Hillbilly Jam 2023
July 26–27, 2023 · Maggie Valley, North Carolina
Hillbilly Jam 2023 was our first big event, and it’s where this really started for us. The shirts we wore that weekend were the first custom, funny designs we ever made — nothing polished, just an idea we wanted to put on cotton and wear around other people who care about this craft.
Big Beard and Still Will made the trip to Maggie Valley, North Carolina for the two-day event. By the time we got to the fairgrounds, things were already moving. People were unloading tables, setting out equipment, and laying out copper. A few folks were tightening fittings and wiping down parts before the crowd got thick. Most conversations were about build details and process. It was steady, not for show, and you could tell people took pride in their work.
We linked up with PhilBilly Moonshine and Big Eaze early. Both of them were easy to talk to. No attitude. Just real conversation about the work and what keeps you at it. We’ve talked with them online before, but standing there in person is different. They signed our shirts. We appreciated that. It’s always good to spend time with people who’ve been hands-on longer than we have and are still willing to share a little.
One of the first things on display near the entrance was a stainless submarine-style setup. Full stainless build. Clean work. The welds and layout were tight. People stopped to study the joints, the way the fittings were put together, and how the body was finished. Seeing that up close got us talking about a project we’d set aside. It’s the kind of build that makes you want to go back home and get moving on something you’ve been putting off.
The stainless build involved North Georgia Still Company, Moonshine Shua, Prohibition Moonshiner, Broken Bones Distillery, and Coastal Shiner. If we missed anyone who helped put that rig together, let us know. Work like that deserves proper credit.
The copper submarine-style setup from TV was also on-site — the very same still built by Moonshiner Mike Cockrell and Moonshiner Jerry during Season 12 of Moonshiners. Seeing it in person was something else. The seams and joints told the story. Everything sat the way it should. No shortcuts in the way the pieces met. You don’t always get to see something from television right in front of you, and when you do, you learn what’s real about it and what’s editing. This one was clearly built to run, not just to be looked at on camera.
We also got time with Moonshiner Richard Landry and his brother Craig. Both of them were straightforward and easy to approach. A lot of people just wanted a handshake, a quick word, maybe a photo. They made time for everyone. We asked Moonshiner Richard what kind of advice he’d give to someone still figuring out what they like to make. He answered immediately: “Ferment everything. If you can ferment it, do it.” No showmanship. Just experience. It’s simple, and it sticks.
Later in the weekend, we crossed paths with Moonshiner Jerry. We’d actually spoken with him the night before at Valley Tavern. Even off the clock, he took a minute with us, signed our shirts, and answered a few fabrication questions. The next day at the show, he was set up and talking with whoever walked up. He’s direct and knows his work. No attitude. Just experience.
That was the main takeaway from Hillbilly Jam 2023: access. You could walk up, look at real builds, ask direct questions, and get real answers. For us, being able to stand in front of the work and talk to the people who built it is the whole point of showing up. We always leave with something useful to apply at home.
Also in attendance
We also saw work and representation from North Georgia Still Company, Moonshine Shua, Prohibition Moonshiner, Broken Bones Distillery, Coastal Shiner, PhilBilly Moonshine, Big Eaze, Moonshiner Mike Cockrell, Moonshiner Jerry, Moonshiner Richard Landry, and Adventure Distilling Co. out of Cosby, Tennessee. Good group.
👕 Worn at This Event
“Condenser? I Barely Knew ’Er!” Tee
|
“Ballin’” Mason Jar Case Tee
|
Event took place July 26–27, 2023 in Maggie Valley, NC. Original Facebook coverage for this trip was first posted on August 9, 2023, with additional photos and notes shared in follow-up posts. Extra photos and comments from the community are available on Facebook: View the original post.