Located in Harman, Still Hollow Spirits is a new distillery that is producing corn whiskey.
Welcome to Still Hollow Spirits, a farm to bottle distillery located high in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia specializing in traditional mountain style whiskeys and unique botanical infusions. We combine pure spring water with fresh local ingredients to craft one of a kind small batch spirits.
More products, though, are in the works.
For us, small batch means 250 gallons of spring water, 300 pounds of local grain and a lot of backbreaking work going into every mash, ferment and distillation. At Still Hollow, we combine pure spring water with fresh local ingredients to craft one of a kind small batch spirits.
If you want to check it out, get in touch with them! They're open for tastings.
As I continue to make my way through the wineries and distilleries around the state, I made a return trip to West Virginia's wine country.
The Sweeter Side of the Feud is located in Spencer and is a descendent of the famous Hatfield family and makes recipes from the family's moonshine.
The Original Hatfield Family Moonshine products are created using the ONLY original Hatfield family recipes.
Our moonshine is made with the exact same recipes that was passed down from Devil Anse Hatfield’s ancestors that was kept secret in the family Bible.
In 2014 Mark Hatfield, the Great Great Grandson of Devil Anse, decided to take the once kept family secret and bring the product to the public and let everyone taste the drink that many Hatfields had drank over years dating back to the infamous feud.
In fact, they sell a number of flavored moonshines, including the popular honey. And, they have about 18 wines!
Each is decorated with a story about the family's history and infamous feud.
Wicked Spirits is a distilling company in Harrisville that produces two items: Hemishine 69 cinnamon whiskey (and ginger) and Endless Wall Vodka. I picked up this little guy for a spot on my bar cart.
Discovered this buckwheat vodka made in Kingwood. Mountain Mama Distillery produces these handcrafted American spirits.
I'm told that there a few must-dos in Seattle - one being to take a ferry. So, we took one of the shorter ferry rides to Bainbridge Island and did a little sipping while there. 
We stopped at Bainbridge Organic Distillers, which has been recognized for having the best craft whiskey.Bainbridge Organic Distillers was founded as a family business in 2009, and since the beginning we perform every task in the making of distilled spirits on site, and with our own hands. From the selection of grain varieties and lots, to grinding, mashing, fermenting and distillation we are hands-on at every stage in the small-batch spirits production process. Bainbridge Organic Distillers was Washington State's first distillery producing USDA Certified Organic spirits, and we are the state's only distillery producing 100% of its organic spirits from scratch, on site in our own distillery. We are very proud to have launched the state's first organic vodkas, whiskey and gin. We favor working with other local, family-owned companies, and we strive to make sure that every step in our process is as environmentally neutral as possible and is sustainably and responsibly managed.
Tastings are free, which was nice. So, we tried some whiskeys, vodka, and gin - which were all good but intense for a quick tasting. The tasting was simple, but it was nice to try some alcohol native to this island.
You likely already know the famous Hatfield & McCoy feud across West Virginia and Kentucky. And, the area has capitalized on this theme for their tourism efforts (smart!).One Gilbert distillery has gotten in touch with its roots to create "The Drink of the Devil." Hatfield & McCoy Moonshine is sure to put the warmth of the devil in ya.
Experience a slice of history with a behind the scenes tour of the Hatfield & McCoy Moonshine distillery. Hatfield & McCoy Moonshine is the very first authentic mountain moonshine ever legally produced by the Hatfields and McCoys. Situated in the southern mountains of Gilbert, West Virginia, this moonshine has been hand made following a family tradition passed down for generations.I made my way to this distillery (the GPS takes you up this one-lane road and doesn't quite connect you there so just be on the lookout for signs once you get into Gilbert. I actually drove about 20 miles out of the way until I got cell phone service to call them and then made my way back. I was determined).
When I was there, I'm pretty sure I took more photos, but the only one I kept somehow was this cute little guy who followed me into the building.
