Few People Realize That The Moonshine Capital Of The World Is In Franklin County, Virginia
By Beth|Published April 22, 2021
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Beth
Author
A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Charlottesville. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains.
Moonshine has a fascinating and complicated history. However, many people may not realize that it has strong roots in Virginia. And, in fact, there’s a country right here in the Old Dominion that lays claim to being the Moonshine Capital of the World. Whether you’re fascinated by the Prohibition Era or are curious to taste some authentic Virginia-crafted spirits, you’ll find there’s a lot to discover in Franklin County.
Virginia has a long and complicated history with the production of liquor, and much of its production originated along the James River.
Virginia's modern history of distilling spirits started in Jamestown in 1620; however, Indigenous Peoples had been producing alcoholic drinks from corn and other plants long before the arrival of the colonists.
Throughout southwest Virginia, with a heavy influence of immigrants from England, Germany, Scotland, and Ireland, producing liquor became a way of life. Today you'll find that heritage celebrated and commemorated in Franklin County, photographed below.
When the government imposed a tax on alcohol during the American Revolution, many decided not to register their distilleries so they could avoid the charges. These citizens became known as "moonshiners," and those that lived in the mountains of western Virginia were among the first in the country.
Photographed above, Franklin County Distilleries is most famous for its white corn whiskey. Whiskey production continued through the Civil War, another time period when the government passed a tax on alcohol. While there were still illegal moonshiners living in the area, there were also 77 registered distilleries in Franklin County by 1894.
Another popular local distillery is known as Twin Creeks Distillery.
So the next time you find yourself in Franklin County, Virginia, you should set aside some time to learn about this fascinating part of history, whether that means partaking in a drink or not!
Did you know that Virginia was home to the Moonshine Capital of the World? Have you visited Franklin County recently? We’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
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