted in small batches and triple distilled. It's a clean-tasting spirit that's similar to vodka in flavor profile.
Ruppert used it as a base for her Junior's Repeal cocktail, combining it with house-made brandied persimmon, sugar, grapefruit rind and grapefruit bitters. The result was a refreshing drink that would be a perfect to sip on a hot summer day.
A North Carolina native, Johnson made his first moonshine run at age 14.
After years in the family business, he was convicted in 1956 on a charge of producing illegal liquor. He served 11 months in federal prison and was pardoned by President Ronald Reagan. It was the decades of running moonshine that led to Johnson's career as a race-car driver.
Troy Ball of Troy & Sons Distillers in Asheville wants to remind people that there was a long tradition of moonshine before NASCAR . She says her family's company was inspired by circuit-riding preachers in the 1800s who brought spirits in addition to the Gospel.
Troy & Sons moonshine came to market in June 2011 and won the 2011 silver medal at the New York International Spirits Competition. It is velvety smooth, with vanilla oak undertones and a natural, almost chocolate-like sweetness on the palate. Ruppert combined Troy & Sons with macerated pumpkin and seasonal spices for her Pumpkin Potcheen (potcheen is another word for moonshine). The vanilla and pumpkin combined for a warming and satisfying creation that would be ideally suited for sipping in front of a fireplace.
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/02/03/2980589/joys-of-moonshine-at-the-mint.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy
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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 04/02/17 09:52:08AM