Digger Unearths Popcorn Sutton’s Legendary Stainless Steel Pot for Moonshine Revival

September 29, 2025 – In a thrilling development for moonshine enthusiasts and fans of Discovery Channel’s Moonshiners, Eric “Digger” Manes, alongside partners Amanda and Kelly, has uncovered a piece of Appalachian history: a stainless steel pot once owned by the legendary moonshiner Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton. The iconic still, hidden for over two decades in Cocke County, Tennessee, was rediscovered in a dusty shed near the county line, sparking excitement about reviving Sutton’s storied triple-malted grain liquor recipe. Featured in a gripping episode of Moonshiners Season 14, aired on September 25, 2025, the find represents a bold step in Digger’s quest to honor his mentor’s legacy while navigating the challenges of modern moonshining. With plans to set up a semi-permanent still site and delegate operations to trusted allies, Digger’s discovery underscores the enduring allure of Sutton’s craft and the innovative spirit of today’s moonshiners.

The episode begins with Digger, Amanda, and Kelly embarking on a mission to locate the stainless steel pot, a relic from Sutton’s prolific career. Sutton, who died by suicide in 2009 at age 62 to avoid an 18-month prison sentence for illegal distilling and firearm possession, was renowned for his high-quality moonshine and flamboyant persona. Born in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, and operating primarily in Cocke County, Tennessee, Sutton learned the craft from his Scots-Irish ancestors, earning the nickname “Popcorn” after smashing a bar’s popcorn machine with a pool cue in the 1970s. His stainless steel pot, originally sourced from a soft drink bottling company 30 years ago, was prized for its durability and ability to handle the oily residue from hops-steeped beer, which clogs copper stills. “The oil that comes out of the hops when they’re steeped in the beer, it’ll cake up on copper horribly,” Digger explains in the episode. “It takes an act of Congress to get it off. It pretty much ruins the still, so we got to have a stainless steel pot.”

Their journey leads them to Leroy Sutton, Popcorn’s nephew, at his property in Cocke County. Digger, who ran with Popcorn and Leroy in their youth, recalls the still’s last use 25 years ago, when it pumped out liquor under Leroy’s watchful eye. “I ain’t seen you since you was a teenager,” Leroy, nicknamed “Lug Nut” for his love of restoring old vehicles, tells Digger. The trio searches a cluttered shed filled with barrels, corn remnants, and memories of past runs. “There ain’t no tellin’ what kind of treasures is in these buildings,” Digger muses, wary of snakes but hopeful. After navigating a cramped room—“the smallest room I’ve ever seen in a shed,” Amanda quips—they spot a patch of tire and uncover the massive stainless steel pot, unchanged by time. “That is enormous, ain’t she pretty?” Digger exclaims, marveling at its pristine condition. “That’s the beauty of stainless—it don’t rust, it don’t fall apart.”

Negotiations with Leroy reveal the still’s sentimental value. Purchased by Popcorn for $500, it supported his family during lean times. Leroy refuses to sell, saying, “It’s been here for Popcorn’s family for over 25 years.” Instead, he offers to lend it, requesting only a share of the liquor produced. “You’ll have plenty of liquor, son,” Digger assures him, shaking hands. “Uncle Leroy would be proud knowin’ this thing is fired back up.” The deal reflects the communal spirit of moonshining, where trust and shared heritage outweigh profit. The discovery is a coup for Digger, who, with Mark Ramsey, has built a reputation for preserving Popcorn’s techniques, having once constructed stills for him.

With the pot secured, the trio faces the challenge of finding a suitable still site. Digger’s vision is ambitious: a semi-permanent setup to produce Sutton’s triple-malted grain liquor, a complex recipe known to few. He selects a secluded location owned by a friend, where old hunting dog kennels and a roofed structure provide cover from aerial surveillance. “If they’re doin’ aerial surveillance, all this crap’s been here forever, so anything we put won’t look out of the ordinary,” Digger notes. The site, accessible only by a rough road—“the road less traveled is the one we want,” he says—offers security and stability. The team carefully loads the heavy pot onto their truck, with Amanda joking, “We ain’t carryin’ it through the woods. We got other teams to focus on. We’re building something big here.”

Digger’s strategy reflects a modern evolution of moonshining, blending tradition with pragmatism. Rather than running the still himself, he outsources production to trusted partners Daniel and Tater, experienced distillers familiar with the triple-malted recipe. “We’ve worked with Daniel a lot makin’ this over the years,” Digger says. “He emulates our skill set to a T.” This delegation allows Digger to scale operations, sourcing ingredients and equipment while younger moonshiners handle distribution. “We’re bein’ the brains behind the operation,” he explains. “They bring it back, everybody gets a share of the bounty, and we’re makin’ more money.” The approach mirrors Popcorn’s own savvy, as he balanced public notoriety with covert production to evade authorities.

The find resonates deeply with Moonshiners fans, who see Sutton as a folk hero embodying Appalachian defiance. His legacy, cemented by documentaries like This Is the Last Damn Run of Likker I’ll Ever Make and his autobiography Me and My Likker, has been commercialized through partnerships like Ole Smoky Distillery’s Popcorn Sutton’s Tennessee White Whiskey, launched with his widow Pam Sutton in 2023. However, Digger’s discovery of the stainless steel pot taps into the raw, illicit spirit of Sutton’s era, before legal distilleries softened moonshine’s outlaw edge. X users celebrated the find, with one posting, “Digger finding Popcorn’s still is peak Moonshiners! That’s history right there.” Another wrote, “That stainless pot is like finding Excalibur for moonshiners. Can’t wait to see what Digger cooks up.”

The episode also highlights the risks of scaling up. “The bigger our operation gets, the more careful we have to be,” Digger warns, aware that increased activity draws scrutiny. Popcorn’s own downfall—arrested in 2008 with 900 gallons of moonshine—serves as a cautionary tale. Yet, Digger’s trust in his team and the pot’s historical significance fuel his ambition. The still, once a lifeline for Popcorn’s family, now symbolizes a bridge between past and present, as Digger aims to produce liquor worthy of his mentor’s name. Moonshiners Season 14, available on Discovery+ and Max, continues to captivate with its blend of heritage and hustle, with the stainless steel pot poised to star in future episodes as Digger’s crew fires it up for a new generation.