Selling raw milk remains illegal in many places in the United States, making some feel like modern-day moonshiners. More from Remy at Reason TV.
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Tag Archives: moonshine
The Tragic Life of Al Capone
Gangster Al Capone was the biggest bootlegger in American history during Prohibition and ruled the Chicago mob for six years, earning him the title “Public Enemy No. 1” from the Windy City. But there’s more to Capone’s life than you think. Grunge opens the vault and explores the tragic life of America’s most notorious mobster.
America’s Rebel Spirit
Moonshine, a clear un-aged whiskey, evokes imagery of lawlessness and Prohibition in the early 1930s. So with Prohibition long gone, why is moonshine still thriving today and why is it illegal?
Jaime Joyce, author of Moonshine: A Cultural History of America’s Most Infamous Liquor, tells Reason.TV’s Anthony Fisher that it’s a matter of economics, since moonshine is prevalent in poor, rural America. Joyce explains the cultural significance of moonshine and the role it played in the creation of NASCAR.
The Cold, Beer Facts
Want to sound like a genius next time your pounding down a beer at your favorite bar?
In this edition of Mental Floss, John Green provides 26 facts and tips about beer that you probably weren’t aware of, such as beer and marijuana are basically plant cousins. You probably know that FDR ended Prohibition, but it was President Carter who legalized home brewering in 1978. Check in as Green takes us through 24 more amazing facts.
Kennedy Myths and Legends
Was Joseph P. Kennedy, the father of JFK, RFK and Teddy Kennedy, a bootlegger? Was he anti-Semitic or a Nazi sympathizer? How did he make his millions? David Nasaw examines the legends and exposes the many myths surrounding the Kennedy patriarch. Nasaw is a professor of history at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and also the author of the best-selling biography The Patriarch: The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy.
To the disappointment of Kennedy haters everywhere, Nasaw debunks the myth that Joe made a fortune via bootlegging during Prohibition. In fact, those stories about Kennedy Sr., who passed multiple security checks by the FBI while serving multiple presidents, only surfaced in the late ’60s when JFK assassination buffs tried to tie the family to the mob.
Nasaw discusses his book with Nick Gillespie from Reason TV.
The Drunkest Place on Earth
Ugandans are not only the hardest drinking Africans, but they lead the world in per capita consumption of alcohol. The hootch they choose to chug is called Waregi or “war gin.” This form of local moonshine makes the harshest Appalachian rotgut taste like freaking Bailey’s. Thomas Morton from Vice reports.