Either way, I did a quick tasting with the owner, whose family is a descendent of the Hatfield family and got a bottle to go. Strong stuff, but the perfect component for drinks.Handed down for generations, the recipe used to make Hatfield & McCoy Moonshine is as authentic and original as the mountains and streams that bear the family names. The original recipe belongs to Devil Anse Hatfield and is currently produced in small, handmade batches, six days a week, in the micro-distillery in Gilbert, West Virginia, on original Hatfield land.Have you had a chance to go check it out? The facility seems lovely, and I'll have to keep an eye out to see if they host events here. Until then, here's some more background in case you need more convincing to grab a piece of this state's history.
Simply said, there is moonshine and then there is real authentic moonshine. You cannot mass produce moonshine and keep the tradition and quality of the small batch craft moonshine. With one taste, the “old timers” will tell you Hatfield & McCoy Moonshine is second to none.
Hatfield & McCoy Moonshine is a premium white corn whiskey that is hand crafted from 100% West Virginia grown corn, carefully fermented, and then distilled in copper kettle stills in small batches using the same authentic proprietary recipe handed down for over 150 years. At 90 proof, our all natural, gluten-free family recipe will go down smooth but kick like a mule. Bold yet versatile, it can be enjoyed neat, chilled, or in a wide variety of mixed cocktails instead of vodka or tequila (ABOUT).
THE MOONSHINE:
Hatfield & McCoy Moonshine is the very first authentic mountain moonshine ever legally produced by the Hatfields and McCoys. This moonshine has been handmade following family tradition passed down for generations. With a taste as original as its name, our moonshine is home fermented, home-distilled, and home bottled in small batches in our distillery located in the southern mountains of Gilbert, West Virginia.
THE FUED:
The Hatfield-McCoy feud began in 1875 between rival families of Devil Anse Hatfield and Ol' Randall McCoy. The story of “The Feud,” now over 135 years old, has become a modern American symbol of the perils of family honor, pride, justice, and vengeance.
HOW IT BEGAN:
The most notorious family feud in American history involved the Hatfields of West Virginia and the McCoys of Kentucky. During the American Civil War, the feud leaders from both families were staunchly pro-Confederate, and Randolph himself served in the Confederate Army during the opening years of the war. However, Randolph’s younger brother, Asa Harmon McCoy, enlisted in the Union Army. He was discharged from the Union Army on December 24, 1864 after suffering a broken leg, and returned home. Soon after his return, Jim Vance, uncle of Devil Anse Hatfield, and a member of the "Logan Wildcats" (a Confederate home guard organized by Hatfield) put Asa Harmon on notice that the Wildcats would soon be paying him, "a visit." Asa Harmon McCoy tried to escape by hiding out in a local cave, but was tracked to his hideout and killed. No charges were ever filed but it was widely known that Vance and members of Hatfield’s Wildcats were directly responsible for his death.
THE LAND DISPUTE:
In the late 1870s, Devil Anse Hatfield was involved in a land dispute with Randolph McCoy’s cousin, Perry Cline over a 5,000-acre tract of land that both held title to. Hatfield brought a civil suit against Cline. Hatfield won in what was seen by the McCoys as a Hatfield friendly court. Perry Cline's relationship to the McCoys was through marriage. He had four siblings married to McCoys. Most importantly, his sister, Martha "Patty" Cline was married to Asa Harmon McCoy. Asa Harmon was killed in 1865, by Devil Anse’s uncle, Jim Vance. In 1886, Martha and Harmon’s son, Lewis Jefferson "Jeff", was killed by Cap Hatfield.
THE HOG:
In the fall of 1878, Randolph "Randall" McCoy brought charges against Floyd Hatfield for stealing one of his hogs. This allegation was a very serious offense at the time, as hogs were extremely valuable to the farming economy. Due to the statements made by Bill Staton, who was related to both families, the case was decided in favor of the Hatfields. The ruling further inflamed the feud, as Randolph McCoy viewed the outcome as unfair. Later, brothers Sam and Paris McCoy were accused, tried, and acquitted of the death of Staton when the judge ruled Staton’s death an act of self-defense by the McCoy brothers.
