Show Guide: 'Moonshiners Master Distiller'

Synopsis: America's top legal and outlaw distillers go head-to-head in the ultimate booze-making competition, to see who has what it takes to join the ranks of the greats and win the title of master distiller. (Courtesy History Channel, 2023)

The Cast:

Production Credits:

The Episodes
Season One Episode Guide (History)
1-01 Run Conundrum--03/03/2020
Mark, Digger and Tim judge as legal and outlaw distillers compete to make the best rum; constructing stills of their own design and mashing in their own raw ingredients, only one will survive elimination to earn the title of Master Distiller.

1-02 American Whiskey--03/10/2020
Heritage grains meet charred oak as three amateur distillers compete to make the best American whiskey. Judged by Mark, Digger, and Tim, they go head-to-head in a series of challenges to determine who has what it takes to be Master Distiller.

1-03 Moonshine Of Mexico--03/17/2020
Mark, Digger and Tim judge as top amateur distillers from both sides of the law compete to make mescal, the moonshine of Mexico, using agave mash, regional recipes and even meat.

1-04 Mountain Brandy--03/29/2020
Legal and outlaw distillers compete head-to-head to see who can make a classic Appalachian tradition called Mountain Brandy. Judged by moonshine legends Mark, Digger and Tim, only the best will have what it takes to be named Master Distiller.

1-05 Mark Vs. Digger Vs. Tim--03/31/2020
Tickle hosts as Appalachia's most notorious moonshiners go head-to-head in a moonshine distilling competition. Mark, Digger and Tim run their own secret recipes to be judged by the public to determine once and for all who makes the best shine.


Season Two Episode Guide (History)
2-01 Cherry Bounce--12/29/2020
Legal and outlaw distillers compete to make a 300-year-old spirit called Cherry Bounce; a favorite drink of George Washington, nearly lost to time; Josh Owens, whose family kept the recipe alive for generations in the backwoods, joins as guest judge.

2-02 Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder--01/05/2021
Mark, Digger and Tim judge as three amateur distillers compete to make the world's most notorious spirit; absinthe; building stills of their own design and mashing in from raw ingredients, only one will earn the title of Master Distiller.

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2-04 Battle Of The Backwoods--01/23/2021
Josh Owens, Mark Rogers and up-and-comer Daniel Maner compete to see who makes Appalachia's most authentic backwoods shine and win a rare jar of Popcorn Sutton's liquor.

2-05 Gin Craze--01/26/2021
Distillers compete to make gin; a notorious spirit with medieval roots that is still prized in the backwoods today; judged by Mark, Digger and Tim.

2-06 Spirit Of The South--02/02/2021
Distillers compete to make peach brandy; a spirit so prized in the Old South it was once more popular than whiskey; judged by Mark, Digger and Tim.

2-07 Ultra High Proof--02/09/2021
Distillers compete to make a Prohibition-era classic; moonshine up to an ultra-high 180 proof; building their own stills and mash; judging are Mark, Digger, Tim and guest Mark Rogers.

2-08 Washington Washington Rye--02/20/2021
Distillers compete to make a recipe created by George Washington himself.

2-09 Pot Still Vodka--02/23/2021
Outlaw and legal distillers compete to make Vodka, once the secret to surviving a Russian winter, and now America's most-consumed spirit. Mark, Digger and Tim judge as distillers design their own stills and mash in their own raw ingredients.

2-10 Battle Of The Judges--03/06/2021
Tim Smith challenges Mark and Digger to a moonshine-making rematch; the three legends face off to see who can bring the best jar of moonshine to the table and win the ultimate bragging rights.


Season Three Episode Guide (History)
3-01 American As Applejack--11/07/2021
Skilled shiners compete using both freeze and heat distillation in a battle to make America's first liquor; Lisa Laird Dunn from America's oldest distillery joins Mark, Digger and Tim to judge whose applejack deserves the title of Master Distiller.

3-02 Nuts On The Line--11/14/2021
Mark, Digger and Tim judge as a female distiller challenges an outlaw shiner and a pro distiller from Hawaii to make the best nut liquor; when one shiner deploys a unique process, Mark and Digger admit the results rival their own hazelnut rum.

3-03 Battle Of The Still Hands--11/20/2021
Mark, Digger and Tim judge as notorious still hands Howard, Huck and Kelly face off to determine which aspiring moonshiner makes the best corn liquor to win a thousand dollars' worth of sheet copper and earn the title of Master Distiller.

3-04 World War Of Whiskey--11/30/2021
It's bourbon versus Scotch versus Japanese whiskey, as Mark, Digger and Tim judge three specialized distillers competing in this global whisky showdown.

3-05 Outlaw Grudge Match--12/07/2021
Josh, Mike and Mark Rogers compete in the ultimate liquor-making rematch. Judged by moonshine legends Mark, Digger and Tim, only one outlaw shiner will emerge with grudge match bragging rights and a backwoods trophy any true moonshiner would love.

3-06 Battle Of The States--12/08/2021
Three outlaw shiners representing Alabama, Ohio and West Virginia compete to determine whose regional Appalachian recipe and style make the best corn liquor; Mark, Digger and Tim call in corn liquor master Mark Rogers to help make the final call.

3-07 Lost Recipe Town--01/08/2022
Special guest judge Danielle Parton joins Mark, Digger and Tim as Josh, Daniel and Mike put their family recipes on the line to see whose multi-generational moonshine heritage will weather the test of time.

3-08 Moonshine Of Eastern Europe--01/15/2022
Tim introduces Mark and Digger to high-proof slivovitz as three top distillers compete to make the legendary plum-powered liquor of Eastern Europe, with recipes kept alive by outlaw moonshiners for decades behind the iron curtain.

3-09 Shot Of Redemption--01/26/2022
Mark, Digger and Tim team up with three underdog contestants for a fresh shot at redemption; two backwoods shiners and a professional distiller bring their best recipes to the table for a second chance at winning Master Distiller.

3-10 Absinthe's Tricky Sister--01/26/2022
Tickle digs up the history, and Mark, Digger and Tim judge, as three highly skilled distillers battle to make pastis, a high-octane liquor created in 1930s France to trick the law after the government banned its notorious sister spirit, absinthe.