49-484: Bell County is the name of two counties in the United States: Bell County, Kentucky Bell County, Texas [REDACTED] Topics referred to by the same term This disambiguation page lists articles about distinct geographical locations with the same name. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to
98-577: A batch distillation basis (as opposed to a Coffey or column stills, which operate on a continuous basis). Traditionally constructed from copper , pot stills are made in a range of shapes and sizes depending on quantity and style of spirit. Geographic variations in still design exist, with certain kinds popular in parts of Appalachia , a region known for moonshine distilling. Spirits distilled in pots commonly have 40% ABV, and top out between 60 and 80% after multiple distillations. Poorly produced moonshine can be contaminated, mainly from materials used in
147-490: A thermal immersion circulator , like a sous vide stick is ideal because it comes with a temperature controller. The liquid is kept heated at about 50 °C (122 °F) which slowly evaporates the ethanol to 40% ABV that condense on the inner walls of the outer vessel. The condensation that accumulates in the bottom of the vessel can then be diverted directly down through a filter containing activated carbon . The final product has approximately twice as much alcohol content as
196-427: A 5-foot-long (1.5 m) copper tube wound in spiral form. The tube first goes up to act as a simple column, and then down to cool the product. Cookware usually consists of a 30-litre (6.6 imp gal; 7.9 US gal) plastic wine bucket. The heat source is typically a thermal immersion circulator (commonly runs at 1200 W), like a sous vide stick because it is hard to find 300 W immersion heaters , and it
245-589: A State Park ( Pine Mountain State Resort Park ) and a National Monument ( Cumberland Gap National Historical Park ). According to the United States Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 361 square miles (930 km ), of which 359 square miles (930 km ) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km ) (0.6%) is water. As of the census of 2000, there were 30,060 people, 12,004 households, and 8,522 families residing in
294-414: A limited county is an otherwise dry county in which at least one city has approved the sale of alcohol by the drink at restaurants that both seat a state-mandated number of diners and derive no more than 30% of their revenue from alcoholic beverages. In the case of Bell County, Pineville had voted to allow alcohol by the drink in restaurants that seat at least 100 diners. This terminology was used to describe
343-484: A registered distillery is illegal in many countries. Currently in the United States, there are four states that allow the production of moonshine for personal consumption ( Alaska , Arizona , Massachusetts , and Missouri ). Additionally, North Dakota law permits the production of moonshine for personal consumption up to the federally legal amount—which is zero gallons; entailing that production of any amount
392-740: A result of excise laws and became meaningful in the United States only after a tax passed after the Revolutionary War outlawing non-registered stills with the Tariff of 1791 , or the Excise Whiskey Tax of 1791. This tax led to the Whiskey Rebellion lasting between 1791 and 1794, where the tax went unpaid by the rebels and was met with violent protest. This tax lasted until 1802, when it was repealed. Another tax
441-466: A significant source in some areas. Radiators used as condensers may contain lead at the plumbing joints, and their use has resulted in blindness or lead poisoning from tainted liquor. This was a deadly hazard during the Prohibition -era United States. Consumption of lead-tainted moonshine is a serious risk factor for saturnine gout , a very painful but treatable medical condition that damages
490-400: A still. To cut costs, stainless steel vessels are often replaced with plastic stills , vessels made from polypropylene that can withstand relatively high heat. The preferred heat source for plastic stills or spiral stills is sous vide sticks; these control temperature, time, and circulation, and are therefore preferred over immersion heaters . Multiple units can be used to increase
539-492: A study of farmers in Cocke County, Tennessee , observes: "One could transport much more value in corn if it was first converted to whiskey. One horse could haul ten times more value on its back in whiskey than in corn." Moonshiners such as Maggie Bailey of Harlan County, Kentucky , Amos Owens of Rutherford County, North Carolina , and Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton of Maggie Valley, North Carolina , became legendary. Once
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#1732771746630588-411: A tainted distillate burns with a yellow flame. Practitioners of this simple test also held that if a radiator coil had been used as a condenser, then there would be lead in the distillate, which would give a reddish flame. This led to the mnemonic , "Lead burns red and makes you dead," or simply, "Red means dead." Manufacturing of spirits through distilling, fractional crystallization , etc. outside
