Washington man appearing on “Moonshiners”
Will Mike and Daniel hit the jackpot with their line of artisanal liquors?
How will Josh fare with the mobile still hidden in his race car trailer?
And how will Tim make out with his new double rye recipe?
These are some of the questions that have been at the forefront of “Moonshiners,” the long-running “docudrama” series on the Discovery Channel that is now in the midst of its eighth season and airs Wednesday nights at 9. Tonight’s episode, and some episodes that follow, will feature an appearance by Washington resident Brad Phillips.
Phillips is a native of Haywood County, N.C., within range of Asheville, and the art of moonshining runs deep in his family’s history. His grandfather used to help Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton, a legend in moonshining circles who killed himself in 2009 just before he was due to serve a stretch in a federal prison for illegal firearms possession and various offenses related to moonshining.
The 43-year-old Phillips points out that his family’s roots in Haywood County date to the 18th century and moonshining was “a way of life for them.” He added, “I’m not going to say that I did, and I’m not going to say I didn’t run liquor.”
With a background that includes work in construction, collecting mushrooms and “whatever I had to do to get by,” Phillips ended up on “Moonshiners” after the producers became aware of Phillips’ ginseng tincture.
“It has been passed down through my family for more than 100 years,” he said.
Phillips underwent what he describes as an extensive background check, and was asked about his greatest goal. His reply? “I’d like to get my own legal label.”
The distinctive red hair and red beard that Phillips sports – his nickname is “Red Fox” – can be seen in a preview clip for tonight’s episode, but he’s not sure what he will be doing or how prevalent he’ll be in tonight’s installment, given how the series is edited. His appearance was recorded last summer in the midst of the annual Hillbilly Jam festival in Maggie Valley, N.C., which brings together live music, food, crafts and, yes, moonshiners.
And as with most reality-based series, Phillips is “not allowed to say anything” about what will unfold on “Moonshiners.”
“Moonshiners” was launched in 2011 and focuses on people who make moonshine in North Carolina, as well as Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina and other points in the American South. Some have questioned the series’ authenticity – specifically, when it debuted, authorities in Virginia said that no illegal liquor was actually being produced on the program. The program’s producers have said that it’s real.