POPCORN SUTTON........MASTER MOONSHINER

Marvin ( Popcorn) Sutton a world renowned Moonshiner. A scrawny long bearded man with a fowl mouth and a passion for copper pipes, kettles, corn, sugar, yeast and fire. A true master at the trade of making white lighting liquor.
He made his home in the rural town of Parrotsville, Tennessee which is located in Cocke County. This rural county has been identified in the past as the world capital of moonshine. The practice of makin moonshine dates back to the Scots Irish who brought the art to the new world.
Better known as Popcorn Sutton he learned his trade from his father. Making moonshine was legal up until after the Civil War. Popcorn had several run in with the law over his illegal moon shine in the 1970's. People who consumed his product stated that it was the best they had ever tasted. After several brushes with the law old Popcorn stated time and time again, " that's the last likker I'll ever make. He tried hard to keep out of trouble but said, " once making likker gets in your blood it's hard to stop.
Popcorn always wore and old hat and bib overalls.For decades he crouched over as he walked from carrying sacks of sugar and corn to his still in the hills. Popcorn received his nickname from an unfortunate encounter with a popcorn machine in a bar.
Around his home town he liked to be called a distiller. Old Popcorn became quite famous. He's wrote his autobigraphy, " Me and My Likker." He's appeared on TV in documentaries on whisky making and even has a video on you tube, " The last run of Likker I'll make." He played the banjo and if the mood hit him he would serenade his guest.
Popcorn insisted on making his living on the art of moonshine maked  the old fashion way. In 2007 agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives raided and busted him with 850 gallons of moonshine hidden in an old school bus and a shed along with some guns. He didn't want the agents to take photos of his stills and himself. His photo standing in front of a brick building shows him giving them the old middle finger.
He was convicted in 2008 with two 18 month prison sentences. He's probably the last known moonshiner to be convicted. Now here is where the story takes a sad turn. Popcorn being in ill health and facing jail time was found by his wife Pam, in his green Fairlane Ford dead from carbon monoxide poisoning. Popcorn Sutton died at the age of 61. Gone from these Tennessee hills but not forgotten; a remarkable character who lived life his way.
Tonight on our local news, a story about a man who is legally making Popcorn Sutton White Lighting by Popcorn's recipe in quart mason jars. It's got old Popcorn photo on the jars and it's made in Nashville.