Mark and Digger Craft Legacy Moonshine to Honor Tennessee’s Liquor Heritage

In a heartfelt return to their roots, Moonshiners stars Mark Ramsey and Eric “Digger” Manes reunited at Digger’s old family farm in Tennessee to craft what they believe is their finest creation yet: an all-grain Legacy corn whiskey. Documented in the Season 14 premiere of the Discovery Channel’s hit reality series, aired on September 10, 2025, the duo’s latest endeavor celebrates the time-honored traditions of Appalachian moonshining while paying homage to the legends who shaped their craft. Using locally sourced ingredients and limestone spring water, Mark and Digger poured their hearts into a batch of liquor they hope will secure their place among the greats of Tennessee’s storied distilling history.

Back to the Basics at the Farm

The episode opens with Mark and Digger scouting a picturesque spot near a limestone spring on Digger’s ancestral farm, a location steeped in personal and historical significance. “It’s been a minute since me and you got together to make another run of liquor, ain’t it?” Digger remarked to Mark, setting the tone for a nostalgic return to their origins. The choice of the limestone spring was deliberate—its mineral-rich water is widely regarded as the secret to crafting superior whiskey, a fact Digger proudly noted: “It’s a known fact that limestone water makes the best liquor on the planet.” This natural resource, combined with Tennessee-sourced corn and malted barley, formed the foundation of their Legacy whiskey, a recipe designed to embody purity and tradition.

The process began with the duo carefully preparing their mash, a critical step that required precision to achieve the perfect flavor profile. Mark explained the importance of the grind, emphasizing that corn, with its high sugar content, must be milled just right. “If you get it too fine, it’ll clump up and you got a corn cake,” he said. “Too thick, and you can’t cook all the carbs out of it.” Digger, known for his preference for a coarse “CH grit grain,” adjusted the grind to ensure the mash would yield maximum flavor. The pair then moved on to the malted barley, cooking the corn at a higher temperature to break down starches into fermentable sugars, a technique Mark described as a “game changer” for their Legacy whiskey.

A Labor of Love and Tradition

As the mash cooked, the camaraderie between Mark and Digger was palpable, evoking memories of their early days as moonshiners. “Ain’t it been good out here, just me and you like the old days?” Mark asked, his voice tinged with nostalgia. The duo reflected on their evolution as distillers, noting that their new approach prioritizes simplicity. “We’ve made a lot of liquor out of a lot of different things, but we’ve come to realize now with this recipe, simpler is better,” Digger said. By eliminating sugar and focusing on an all-grain recipe, they aimed to capture the purest essence of Appalachian moonshine, a nod to the methods of their predecessors.

The episode also highlighted the duo’s meticulous attention to detail. To prevent scorching in their bottom-fired still pots, they added a small amount of mash to the thump keg, allowing the steam to pick up additional grain notes. “We want to give this every chance in the world to be the best corn whiskey that’s ever been,” Digger declared, his excitement palpable as the still began to heat up. As the first drips of liquor emerged, Mark and Digger’s anticipation grew. “Here we come, Mountain Legacy corn whiskey!” Mark exclaimed, signaling the culmination of their efforts.

A Taste of Legacy

When the time came to taste the finished product, the moment was nothing short of transcendent for the duo. Digger took the first sip, his reaction capturing the whiskey’s complexity: “There’s corn, there’s that bread note that the barley brings in, then it finishes corn again, but it’s sweet on the finish.” He described it as “Appalachian in a jar,” unpretentious and authentic, embodying the spirit of their craft. Mark, equally moved, called it “the best you can get,” a sentiment that resonated with their shared goal of creating a liquor worthy of their mentors’ legacy.

The episode took a poignant turn as Mark and Digger reflected on the moonshiners who inspired them, including legends like Jim Tom Hedrick and Popcorn Sutton. Digger recalled the distinct rye whiskey of Jim Tom, noting that its unique flavor was instantly recognizable. “You could open a jar of Jim Tom’s rye whiskey and know it was his,” he said. The duo also cherished memories of tasting Popcorn Sutton’s corn liquor, a ritual that brought back vivid memories of the man himself. “I hope years from now, some really good up-and-coming young distillers will speak of us the way we speak of Jim Tom and Popcorn,” Mark said, expressing their aspiration to leave a lasting mark on the craft.

Honoring the Past, Building the Future

The creation of the Legacy whiskey was more than a single batch for Mark and Digger—it was a mission to preserve and elevate Tennessee’s moonshining heritage. With nearly two gallons of liquor produced, the duo saw an opportunity to scale up production. “I want people who drink this to want the next sip,” Digger said, outlining plans to ramp up production and barrel the whiskey for aging, with hopes of competing with high-end bourbons priced at $1,500 to $2,000 per bottle. The excitement was infectious, with Mark likening the experience to “the first time you kissed a girl,” a testament to the thrill of crafting something extraordinary.

Fans of Moonshiners took to social media to praise the episode, with many on X lauding Mark and Digger’s chemistry and dedication. “Seeing Mark and Digger back together, making liquor like the old days, is pure gold,” one viewer posted. Others noted the emotional weight of their reflections on Jim Tom and Popcorn Sutton, with a Reddit thread describing the episode as “a love letter to moonshining.” However, some fans expressed skepticism about the commercial potential of the Legacy whiskey, with one commenter on X questioning whether it could truly rival premium bourbons. Regardless, the episode underscored the duo’s commitment to their craft and their community, with Digger emphasizing the importance of sharing “good stuff with good people.”

A Partnership Forged in Fire

At the heart of the episode was the unbreakable bond between Mark and Digger, a partnership that has endured for over a decade on Moonshiners. “I’d rather never make another run of liquor again than have to make a run without my best friend Mark Wayne Ramsey,” Digger said, his voice thick with emotion. Their shared history, from illicit backwoods stills to legal distilling ventures, has made them icons in the moonshining world. The Legacy whiskey project is a culmination of their journey, blending tradition with ambition as they aim to secure a seat “at the table with the greats of this craft.”

As Moonshiners continues its 14th season, Mark and Digger’s story remains a compelling narrative of craftsmanship, friendship, and legacy. Their determination to honor the past while pushing the boundaries of their art ensures that their whiskey will resonate with fans and aspiring distillers alike. With plans to expand production and introduce their Legacy whiskey to a broader audience, Mark and Digger are poised to leave an indelible mark on Tennessee’s liquor heritage, one jar at a time.