popcorn sutton

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The past several weeks have seen an exploding amount of interest in the life and art of Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton: the legendary brewer of moonshine. It will be three years next month that he left us… but Popcorn Sutton has gotta be smiling and laughing his butt off in Heaven at how his myth has grown down here on Earth! Ever since his family began legally selling Popcorn Sutton’s Tennessee White Whiskey I’ve seen it going for $150 a jar on eBay. And then a few days ago Kellie Pickler introduced it to Ellen DeGeneres on national television, in a clip that simply must be seen.

Meanwhile, there are things going on behind the scenes that I’ve been sworn to secrecy on that… well, y’all will just have to wait and see how uberawesome this is all gonna be! I can tell you that the third annual Popcorn ...

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This has been one of the crazier past few days in this blog’s history. Ever since Discovery Channel aired the final episode of its hit series Moonshiners a few nights ago the traffic to The Knight Shift has been ginormous! Seems that all the writing I’ve been doing over the years about Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton has put me on the radar of likker lovers across the Intertubes. Since the Moonshiners finale aired many of those – and quite a lot of new readers – have been coming here with but one question above all others…

“How can I get some of that Popcorn Sutton moonshine???”

Here’s the post that I made back in October when Popcorn Sutton’s Tennessee White Whiskey first went on sale. Look at all those comments that have been left since the other night. That ain’t even half of the correspondence that’s been coming in ...

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Recent events in my personal life have kept me from watching Discovery Channel’s new hit series Moonshiners, but many have told me that it’s a most excellent reality series about those free souls who make likker in true Appalachian style!

I shall however be tuned in tonight (as well as having my DVR set to record) as I have just received word straight from Pam Sutton, the lovely and vivacious widow of moonshining legend Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton, that tonight’s episode is supposed to feature Popcorn rather heavily.

I can attest that interest in Popcorn Sutton is soaring of late, as this blog is getting slammed with visits from people Google-ing about Popcorn and his trade. But I should also note that nowhere on The Knight Shift (so far that I know of) can there be found plans to build a moonshine still of one’s own. And trust ...

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I kept meaning to post an extensive write-up about the Second Annual Popcorn Sutton Acoustic Jam, held in Maggie Valley, North Carolina two months ago. Guess it just sorta collided with some other stuff going on in my life at the time. But I have heard bunches from event organizers who were delighted at the turnout and now, there is serious talk afoot about making it an ongoing yearly festival. Maybe even one taking place across an entire weekend (and in the fall when it would be cooler 🙂

Well anyhoo, here’s the BIG news of the day, friends and neighbors!

Popcorn Sutton’s Tennessee White Whiskey – AKA real honest-to-goodness moonshine – is now being sold in Newport, Tennessee! This is the real deal: made according to Popcorn’s very own original recipe with the permission and blessing of his family, which is in a partnership with country music legend Hank ...

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There have been some developments (to put it mildly) since I first posted two weeks ago about the 2nd Annual Popcorn Sutton Acoustic Jam happening August 6th. I’ve been in regular contact with the event organizers and folks, this lil’ celebration of the life and legend of Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton is literally seeing good stuff happen with each passing day!

First thing that everyone should know about is that the event has moved! There’s been so MUCH interest and plenty enough people saying that they’re gonna be attending, that the 2nd Annual Popcorn Sutton Acoustic Jam is now being held at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds in astonishingly beautiful Maggie Valley, North Carolina (which is right next door to Waynesville, where it was going to be originally held). Set your GPS units accordingly! There should be plenty of parking for everyone.

You should also plan to be there for ...

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He passed away more than two years ago, but Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton‘s legend is bigger than ever! The famous moonshiner’s acclaimed likker is now being sold legally (yup, according to Popcorn’s own secret recipe) and thanks to the Internet and documentaries on public television and the History Channel made while he was with us, Popcorn Sutton has become admired by more people than ever before.

And next month we’ll get the chance to show our appreciation for the man and his life at the 2nd Annual Popcorn Sutton Acoustic Jam. This tribute event will be August 6th at Smackers Sports Grill in Waynesville, North Carolina (a sweet lil’ town that I have had the pleasure of visiting many times over the years).

Look! Craigslist event posting!

Come and enjoy an evening filled with music and good food while celebrating the life of legendary moonshiner Popcorn Sutton. Bring

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For $20,000 you could be the proud owner of this authentic moonshine still designed, built and no doubt USED by Popcorn Sutton for the brewing of his famous likker!

Here’s the link to the item’s eBay page. And here’s the official description…

Up for sale is a genuine Copper Moonshine Still that was used by the legendary Popcorn Sutton of the appalachians. This item is being sold for historical purposes only, not for actual use. This still is 45-50 years old and has a 110 gallon pot!

Any additional questions please call about this rare and highly collectible item.

Rare and collectible, indeed!! I would love to own this… or anything that was the handiwork of Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton: a character who was truly an American original.

Tip o’ the hat to Eric Smith for an awesome find!!...

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More than seven months after taking his own life rather than be wrongfully imprisoned, Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton has been laid to rest… again. And this time his many admirers had the opportunity they had long desired to pay their final respects to the famed moonshiner, Appalachian legend and completely American original character that was Popcorn Sutton.

Originally buried in Mt. Sterling in North Carolina, Popcorn’s widow Pam Sutton cited “problems with vandalism” as the reason for moving and re-interring Popcorn’s casket at Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Dandridge, Tennessee: not far from Popcorn’s home in Parrotsville.

The move was scheduled for this past Saturday. A public memorial service was also held, attended by hundreds of people including country music legend Hank Williams Jr.

An old-fashioned horse-drawn hearse then brought Popcorn Sutton to his final resting place.

WBIR has more about the service for Popcorn Sutton, including a rather intriguing comment ...

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This past Saturday was a big night for North Carolina filmmaker Neal Hutcheson! At the 35th Southeast Regional Emmy Awards held in Atlanta, Georgia, Hutcheson’s documentary The Last One – in which he chronicled Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton’s fine art of moonshining – won the Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for “Outstanding Achievement in Television Programming Excellence”.

If you’ve been reading this blog for the past few months then you already know that Popcorn Sutton took his own life in March, just days before he was to report to prison following a series of events that began with a raid on one of his stills last year…

“Popcorn’s death underscores the cultural preservation value of films like The Last One,” Hutcheson said. “A fact that I doubt escaped the Emmy selection committee.”

I have a copy of The Last One on DVD and y’all wouldn’t ...

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Over the past several days there have been a lot of tributes to Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton, the incorrigible moonshiner whose rascally and entrenched ways endeared himself to a devoted following not just in Appalachia but across the Internet. As has been reported here and elsewhere in the media, Popcorn took his own life this past Monday, rather than report to federal prison later in the week to begin serving an 18-month sentence for “illegally” making likker.

(If you’d like to read more about Popcorn Sutton and his illustrious career, click on the “popcorn sutton” tag” and you can find lots of material that this blog has linked to over the course of the last year.)

Earlier today JR Hafer, a longtime friend of Popcorn’s, forwarded along an essay that he had written. I personally think it’s one of the finest that has been written about Popcorn Sutton: a man ...

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