Uploaded December 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago

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The press conference was underway. Joe Baker – founder of Ole Smoky Moonshine – and Pam Sutton – widow of legendary outlaw moonshiner Popcorn Sutton were officially introducing Ole Smoky’s Popcorn moonshine style “Likker” and straight bourbon whiskey. As they were talking, a figure shuffled to the front of the room. He had a little bit of a stooped walk, moving with the aid of a hiking stick and a long-white scraggly beard. He wore overalls, a flannel shirt and a puffy vest for warmth. For a second, out of the corner of my eye, it seemed as if the late Popcorn himself had decided to bless the festivities. But it wasn’t. It was Popcorn’s old running buddy and “sidekick,” JB Rader, a moonshining legend in his own right.

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Rader moved to the front of the press conference. He shook Baker’s hand, hugged Pam and gave his official blessing to the proceedings. “It’s been a long time a-coming,” Rader said. “JB was his sidekick, he helped him make it and he knew exactly how to do it,” Pam said. “I’m glad to have JB here, I didn’t know he was going to make it.” “Got a little late start,” Rader said before moving over to a chair in the corner and observing the proceedings with a look of bemusement.
FULL ARTICLE:
thesmokies.com/ole-smoky-pam-sutton