THE ROMANCE:
Randolph's daughter Roseanna McCoy entered a relationship with Devil Anse's son "Johnse" Hatfield and later became pregnant with Johnse’s child. Upon learning of the affair, Randolph became extremely upset and disowned her. Roseanna, unwanted by both families, moved in with her aunt Betty Blankenship. Johnse later married Roseanna’s cousin, Nancy McCoy. Roseanna’s baby died before her first birthday and the abandoned Roseanna died at the age of 28. The peak of the feuding occurred when three of Randolph’s sons (Roseanna’s brothers) killed Ellison Hatfield, brother of Devil Anse, on election day in 1882. The McCoy brothers were arrested and taken for trial, but Devil Anse organized a large group of followers and intercepted them. Devil Anse retaliated for the killing of his brother by executing Tolbert, Pharmer, and Randolph Jr. without trial.
THE NEW YEAR'S MASSACRE:
It was January 1, 1888. Randolph’s house was burned to the ground and numerous family members were slain by the Hatfields, including two of Randolph’s children. His son Calvin was killed in the shootout as was his daughter, Alifair, who was shot to death as she tried to flee the burning house. Randolph’s wife Sally was badly injured when she attempted to comfort Alifair, suffering several broken ribs and skull fractures. With his house burning, Randolph and his remaining family members were able to escape to the woods; unfortunately, his children, unprepared for the elements, suffered frostbite. He moved his family to Pikeville, Kentucky, where he lived out the remainder of his life in bitterness and grieving. He operated a ferry in Pikeville for some time. By the end of the feud, he had lost seven of his children and his wife.
VENGEANCE:
Shortly after the New Year’s massacre, Kentucky deputy Frank Phillips and a posse of McCoys chased down Jim Vance and Cap Hatfield, killing Vance. Phillips’ posse rounded up nine Hatfield family members and supporters and hauled them off to jail. The feuding and warfare brought in political leaders of Kentucky and West Virginia. The Governor of West Virginia, E. Willis Wilson, accused Kentucky of violating the extradition process and appealed the matter to the Supreme Court of the United States. Kentucky Governor Simon Bolivar Buckner sent his Adjutant General to Pike County to investigate the situation. In May 1889, the Supreme Court decided against West Virginia (Mahon v. Justice); the nine Hatfields would be tried in Pikeville.
NEARING THE END:
Private detectives hunted down many Hatfields, though Devil Anse was never tried nor jailed. In 1890, Ellison Mounts was executed in Kentucky for his part in the McCoy killings. He was one of the men captured along with Mahon. The feud started to wind down with Mounts’ execution.
One distillery in West Virginia has quite the back story: Last year a new, Hampshire County, West Virginia, farm owner and his crew were out generally clearing some land when this one particular oak tree was felled. As it came crashing down, a large family of flying squirrels bailed out and scattered.
So in honor of those squirrels, the Flying Squirrel Ranch & Farm was born. And soon, some attractive farm-based ventures will follow.“I was mortified,” said farm owner Stephen Settimi. “I said right then and there that I would never cut down another dead tree again because there are things living in them.”
Settimi’s current passions are his farm and starting a farm distillery. He moved to rural Hamshire County from Washington, DC, with exactly that thought in mind. His Rada Craft Distillery (the venture’s official name) is now fully licensed (Brilliant Stream).
After a bit of a crazy adventure (running late, a low tire pressure light, rain, and no cell phone service), I made it for my appointment to check out Flying Squirrel Ranch & Farm and RADA Brand Appalachian Spirits.- GIN: Hampshire style Gin made from 100% twice distilled spirits with flavor of juniper, coriander, bergamot, and wild carrot
- BRANDY: True brandy made from 100% grapes grown in the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia
- APPLE BRANDY: Distilled, then barreled from hand-crushed apples pressed and allowed to ferment. The subtle flavor of apple is enhanced with pure apple juice.
