He had the spirit of a racer, and his slick driving skills were good for the family business…and bad for the authorities in the rearview. And when Junior got behind the wheel to run ‘shine at the tender age of 14, things finally started to turn around. In fact, the only one in the family never to get busted was his dear mother. Throughout the years, this rebellious approach to living sent Junior’s father and brothers in and out of prison. Running moonshine wasn’t always easy, or legal for that matter, but the Johnsons did what they had to do to keep food on the table. And, about 150 years later, Junior’s family kept the tradition going in order to survive. Back during the Whiskey Rebellion in 1791, his ancestors were some of the first to make ‘shine in Appalachia. It’s deep in his roots and it flows in his blood. JUNIOR JOHNSON WAS BORN TO RUN MOONSHINE. Junior sipped, smiled, and gave two thumbs up to the best damn moonshine ever made. Midnight Moon was officially born when Piedmont Distillers, North Carolina's first legal distillery since Prohibition, called on Junior at the mechanics shop on his old farm to taste-test what would become Midnight Moon Original. It’s then blended with ultra-clean water that has been through a five-step filtration process, and the result is a very smooth spirit with a subtle sweetness from the corn. Midnight Moon does not have the harsh, heavy corn taste people often associate with illegal moonshine. However, we use a state-of-the-art distillation process to make a superior quality spirit that’s very clean and ultra-smooth. By partnering with the makers of Midnight Moon, Junior was able to sustain and share his family’s moonshine legacy with the world (this time – legally).Midnight Moon is inspired by Junior Johnson’s family moonshine recipe and - true to the roots of moonshine - it is made from 100% American corn and handcrafted in small batches. In a way, Junior had come “full-circle” back to his roots. The name “midnight moon” was inspired by moonshiner’s practice of making shine late at night under the light of the moon. Midnight Moon has Junior Johnson to thank for its authenticity and popularity. Junior would greet hundreds of fans at each stop along the road with a twinkle in his eye and stay until everyone had a chance to meet him and get their mason jars signed. Junior Johnson and Joe Michalek, the Founder and President of Piedmont Distillers, Inc., toured the country sharing their Midnight Moon ‘shine. Junior Johnson shared his family’s 100% corn moonshine recipe with Midnight Moon (made by Piedmont Distillers, Inc.), and when we gave him a sip of our first batch, Junior declared, “That’s the best damn ‘shine I ever tasted.” So began a wonderful partnership which grew to become more than just a business relationship it became a family. Junior went so far as to taunt the cops and create diversions that allowed him to complete his runs. His infamous Bootleg U-turn is legendary, and it kept the police off his trail for years the upgrades he made to his car only helped him in that endeavor. This led to Junior’s father and brothers serving time in jail for bootlegging in fact, Junior’s mother is the only one who steered clear of prison.Īt age 14, Junior began running ‘shine, and the family arrests became less frequent. So it is no surprise the children joined the illegal family business. Junior was often quoted, “We weren’t doing anything wrong, we were just trying to survive and we didn’t have any money to pay the taxes”. and Lora Bella, struggled during the Great Depression and Prohibition provided the opportunity for ‘shine to put food on the table. Like most Americans, Junior’s parents, Robert Glenn Johnson, Sr. His ancestors were some of the first to make moonshine in the region, and 150 years later, the Johnson family continued the tradition. Though Robert Glenn “Junior” Johnson was born on June 28, 1931, in Ronda, North Carolina, his family history in Appalachia goes back to the Whiskey Rebellion in 1791.
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