Hillbilly Red’s Raspberry Eau De Vie Bottle Release 2026

Hillbilly Red’s Raspberry Eau De Vie Bottle Release 2026

02/14/2026 · Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

We spent February 14, 2026, at Moonshine Depot in Pigeon Forge for Hillbilly Red’s Raspberry Eau De Vie bottle release.

The release had a VIP setup that included a commemorative tin with custom artwork, a signed jar, and a personal tasting experience with Hillbilly Red pouring the samples himself. It was a good way to slow down, talk a little, and actually take in the bottle release instead of just walking through and heading back out the door.

Hillbilly Red showcasing his Raspberry Eau De Vie bottle at Moonshine Depot in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, on February 14, 2026.
Hillbilly Red showing the Raspberry Eau De Vie bottle during the release at Moonshine Depot.

We were running into old and new friends before we even made it through the door. That tends to happen at these releases — the event starts outside, then eventually everybody remembers they came for the bottle.

Big Beard, Will, Kenny Taylor, Bill Foster, and Wes Coates outside Moonshine Depot in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, on February 14, 2026.
Big Beard and Will outside Moonshine Depot with Kenny Taylor, Bill Foster, and Wes Coates before heading in.

Hillbilly Red handled the tasting side of it himself, including the Raspberry Eau De Vie and the rest of the lineup at the bar. We also went through the full tasting, including the 150 proof, which made the tasting counter a pretty active place for a while.

Hillbilly Red pouring tasters during his Raspberry Eau De Vie bottle release at Moonshine Depot on February 14, 2026.
Hillbilly Red pouring tasters during the release.

Moonshine Depot had plenty going on inside without feeling hard to move through. The store layout was easy to follow, with bottles, shirts, signs, and moonshine-themed displays worked into the space. It felt like a place built around moonshine, not just a liquor shelf with a theme hung over it.

Interior layout of Moonshine Depot in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, during Hillbilly Red’s bottle release on February 14, 2026.
The inside of Moonshine Depot, with bottles, shirts, and displays laid out across the store.

The VIP tin was part of the release, and Hillbilly Red took time to sign them while people came through. That kind of detail makes these releases feel more personal than just picking up a bottle and leaving.

Hillbilly Red signing a VIP tin at Moonshine Depot in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, on February 14, 2026.
Hillbilly Red signing one of the VIP tins from the release.

We also got to spend time with friends while we were there. That part usually ends up being half the reason to go — you walk in for a bottle release, then end up standing around catching up with people you haven't seen since the last event.

Group photo inside Moonshine Depot during Hillbilly Red’s Raspberry Eau De Vie bottle release in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, on February 14, 2026.
A group photo inside Moonshine Depot during the release party.

Big Beard also won a door prize while we were there. We have been to enough of these events to know you never really know what little side moment is going to end up being part of the story.

Big Beard holding a door prize at Hillbilly Red’s Raspberry Eau De Vie bottle release at Moonshine Depot on February 14, 2026.
Big Beard with the door prize he won during the release.

Outside the release itself, Moonshine Depot sits in Pigeon Forge with plenty of other stops nearby, so it makes sense as part of a larger day out. For us, this one was a bottle release, a tasting, a few pictures, and another reminder that these events usually turn into more than the thing printed on the flyer.

Big Beard and Will with Neil 'Tiny' Roberson outside Moonshine Depot in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, on February 14, 2026.
Fun Extra: Big Beard and Will with Neil “Tiny” Roberson, master distiller and co-founder of East Tennessee Distillery and Roberson’s Tennessee Mellomoon.

Also in Attendance

Also in attendance were Tiny, Biggins, Donald Dyer, Jason Holden, Kenny Taylor, Jaimie Mateer, Joshua Jones, Wes Coates, and Bill Foster.


👕 Worn at This Event

Home Distiller shirt worn by Big Beard at Hillbilly Red’s Raspberry Eau De Vie bottle release on February 14, 2026.

"Home Distiller" Tee
worn by Big Beard

Intent To Distribute shirt worn by Will at Hillbilly Red’s Raspberry Eau De Vie bottle release on February 14, 2026.

"Intent To Distribute" Tee
worn by Will


Event took place February 14, 2026, at Moonshine Depot in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Original Facebook coverage for this trip was first posted on February 21, 2026. Extra photos and community comments are available on Facebook: View the original post

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