Copper Run Distillery, Bringing Moonshine Back To The Ozarks

I had the privilege of meeting Jim Blansit, the Owner and Distiller at Copper Run Distillery yesterday. I won a prize from US97 (a local radio station) from the distillery and ran down too Walnut Shade MO to check it out. What I won? The grand prize, a 1 gallon cask and 5 bottles of moonshine (corn whiskey). But really so much more. It was wonderful seeing a micro-distillery first hand and to taste corn whiskey on it's first run dripping straight out of the still. Being an old brewer himself it was great to talk about the difference between between brewing a mash of beer and mash for whiskey. After a full tour we went to the tasting room to taste the difference between an unaged whiskey and a one year whiskey. I also got to try some of the rum he makes there, it was delicious! Then, my prize.... I brought everything home along with a gallon of  filtered water, and filled the cask with the water for the past 24 hours to "condition" the cask. Then this evening, I drained it and the moonshine. If your from the area or happen to be passing through the Ozarks, defiantly go check out these folks. Just make sure you bring a DD if you plan on spending too much time in the tasting room!