637-403: Is high-proof liquor , traditionally made or distributed illegally . The name was derived from a tradition of distilling the alcohol at night to avoid detection. In the first decades of the 21st century, commercial distilleries have adopted the term for its outlaw cachet and have begun producing their own legal "moonshine", including many novelty flavored varieties, that are said to continue
686-420: Is disassembled from an electric water boiler . A plastic still is a device for distillation specially adapted for separating ethanol and water . Plastic stills are common because they are cheap and easy to manufacture. The principle is that a smaller amount of liquid is placed in an open smaller vessel inside a larger one that is closed. A cheap 100 W immersion heater is typically used as heat source, but
735-577: Is illegal. Popular offerings for the Maya deity and folk saint Maximón include money, tobacco, and moonshine. Moonshine is by tradition usually a clear, unaged whiskey, once made with barley mash in Scotland and Ireland or maize corn mash in the United States, though plain sugar became just as common in illicit liquor during the last century. The word originated in the British Isles as
784-468: Is risky to disassemble the immersion heater from an electric water boiler because it may cause electrical injury . The spiral burner is popular because, despite its simple construction and low manufacturing cost, it can provide 95% ABV . A pot still is a type of distillation apparatus or still used to distill flavored liquors such as whisky or cognac , but not rectified spirit because they are poor at separating congeners . Pot stills operate on
833-410: Is used during and after the fermentation process to determine the potential alcohol percentage of the moonshine, whereas an alcoholmeter is used after the product has been distilled to determine the volume percent or proof. A common folk test for the quality of moonshine was to pour a small quantity of it into a spoon and set it on fire. The theory was that a safe distillate burns with a blue flame, but
882-860: The "aftershot," and are also typically discarded. Alcohol concentrations at higher strengths (the GHS identifies concentrations above 24% ABV as dangerous ) are flammable and therefore dangerous to handle. This is especially true during the distilling process, when vaporized alcohol may accumulate in the air to dangerous concentrations if adequate ventilation is not provided. Contaminated moonshine can occur if proper materials and techniques are not used. The prolonged consumption of impure moonshine may cause renal disease , primarily from increased lead content. Analysis of Georgia moonshine samples revealed potentially toxic levels of copper, zinc, lead, and arsenic. A review of twelve arsenic poisoning cases found contaminated moonshine responsible for about half, suggesting it may be
931-456: The "foreshot" – the first 50–150 millilitres (1.8–5.3 imp fl oz; 1.7–5.1 US fl oz) of alcohol that drip from the condenser. Because methanol vaporizes at a lower temperature than ethanol, it is commonly believed that the foreshot contains most of the methanol, if any, from the mash. However, research shows that methanol is present until the very end of the distillation run. Despite this, distillers will usually collect
980-465: The Daniel Boone era in the state. Bell County has one of the highest ratios of local peace officer deaths of any KY or U.S. county per capita, with 28 deputy sheriffs and 4 county sheriff's K-9 having been killed in the county's history. There has been considerable violence related to the prohibition of alcohol and production of moonshine . Bell County is the only Kentucky county hosting both
1029-654: The Kentucky legislature shortened the name to "Bell", Bell County is considered a "Moist" county, a classification between dry and wet in terms of alcohol sales. The County changed to moist by a vote in September 2015, that approved alcohol-by-the-drink sales in Middlesboro, Kentucky . On June 23, 2020, Middlesboro voters approved a "wet" status by 1,215 to 653 votes. In a standard dry county, all sales of alcoholic beverages are prohibited. Under ABC terminology,
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#17327717466301078-474: The X-shaped building formerly used as East End Intermediate to a local church. The county's smallest district; its boundaries generally, but do not exactly, follow the corporate limits of Pineville. The district operates Pineville School; An elementary, middle, and high school. 36°44′N 83°40′W / 36.74°N 83.67°W / 36.74; -83.67 Moonshine Moonshine
1127-403: The age of 18 living with them, 51.00% were married couples living together, 15.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 26.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.95. The age distribution was 24.40% under
1176-467: The age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.00 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 19,057, and the median income for a family was $ 23,818. Males had a median income of $ 24,521 versus $ 19,975 for females. The per capita income for
1225-514: The amendment was repealed in 1933, laws focus on evasion of taxation on any type of spirits or intoxicating liquors. Applicable laws were historically enforced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives of the US Department of Justice , but are now usually handled by state agencies. Enforcement agents were once known colloquially as "revenuers". The earliest known instance of
