FOOD & RECIPES: SUNCHOKESversus the no-rules blind pigs
serving suds. Speakeasies were
illegal drinking dens as well and
were so named in the hopes that
patrons would keep quiet inside
and mum in public, so as to not
attract the thirsty coppers.
The speak, then, was not only
easy but creative. Moonshine
(the term was coined due to the
nocturnal hours associated with
the occupation, i.e., working by
the light of the moon) had many
aliases: white lightning, bush
whisky, panther’s breath, skull
cracker, Happy Sally, old horsey,
hillbilly pop, mule kick, ruckus
juice and see seven stars.
Bootleggers earned their name
by allegedly tucking bottles of
liquor in the tops of their boots,
which would be covered by their
pant legs. The demand for a mule
kick was at an all-time high, as
farmers who emigrated from
Europe were suspicious of the
local water supply. They took
matters (and health and safety)
into their own hands and began
basement brews of beer, hard
cider and spirits.The angel’s share
Any newbie distiller was quickly
introduced to “the angel’s share.”
Whiskies are aged in wooden
barrels to help absorb sulphur
in the distillate and, in turn, add
flavour to the whisky. Because
wooden barrels are porous,FOOD & RECIPES: BLIND PIGS AND THE ANGEL’S SHARE