Music to Our Ears: Tennessee Hills Distillery and the New Role of Opportunity as an Appalachian Moonshiner

Author #1

Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary

Appalachian Studies Conference 2015 East Tennessee State University Abstract for Performance Connie J. Aiken Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock, North Carolina Appalachia has mountains, valleys, and hollers with varied socioeconomic standards, but one continuing tradition in Appalachian culture is the presence of moonshine. This is a tradition which has been carried down through generations as a form of sustainable living and one example of this continuation is the establishment of Tennessee Hills Distillery in Jonesborough, Tennessee. Stephen Callahan, Owner/Master Distiller of Tennessee Hills Distillery, comes from a long line of moonshiners dating back to pre-Civil War. His ancestors emigrated from Ireland and brought with them their tulip style still. They continued to perfect the art of moonshine in Unicoi County, Tennessee and passed on the legacy to Stephen, a young man, who with his entrepreneur skills and hard work is turning the art of moonshine into a thriving distiller in Tennessee’s oldest town. The Distillery is located in the old Salt House of Jonesborough, Tennessee, which comes with its own collection of historic stories. The presentation/performance submitted for consideration to the Appalachian Studies Conference will include a video of Stephen on location at the old Salt House where he discusses his family’s history and pride of making some of the best moonshine in East Tennessee. Tennessee Hills Distillery is a perfect example of the new changes in Appalachia with the emergence of a younger generation’s pride of culture while using local resources to sustain and develop local economy. The video will be presented by Connie Aiken, Faculty at Blue Ridge Community College, Flat Rock, and N.C. and filmed by students from the college.

 
Mar 29th, 10:45 AM Mar 29th, 12:00 PM

Music to Our Ears: Tennessee Hills Distillery and the New Role of Opportunity as an Appalachian Moonshiner

Appalachian Studies Conference 2015 East Tennessee State University Abstract for Performance Connie J. Aiken Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock, North Carolina Appalachia has mountains, valleys, and hollers with varied socioeconomic standards, but one continuing tradition in Appalachian culture is the presence of moonshine. This is a tradition which has been carried down through generations as a form of sustainable living and one example of this continuation is the establishment of Tennessee Hills Distillery in Jonesborough, Tennessee. Stephen Callahan, Owner/Master Distiller of Tennessee Hills Distillery, comes from a long line of moonshiners dating back to pre-Civil War. His ancestors emigrated from Ireland and brought with them their tulip style still. They continued to perfect the art of moonshine in Unicoi County, Tennessee and passed on the legacy to Stephen, a young man, who with his entrepreneur skills and hard work is turning the art of moonshine into a thriving distiller in Tennessee’s oldest town. The Distillery is located in the old Salt House of Jonesborough, Tennessee, which comes with its own collection of historic stories. The presentation/performance submitted for consideration to the Appalachian Studies Conference will include a video of Stephen on location at the old Salt House where he discusses his family’s history and pride of making some of the best moonshine in East Tennessee. Tennessee Hills Distillery is a perfect example of the new changes in Appalachia with the emergence of a younger generation’s pride of culture while using local resources to sustain and develop local economy. The video will be presented by Connie Aiken, Faculty at Blue Ridge Community College, Flat Rock, and N.C. and filmed by students from the college.