1274-513: The area until the Middlesboro vote allowed retail sale of alcohol. The Middlesborough, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Bell County. The Wilderness Road was constructed in 1775 through what is now Bell County. Bell County was formed in 1867, from portions of Harlan and Knox counties. It was named for Joshua Fry Bell, an attorney and member of Congress. The county courthouse has been thrice destroyed. In 1914 and 1918, it
1323-542: The buildings are connected by an elevated, enclosed walkway. The new technology center is also slated to house the County Board of Education pending its move from their office in the city of Pineville building. Lone Jack High School (in Fourmile) and the old Bell County High School were consolidated into Bell County High School in the early 1980s. The second-largest of the three, with boundaries coinciding exactly with
1372-498: The component parts have boiling points that differ by less than 25 °C (45 °F) from each other under a pressure of one atmosphere . A column still, also called a continuous still, patent still or Coffey still, is a variety of still consisting of two columns. A column still can achieve a vapor alcohol content of 95% ABV . A spiral still is a type of column still with a simple slow air-cooled distillation apparatus, commonly used for bootlegging. Column and cooler consist of
1421-468: The construction of the still . Stills employing automotive radiators as condensers are particularly dangerous; in some cases, glycol produced from antifreeze can be a problem. The head that comes immediately after the foreshot (the initial product of the still) typically contains small amounts of other undesirable compounds, such as acetone and various aldehydes . Fusel alcohols are other undesirable byproducts of fermentation that are contained in
1470-408: The corporate limits of Middlesboro. The district operates one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school. The two elementary schools are separate facilities that share the same campus design (both schools are designed in an "X" shape), and the middle and high schools are separate facilities on one campus on the west side of town. In recent years Middlesboro Independent Schools has leased
1519-430: The county was $ 11,526. About 26.70% of families and 31.10% of the population were below the poverty line , including 42.00% of those under age 18 and 21.80% of those age 65 or over. A rather politically mixed county in most of the 20th century, Bell has become solidly Republican as the 21st century has progressed, going from giving George W. Bush a narrow victory in 2000 to rewarding Donald Trump with nearly 84% of
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1568-502: The county. The population density was 83 per square mile (32/km ). There were 13,341 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile (14/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 96.02% White , 2.40% Black or African American , 0.25% Native American , 0.35% Asian , 0.03% Pacific Islander , 0.12% from other races , and 0.83% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 12,004 households, out of which 31.90% had children under
1617-472: The drink, jacking , the process of freezing fermented cider and then removing the ice, increasing the alcohol content. Starting with the fermented juice, with an alcohol content of less than ten percent, the concentrated result can contain 25–40% alcohol by volume (ABV). In some countries, moonshine stills are illegal to sell, import, and own without permission. However, enthusiasts explain on internet forums how to obtain equipment and assemble it into
1666-490: The foreshots until the temperature of the still reaches 80 °C (176 °F). Outbreaks of methanol poisoning have occurred from methanol accidentally produced in moonshine production or deliberately used to strengthen it. In modern times, reducing methanol with the absorption of a molecular sieve is a practical method for production. The Lucas test in alcohols is a test to differentiate between primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols . It can be used to detect
1715-498: The formation of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing ( NASCAR ). Several former "runners," such as Junior Johnson , became noted drivers in the sport. Some varieties of maize corn grown in the United States were once prized for their use in moonshine production. One such variety used in moonshine, Jimmy Red corn, a "blood-red, flint-hard 'dent' corn with a rich and oily germ," almost became extinct when
1764-408: The intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bell_County&oldid=932718772 " Category : United States county name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Bell County, Kentucky Bell County is a county located in
1813-428: The kidneys and joints. The incidence of impure moonshine has been documented to significantly increase the risk of renal disease among those who regularly consume it, primarily from increased lead content. Contamination is still possible by unscrupulous distillers using cheap methanol to increase the apparent strength of the product. Moonshine can be made both more palatable and perhaps less dangerous by discarding
