I think I wanna taste that powerful stuff

Shortly after I moved to Texas I wound up at a backyard party where I was introduced to moonshine. Just like one would expect a friend passed over a mason jar with a wink and a warning. “Do yourself a favor,” he told me, “let a little get in your nose first so you don’t totally surprise your system. Heck, I’d even just let a little run on your lips before you take a swallow.” When he saw my quizzical look he assured me he wasn’t trying to be a jerk. “Heck, I’m not saying this because you’re from Boston. My pal makes this stuff and even he doesn’t do anything but lightly sip it. This is my backyard, I don’t want to see you throwing up in the corner, eventually morning’ll come and I’ll have to see what damage you did.”

Sufficiently warned I raised the mason jar and took a healthy sniff of the fumes coming up. It wasn’t musty or moldy - it was a clean, sharp  smell but it cut a route through my nostrils leaving a trail of scorched nerve receptors behind. After I shook my head a few times I took a small sip and to this day remembering that sensation still makes my hair stand slightly on edge. During the course of the evening a few more sips dulled the sensation but like the ads say, you never forget your first taste of moonshine.

In honor of that moment, the only version of “White Lightning” that matters - the original by George Jones.

PLAY:

DOWNLOAD: George Jones - White Lightning