- SPIRIT WHISKY: Our flagship batch whiskies each have their own unique quality. Distinctive flavors of traditional American Whiskey. Compare our premium batches to Bourbon.
- SPICED RUM: Made from 100% pure cane sugar and molasses, select spices and stored in slightly toasted oak barrels.
- HOWLIN SHINE: A premium moonshine, Howlin Shine, is made from selected whiskies and flavored with apple, pear, and a dash of cinnamon, (sweet)
The farm is a larger overall piece of land, and the distillery is just one piece. He was so kind to let us sample everything he had - generous samples, too - late on a Saturday evening. We stood sipping spirits out of beakers in a dark barn. And, it couldn't have been more lovely. Flying Squirrel Ranch & Farm is located in the Potomac Highlands of Appalachia. We’re about equal distance from Washington DC, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh. We employ a full green- cycle farm-to-table and grain-to-glass operation. We grow and harvest corn, grapes, nut, and fruit trees for eating and craft distillery operations. A small garden and fish pond provides food and sustenance for us human residents while marauding wildlife eat what we can’t harvest quick enough. Distillery byproducts and water recovery is used for feed, fertilizer, and irrigation. Most of the 30 acres is left wild for the native flora and fauna. The 5 acres of pasture land carries a small creek and fishing pond. The meadow has many medicinal herbs and wildflowers. A frighteningly fast 500’ zip line runs from the barn facility at the top of the hill to the meadow below. Aside from overnight camping, fishing, and hiking, our mini craft distillery offers free tasting of a variety of artisan-made spirits such as whiskies, gin, rum, liquors and of course, "moonshine”. When not in production cycle, the large 3200 square foot barn with lofts serves as an events and gathering facility. Nearby Rada is the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad offering a train tour along the Southern Branch of the Potomac River running from Romney to Petersburg where travelers often catch glimpses of Bald Eagles or bears. Other nearby attractions are Civil War battlefields and historic towns of Moorefield, Romney, and Keyser (Flying Squirrel Ranch).
Have you been? What's your favorite?
Distilleries are popping up all over the Mountain State, and few are as impressive as Martinsburg's Black Draft Distillery.
Serving up authentic moonshine, Black Draft Distillery is crafted in a converted horse barn behind the owners' home.To tell a great story, you have to go back to the beginning…
It began with a remarkable horse.
Before there was a Black Draft Distillery, we were just Black Draft Farm with a Percheron draft horse named Biscuit. For ten years we were known as “that farm with the big beautiful horse”. The one that would ride through the nearby neighborhoods, bringing friends and family out of the homes to meet her and go on rides. And, they’d fall in love with her just like we did.
And every year starting in the fall, she became the main horse that rode in the Apple Harvest parades, then as Santa’s main ride for the Christmas festivities of our town’s Annual Tree Lighting ceremony.
Last fall, we suddenly lost her, and the barn was left empty with her spirit still very much a strong part of the farm.
And that is when we decided to take a new chapter in our lives in a very different direction. We sat down as a family, and decided to start a new business and bring the farm back to life again. We wanted to bring back the plow-to-earth business that would make our ancestors proud, and that could be handed down to the next generation. And that is when we decided to get into the whiskey business.
When it came time to choose a name for the new venture, there was only one that would honor the spirit of our beloved Biscuit. These stories. That horse. These generations. And, that moonshine. This is what brings family and friends together. And that’s what makes moonshine great!
I was fortunate that Glen and Tara were kind enough to allow me to visit during off-season hours. I don't get to Martinsburg often, so when I knew I'd be passing through, I got in touch with them immediately. They were more than happy to sit down with me and talk to me a little bit about what they do.
There's something really special about talking to people about what they're passionate about. That's a main driving force in why I wanted to pursue journalism. So hearing the owners talk to me about how they got into this and what it's like serving their community is pretty incredible.