1862-520: The label. In Prohibition-era United States, moonshine distillation was done at night to deter discovery. While moonshiners were present in urban and rural areas around the United States after the Civil War , moonshine production concentrated in Appalachia because the limited road network made it easy to evade revenue officers and because it was difficult and expensive to transport corn crops. As
1911-406: The last grower died in 2000. Two ears of Jimmy Red were passed on to "seed saver" Ted Chewning, who saved the variety from extinction and began to produce it on a wider scale. There have been modern-day attempts on the state level to legalize home distillation of alcohol, similar to how some states have been treating cannabis , despite there being federal laws prohibiting the practice. For example,
1960-437: The levels of fusel alcohols . A quick estimate of the alcoholic strength, or proof, of the distillate (the ratio of alcohol to water) is often achieved by shaking a clear container of the distillate. Large bubbles with a short duration indicate a higher alcohol content, while smaller bubbles that disappear more slowly indicate lower alcohol content. A more reliable method is to use an alcoholmeter or hydrometer . A hydrometer
2009-463: The liquor was distilled, drivers called "runners" or "bootleggers" smuggled moonshine liquor across the region in cars specially modified for speed and load-carrying capacity. The cars were ordinary on the outside but modified with souped-up engines, extra interior room, and heavy-duty shock absorbers to support the weight of the illicit alcohol. After Prohibition ended, the out-of-work drivers kept their skills sharp through organized races, which led to
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2058-516: The southeast part of the U.S. state of Kentucky . As of the 2020 census , the population was 24,097. Its county seat is Pineville and its largest city is Middlesboro . The county was formed in 1867, during the Reconstruction era from parts of Knox and Harlan counties and augmented from Knox County in 1872. The county is named for Joshua Fry Bell , a US Representative. It was originally called "Josh Bell", but on January 31, 1873,
2107-444: The starting liquid and can be distilled several times if stronger distillate is desired. The method is slow, and is not suitable for large-scale production. Fractional distillation is the separation of a mixture into its component parts, or fractions . Chemical compounds are separated by heating them to a temperature at which one or more fractions of the mixture will vaporize . It uses distillation to fractionate . Generally
2156-595: The term "moonshine" being used to refer to illicit alcohol dates to the 1785 edition of Grose's Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue , which was published in England. Prior to that, "moonshine" referred to anything "illusory" or to literally the light of the moon. The U.S. Government considers the word a "fanciful term" and does not regulate its use on the labels of commercial products, as such, legal moonshines may be any type of spirit, which must be indicated elsewhere on
2205-419: The tradition by using a similar method and/or locale of production. In 2013, moonshine accounted for about one-third of global alcohol consumption. Different languages and countries have their own terms for moonshine (see Moonshine by country ). The ethanol may be concentrated in fermented beverages by means of freezing. For example, the name applejack derives from the traditional method of producing
2254-414: The vote in 2024. Three public school districts operate in the county: The largest of the three in enrollment and by far the largest in geographic scope. The Bell County School District operates six mainstream K–8 "school centers", one alternative school, one high school , and a newly commissioned technology center built to replace the aging vocational center. It is located on the high school campus and
2303-481: The wattage. Also, sous vide sticks, commonly sold in 1200 W and generally temperature regulated up to 90 °C (194 °F) (ethanol boils at 78 °C (172 °F)), will evaporate the ethanol faster than an immersion heater , commonly sold in 300 W. Electrical injury may occur if immersion heaters are modified, as if a 35 °C (95 °F) thermostat is removed from an aquarium heater (because doing so may break its waterproofing ), or if an immersion heater
2352-821: Was destroyed by fire and in 1977 nearly destroyed by flooding. The documents stored there were destroyed as well. The flood occurred in April 1977 and although it caused extensive damage, the historical courthouse survived with substantial water damage to the interior. The community of "South America" (known as Frakes since the 1930s) in Bell County appears to have been established in the Spanish Era. Spain made land grants in Old Kentucky prior to English settlement. The community of South America links southeast Kentucky to an era of Indian herbal harvest and sales much like
2401-668: Was introduced with the Revenue Act of 1861 and Revenue Act of 1862 that heavily taxed the production of spirits leading to an increase in illegal distilling and in turn, increased action from revenue agents that enforced the taxes. Illegal distilling accelerated during the Prohibition era (1920–1933), which mandated a total ban on alcohol production under the Eighteenth Amendment of the Constitution . Since
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