a dying culture.

picture courtesy of  Caffeinated Politics

On March 16th the epic story of  moonshiner Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton came to an end.  At 62 Popcorn was sentenced to 18 months in a federal penitentiary for distilling over 850 gallons of liquor and decided at 62 he would prefer to take his own life than serve the term.  

I know I am not much of a liquor (especially moonshine) connoisseur, however I have a universal respect for any artisan producing his or her passion no matter what the repercussion (though 850 gallons is and awful lot!).  Distilling Moonshine is said to be "legitimately an expression of culture of this region" and is a shame that this was the end result for a man with so much history and love for the old ways of the Appalachia.  May the great stories of the past stay alive. Long live the moonshine!