They're welcoming and inviting, and - most importantly - totally willing to have a drink with me!
They sell four different drinks: First Harvest Moonshine, Rise & Shine Coffee Moonshine, White Julep Moonshine and a bourbon that flies of the shelf faster than they can make it.First Harvest Moonshine: Made with locally grown NON-GMO corn! Click here to read more about our local corn harvest season.
If you fancy yourself a connoisseur of all-things-whiskey, think again.
For the first time since Prohibition, you’ll soon be able to (legally) settle into a glass of true-blue, or should I say clear, West Virginia Moonshine, courtesy of Black Draft Distillery.
Old school mason jar?
Check.
Smooth finish so you can even taste the corn?
Check.
Listen. This ain’t your college bathtub juice. Nor is it some souvenir swill from a corner in a general store. Our First Harvest Moonshine is an honest-to-goodness West Virginia unaged corn whiskey made in the heart of bootlegging country. We’re in the Shenandoah Valley, right in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. And by incorporating local products, we are working to create a truly authentic, pure, and tasty, libation.
Most moonshine is made primarily with sugar, and is typically referred to as “white lightning” mainly due to its hot, harsh taste. But we use corn, barley, and wheat to create a smoother, rich flavor and taste.
And, while some of you out there might have already tangled with the illegal variety, Black Draft Distillery promises a product that won’t land you and your buddies in the clinker.
Available in 375ml- “pint” or 750ml “fifth” size. Visit our purchase page to locate where to Get Your Shine On!
The regular moonshine is much cleaner and smoother than I expected a moonshine to be. The coffee moonshine - made with local roasters Black Dog Coffee - is a must for any West Virginia coffee-lover. And, the White Julep moonshine is not typically something I would typically go for, but mixed with some fresh mint, maybe some cranberry, some bitters... this could be one helluva drink. I even got to try some of the unfiltered bourbon. Top notch. 
If you're in the area, give Glen & Tara a call. They'd be more than happy to chat with you. And, you certainly won't regret it. 
I can't wait to see how they grow and expand from here. 
West Virginia is working to brand "trails" that will bring in tourism - best food, craft beer, winery, and distillery trails. You give me a list - especially one revolving around those topics - and I'm all in.
I've been trying to hit up distilleries/wineries as I've been out adventuring at restaurants. Recently, I went to the Eastern Panhandle and made a big loop so I could stop at Flying Buck Distillery in Augusta.We are a farm based distillery based in the foot hills of the appalachian. Growing what we brew, we take pride in every product we create. We are dedicated to making quality, delicious, and one of a kind products for you to enjoy.
I mapped it out, downloaded "offline" maps for the area since I knew I'd probably lose service and headed out. I messaged the folks through Facebook to get the exact address, and they were super responsive. My GPS announced I had reached my location, and I looked around to see a small, old shed with a black sign and yellow spray paint that said "Flying Buck Distillery" and beside that, "BBQ-Ribs." And, with that, I took up the dirt hill in my little car until I reached the top.
Tons of cars were parked around, a group of five or six men were standing off to the side. I assumed that meant that's where the moonshine was. I slid past them and inside. It was a bit like a boys club, so I was relieved to see the person working the register was a woman and offered me a taste of their moonshine. They had naughty oak moonshine, and the classic blue label in the small bottles available. They were sold out of the apple pie in a small jug.
The apple pie was good, but I kind of like the unflavored natural one so I can build my own drink around it! They also had some fresh greens and BBQ available for purchase. And, while I was there, they were doing construction to build a big kitchen, so it looks as though they plan to expand their food offerings. That's a pretty cool idea.
Just as I was getting ready to leave, an older man showed me where the magic happens. They were having a good time, with country music blaring, everybody in cut-off shirts in the sunshine, and drinking moonshine. If you're here with a group - instead of just passing by - I'm sure it would be a really good time.If you go, they're openThursday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can find them at 13841 Northwestern Pike Augusta WV 26704.
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