America’s ‘white lightening’ flies off shelves nationwide
Moonshine bootlegging legend and NASCAR Hall of Famer, Junior Johnson is celebrating the explosive growth of his family’s moonshine and reveling in his position as America’s number one selling moonshine. Since its launch in 2007, Midnight Moon continues to outpace the competition by 2:1 and is on track to sell more than 500,000, nine-liter cases this year, making them the unequivocal leader in the moonshine industry.
“The recent interest and excitement around moonshine is sweeping the nation and we are thrilled that Midnight Moon is leading this American moonshine revolution,” said Joe Michalek, Founder of Piedmont Distillers, makers of Midnight Moon. “We attribute our growth to the fact that we make the most authentic moonshine you can buy in stores. Midnight Moon follows the Johnson family moonshine traditions of handcrafting in small batches, including the additional time and expense required to hand-pack every jar with real fruit. This is how moonshine was meant to be made and the only way to truly make the best tasting moonshine.”
Junior Johnson started selling his family’s moonshine when he was 14 but now at 81, he’s selling it legally! A celebrity in his own right, Johnson’s colorful past as a bootlegger and NASCAR legend was featured in an Esquire article in 1965 that was turned into a critically acclaimed film starring Jeff Bridges, entitled The Last American Hero. Even Bruce Springsteen gives Johnson a shout-out in his song Cadillac Ranch.
Johnson was never apprehended for running ‘shine’ because authorities could never catch him due to his extraordinary driving skills that later earned him 50 NASCAR victories. “Lose on the track and you go home, lose with a load of whisky and you go to jail,” Johnson said.
It wasn’t until 1956 when Johnson fired up his family’s still that he was arrested by 18 federal agents lying in wait. Johnson served 11 months of a two-year sentence and later received a presidential pardon from Ronald Regan, which he cites as the greatest moment of his life.
The only moonshine with a presidential pardon is available in Original and six authentic North Carolina moonshine flavors: Apple Pie, Cherry, Strawberry, Blueberry, Cranberry and Blackberry. A superior quality spirit that boasts an ultra-smooth, clean taste, Midnight Moon does not have the harsh heavy corn taste often associated with illegal moonshine.
“Our fruit flavored moonshines taste like real fruit, because they are made with real fruit; fresh, Grade A fruit that we hand-pack into mason jars,” said Michalek. “The fruits infuse inside the jar with 100 proof Midnight Moon and without any artificial flavor or color, which is why our flavors, unlike others, have no expiration date and last without refrigeration.”
Available across the country, Midnight Moon retails for approximately $22.00/750ml bottle. Midnight Moon Original is 80 proof, triple distilled and made from American corn. Midnight Moon Apple Pie is bottled at 70 proof, and all other Midnight Moon flavors are bottled at 100 proof. Junior Johnson’s original mug shot can be found on all of Midnight Moon’s current advertising materials with the headline “Any more Authentic and it would be Illegal.”
Piedmont Distillers, a craft distillery in the little town of Madison, NC, is considered a leader of the current moonshine and artisan distilling movement. Its reputation is one of creating authentic, superior quality, handcrafted spirits. Piedmont Distillers is committed to preserving the moonshining legacy and distilling traditions that have made North Carolina the “Moonshine Capital of the World.” Coupling these traditions with its commitment to crafting exceptional spirits has enabled Piedmont Distillers’ brands to transcend moonshine from the backwoods, to be amongst the finest spirits available anywhere. For more information, please visit www.piedmontdistillers.com.
